Gibson Explorer Retop

[adamcbest]

can this be done without removing the neck?? I have a gibson explorer in absolutely horrible condition. I stripped the body and did a wood burning design in the front and tongue oiled over it. terrible original job. but i wanted to know if i could plane down maybe 1/8th inch and retop it with some sort of wood (spalted maple is what i'm looking at) without having to steam out the neck. I dont' want to go through that sort of trouble on this guitar. If it isn't somehow possible without taking the neck off, i'm not going to mess with it. I'm not concerned about it being perfect. i'd just to see if i could do it, and actually get it in playing condition again. I do have some experience with wood working and my dad has a bunch, so i'm not worried about being able to retop, what i'm worried about is whether or not the neck joint is going to get messed up if we remove an 1/8th inch of the top without removing the neck. What do you guys think?

Here is current pic. The frets are so corroded that it's unplayable. i think some steel wool will help that though.

[ibanezking]

should be easy enough to plane as much as possible and then carefully chisel whats left around the neck

Would be easier though rather than taking an 1/8th off, just to remove the finish and sand flat then put a typical 0.6 to 1mm veneer on it.........

It wouldn't have any detrimental structural problems associated with doing it

Max

[adamcbest]

thought about veneer, but i want to actually remove the pickguard, and just cover it with the wood. open up any cavities through the back as needed. Again not looking for 100% awesome looking job. The only problem is finding bookmatch tops wide enough to cover an explorer. I'll Use the excess to remake the new cavity covers on the back and/or headstock overlay

[F.P.R.O.]

I'll have to admit, though you have low-res image and cameras can make magic, I'd still say that guitar looks pretty neat as is.

I like your ideas, I think if you apply your ideas with effort and some creative vision, you could come out with something REALLY classy.

Cheers,

F.P.R.O.