Skink Stripe Repair

whatshisname · #1 03-10-2005, 08:01 AM

I picked up an RT150BK, yesterday, and the only problem I'm having with it is, that the skunk stripe has lifted a bit. It's not loose, and will not push back in. It's only up towards the top, starting around the fifth fret. The very top, and rest of the bottom, are fine.

What should I do? Heat gun? Sand the problem area even? Honestly, it's not THAT bad, and if I could deal with it as it is, but, of course, I'd much rather not.

Any advice is appreciated! Thanks!!

Shep · #2 03-10-2005, 08:18 AM

thing's like this can be a real problem to fix.

you could remove the fret board and re-glue the piece back in place with clamp's holding it all in place.

you might even hav to rip the whole strip out and start from scatch because it might be abit hard to glue the bit at the top and get eonght glue in place.

it's alot eazyer to go to a to your local guitar shop and ask for help or who can do it for you. as it's not that fun

whatshisname · #3 03-10-2005, 08:23 AM

Eh, I was hoping it would be a much easier fix...

Thanks for the reply, though.

Would there be any harm in just trying to sand it flush? Like I said, it's not really THAT bad. (Just hoping!)

(Oh yeah, that should be skUnk stripe... DOH!

)

Shep · #4 03-10-2005, 08:31 AM

skunk stripe is there not just for show it's a very hard wood so it provide's support on the neck and stop's it warping. if you sand it, it will loose some of it's stenght and will be alot more prone to warping.

how many mm is it hang out?.

whatshisname · #5 03-10-2005, 09:04 AM

Yeah, I was worried about losing strength, but it is only hanging out a 16th of an inch, at the most, if that. Like I said, it's only one part of it that's sticking out. Would I really be taking that big of a chance, for such a small area?

If I would be, then I'll just have to suck it up, and do it right!

frankfalbo · #6 03-10-2005, 11:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shep

skunk stripe is there not just for show it's a very hard wood so it provide's support on the neck and stop's it warping. if you sand it, it will loose some of it's stenght and will be alot more prone to warping.

That's not really accurate. The skunk stripe is just there as a means of installing the truss rod. That's what it has been doing since the first maple necked Fenders. It's usually walnut, a wood that isn't any harder than maple. Sanding it, and losing strength is not a concern. The question is why has it come out? It could just be swelling of the wood, (or shrinking of the maple) but since it starts at the 5th and expands, I'd say the glue joint has come free and needs to be repaired. One reason it might not go back in right now is that the truss rod is putting pressure on it.

If it were mine, I'd take the strings off, loosen the truss rod to have no pressure, and see (using clamps and protective cauls) if it could press back in under pressure. If it still couldn't, I'd saturate the area around it with thin superglue so it would penetrate and at least lock the stripe in its current location. Then I'd file it flat.

Rich · #7 03-10-2005, 11:52 AM

On some models [like a JS] that's true, on some, like a 7620, the bubinga is like the 2nd piece of a 3 piece neck, it runs all the way through to the fretboard and isn't just a fillet.

whatshisname · #8 03-10-2005, 12:25 PM

Well, I already tried loosening the truss rod, and seeing if I could push it back in. That was actually the first thing that I thought of doing.

I thought that maybe the truss was overtightened, and that was what caused the problem. Does that make any sense?

I'll mess with it some more when I get home, and see what I can do. If not, I'll saturate it with glue, and file it down.

Thanks everyone!

frankfalbo · #9 03-10-2005, 01:49 PM

Yeah, when you say "skunk stripe" it usualy refers to the thin truss rod filler strip. I'd refer to the bubinga as a neck lamination. Like the newer 3-piece maple necks. The RT150 is a regular skunk stripe.

Rich · #10 03-10-2005, 01:53 PM

Yup, just making sure the masses reading a year from now didn't misconstrue

whatshisname · #11 03-10-2005, 02:07 PM

I do realize that it wouldn't affect the strength of the neck, but, I was more concerned over the stripe, itself.

For one thing, I was worried that it wouldn't be strong enough to take the rods pressure. Also, there was concern over how it would affect the movement of the rod, and it's ability to keep the neck in check. I take it now though, that these really aren't issues, since the amount of wood that I would need ro remove is so small?

Shep · #12 03-11-2005, 01:24 AM

i meant the think lump of wood running up the neck like in some jem's, js's and rg's. thats a half an inch think, not the thin stipe wat's is used in strats.

sorry for that

Shep · #13 03-11-2005, 01:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rich

On some models [like a JS] that's true, on some, like a 7620, the bubinga is like the 2nd piece of a 3 piece neck, it runs all the way through to the fretboard and isn't just a fillet.

thats the case with alot of rg's jem's and js's

it does provide streght.