Is this neck out of alignment?

terada

Hi Everyone,

I was taking some photos of my new R8, and noticed that the gap between the fretboard and pickup ring seemed a little wonky.

With my curiosity piqued, I thought I'd use the rulers in photoshop to have a closer look.

It appears to me that the body based elements are in alignment, but that the neck is in slightly wonky. There is also a slight chunk of the tenon that appears to have been skimmed off (I assume when it was fitted), on the side that would have to have more material off if the neck was to be fitted in such a way.

The guitar plays and sounds good and there doesn't appear to be an issue with string spacing (at least to me), but I obviously don't want to get involved with something that could be an issue down the line when I can easily swap it now.

Is this an issue to be worries about?

Many thanks in advance!

WezV

If it plays fine, it is fine.  

The 16th fret doesn’t line up with the body join either, which probably caused the gap.

but if it intonates, it’s all good

hyperben

I think if the neck were out of line the strings would not be equal distances from the edges of the fretboard, which it looks like they are. And the strings align with the polepieces on the pickups too. So I think the neck is fine. The neck pickup ring make be screwed on very slightly out of square though. If it is its ever so slight though and certainly wouldn't bother me.

Danielsguitars

Most vintage ones normally have a gap and it varies a bit too, probably trying to get more historic than true historic

terada

Thanks a bunch @WezV and @hyperben.

It sounds great and appears to play fine (I've only had it a couple of days and have had no issues so far). I set the intonation earlier today and all seemed good.

In the shop the G was playing up a bit but that seems have disappeared after it was restrung and set up.

I'm not bothered if it is not a bigger issue. If it is all good then I'll keep it and chalk it up to Gibson 'character'. 

terada

customkits said:

Most vintage ones normally have a gap and it varies a bit too, probably trying to get more historic than true historic

Thanks @customkits. If Henry were still in charge I would half expect to pay more for it too.

'We have replicated the idiosyncrasies of actual vintage guitars to bring you the most accurate reissue yet - all for just a two grand premium'. What a silly man

poopot

It could just be the angle you have taken the picture at!... I’d get the proper rulers out rather than the ones in photoshop...

ICBM

If it was me I would be concerned.

There is what appears to be a gap with a shim on one side of it on the bass side of the tenon. The joint relies on a good fit on the sides, since it rarely fits tightly on the bottom - the sides provide the bulk of the strength since the glue is in shear loading. If what I’m seeing is correct, there’s not only a shim, it still hasn’t produced a tight fit.

It’s not unknown for Gibsons to be shimmed on the sides like that - there are pics online somewhere of a LP Special where this was done... and the neck had fallen off.

At the very least I would want to take the neck pickup out and have a good look at that side of the neck joint.

WezV

Yeah, some shimmed ones break and reveal their dirty secret.   Most don’t. If it’s bee man well shimmed it won’t.

its actually quite amazing how small a glue join you can get away with in a neck.  I always try to maximise that join, but Gibson don’t feel the need.

i stick by my original assertion... it’s only an issue if it’s an issue.

weak neck joins are usually noticeable with tuning issues on every string and an odd resonance.  Tap around the back and neck and you should get an idea if it’s a solid join or not

WezV

Who is this bee man and what does he know about neck joins?

terada

Thanks again everyone.

I'll get my macro lens out tomorrow and get a better picture. I'll also remove the pickup and get some images from in there too.

I've played around 15 of these R8's now, and I'd guess at least 5 had what looked like a little gap either on the left (as above) or the right. I was wondering what it was!

Danielsguitars

I wasn't really paying attention when reading this first but that neck shim does look a bit shit to me now considering what's been paid and and what I'd expect from a well made high end guitar

i was referring to the gap between fretboard end and pick up ring

Roysterdoyster

If it’s bothering you now, it’s always going to bother you no matter what anyone says. And that’s all your going to see when you look at that guitar. (Did I mention my OCD?) two and half grand isn’t cheap regardless of what they used to be. I would want to love every square mm for that sort of money. If I wasn’t 100% I’d be taking it back.

carlos

WezV said:

Who is this bee man and what does he know about neck joins?

Makes guitars play like honey

terada

Right guys I thought I'd get out the macro lens tonight as it was on my mind.

Here is what we have at silly resolution. Please keep in mind that this gap is minuscule in real life.

Does this help focus your thoughts?

missmisstreater

wow....

I mean, I agree with people that if it play great then there's no problem...
but that surely depends on how much it cost? For £300, no problem, you expect it.... For £2k? Should you expect better?

I just took order of a very nice Mayones... if there was something 1/10th as bad as this, for what I paid... it would be going back!

Ultimately, there's always going to be that niggling doubt in the back of your mind... is it cosmetic?.... or could it be a structural issue that causes a fail in a few years.

I'm certainly no expert, but appreciate your concern!

robgilmo

Also, if people start to accept something that may not be how it should be then people like Gibson who make expensive guitars accept that they can get away with letting more slip through quality control.

Blaendulais

Maybe too manypictures being taken has caused it to move? 

WezV

robgilmo said:

Also, if people start to accept something that may not be how it should be then people like Gibson who make expensive guitars accept that they can get away with letting more slip through quality control.

That ship has sailed

WezV

I would assume Gibson have fitted a shim inside that neck join as that seems to be their normal way of doing things.

 Worth checking with something.  If that gap goes deep,  it will lead to a weaker join. If you can find them shim then it is structurally sound

poopot

Tbh... if it was me... I’d send it back and get a replacement... like someone else has already said, you can’t “unknow” about the flaw now and there may always be that doubt... send it back, get another one.