JohnDaBass Posted November 15, 2021 Share Posted November 15, 2021 (edited) I have owned a Fender USA Stu Hamm Urge bass from new(1993). Early last year I had the neck repaired by a local, so called, guitar repairer who sadly botched my lovely bass. The problems started when I ‘rounded’ the Allen key truss rod adjusting nut. The neck had too much relief and during the tightening of the truss rod the Allen nut rounded. A friend of mine recommended a local Guy who ‘claimed ‘he could replace the Allen headed adjusting nut on the truss rod without too much trouble. Believing, both my (ex) friend and the local (so called) guitar repairer I dropped the bass off and waited for its return. After about a week I got a call to say that the job proved a little more difficult and would I mind having part of the fret board removed to gain access to the offending truss rod end nut. I was told there maybe some small joint marks on the face of the fret board but ‘It would look fine’. Two weeks later my Stu Hamm Urge bass was returned:- · Neck nice and straight · Nice low action · Truss rod working fine · BUT A PIECE OF ROSEWOOD between the nut and the first fret!! I was absolutely livid. I completely ‘Lost it’ when it was explained to me that the Pau Ferro section of the fret board had “Accidentally disintegrated “when it had been removed. The guitar Butcher was very apologetic and offered to forego his fee for the mishap. So I ended up with the bodged truss rod nut that has over time broken through the fret board just south of the 1st Fret. The 1st Fret itself has lifted a crack runs almost to the 2nd Fret. So I contacted Jon Shuker in the hope that he would find some time to slot my neck repair in during time between new guitar builds. We agreed that the way forward is to Replace the fret board with a stronger, stiffer, thicker timber (5- 7mm perhaps?). Adds some strength to the neck construction. I understood that the finished neck profile maybe deeper (front to back) than it was present. Replace the Truss rod with a stronger, modern design, dual action. Replace the side fret dot markers. Accept the loss of some headstock paint colour where the replacement fret board would sit. So Jon planned to replace the rod with a 2 way, rout out the original channel glue a new strip of maple in, rout a new channel , etc, but it would make the neck far more adjustable. A slightly thicker board is was a good idea, and Jon had some very nice 50yr old rosewood that would do the trick. So last Monday I spent a very pleasant drive (5hrs) from wet West Wales to sunny Peak District to visit Jon and have him reassemble and setup my bass. What a fine craftsman Jon is , he has brought my beloved Stu Hamm back to life and I am indebted to him for providing such a quality service. Edited November 15, 2021 by JohnDaBass 7 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
naxos10 Posted November 15, 2021 Share Posted November 15, 2021 Looks like a fine job done there, full marks to Jon Shuker. I bet you're a very happy man. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jakester Posted November 15, 2021 Share Posted November 15, 2021 I cannot believe the original "repairer" had the temerity to return that back to you in that state!! Absolutely outrageous! I mean, mistakes happen, stuff gets damaged, but own up to it and ask the owner how they'd like to proceed - don't just bodge it and hope they don't notice!! I don't think I've ever seen a worse job (that bloke on eBay excepted). Well done for not murdering the "repairer". Lovely work by Jon and great to see it back to fine fettle again! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jakester Posted November 15, 2021 Share Posted November 15, 2021 (edited) I'm absoutely seething on your behalf! I hope you'll be asking the first bloke to pay for Jon's repairs? Edited November 15, 2021 by Jakester Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eude Posted November 15, 2021 Share Posted November 15, 2021 That is wonderful. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jus Lukin Posted November 15, 2021 Share Posted November 15, 2021 (edited) - Edited March 15, 2022 by Jus Lukin 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Merton Posted November 15, 2021 Share Posted November 15, 2021 Wonderful repair of a calamitous botch job! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LukeFRC Posted November 16, 2021 Share Posted November 16, 2021 20 hours ago, JohnDaBass said: I like the way that something seems to have have squashed the fretboard in the other side of the 1st fret too! I'm glad you didn't end up with a criminal record after getting a bass back like that! And three cheers for Jon Shuker 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bartelby Posted November 16, 2021 Share Posted November 16, 2021 Great rescue of the lovely looking bass! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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