Mike's Oud Forums

Neck re-set

Jonathan - 2-10-2009 at 03:41 PM

I want to reset a neck on an oud--I have never done this before. The nut end needs to be shifted back about 2 mm.
Rather than taking the whole neck off, I was thinking of putting a small wedge at the joint where the fingerboard meets the neck block--sawing in a fine cut, then inserting a wedge.
Any thoughts?

Dr. Oud - 2-11-2009 at 02:15 AM

I've seen this done often, the only problem is it compromises the glue joint and it becomes loose and must be removed anyway. Don't saw through the dowel, either. If you do remove the neck, measure the length after you re-shape the end angle, and add a spacer to restore the length. (neck length = 2x the length from the neck block to the bridge.)

Jonathan - 2-11-2009 at 06:22 AM

Thanks, Doc.

katakofka - 2-11-2009 at 03:42 PM

Jonathan: I gave my oud once to someone and he did similar to what you described, small cut and put an insert a wedge. Couple of years later the neck got broken. The neck became weak with time. I suggest doing it correctly to avoid problems

katakofka - 2-11-2009 at 04:15 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by katakofka
Jonathan: I gave my oud once to someone and he did similar to what you described, small cut and put an insert a wedge. Couple of years later the neck got broken. The neck became weak with time. I suggest doing it correctly to avoid problems


and here is what happened after 4 years

Jonathan - 2-12-2009 at 10:32 AM

I appreciate the input, guys. I hate the idea of removing the neck completely, and then reseting it. Getting the right angle is tough for me, even when I have built ouds. But, I'll give it a try.

Brian Prunka - 2-12-2009 at 06:06 PM

I've seen Najib Shaheen do the wedge fix numerous times without compromising the strength of the neck.
What he does is this: after using a wedge to get the correct angle, he drills an angled hole from the fingerboard side of the neck through the neck block and glues a dowel all the way through. Sometimes he'll use two smaller dowels.

The challenge with that is that you basically have to remove the fingerboard and put it back, so it's not that much less work unless you were planning on replacing the fingerbaord anyway.

SamirCanada - 2-12-2009 at 07:14 PM

Kata,

this is very fixable.

technically speaking its quite a clean break.

what should be done is use a forstener bit to hollow out the old dowel in the neck and in the body.
replace it with a new dowel and its finito! good as new :)

katakofka - 2-12-2009 at 07:38 PM

Samir...I owe you a visit to Montreal in this case:D

SamirCanada - 2-12-2009 at 09:23 PM

I am in Ottawa these days my friend.

in any case,

check this out.
http://www.mikeouds.com/messageboard/viewthread.php?tid=6063

katakofka - 2-12-2009 at 09:52 PM

to Ottawa ...no problem...khalas jeeyiilak in the summer time. I hope you will be in Ottawa

SamirCanada - 2-13-2009 at 04:39 PM

Lek Ahalan ou Shalan ya Abou Sous!

Ana rah koun fil Younan ou kaman fi Turkiya be June kool il shahr. La eno 3am bitjawez bi June 6th faa hayda el shahr el 3asal taba3i.

Baddi eshteri bayt jedidé fi July faa.. fikt zourouni ba3d eza mish mishklé.

Ma3 Salama khayé

katakofka - 2-14-2009 at 10:42 AM

okay samir, alla ywaff2ak ya rabbbb w tethanno. I might be at the end of July in Montreal I'll give you a call around that time