What is Warping?
A warped guitar neck is characterized by structural misalignment where one side of the neck is lower or twisted compared to the other. This problem can significantly impact playability and sound quality.
Most likely, your Steinberger neck is not warped. However, while Steinberger’s blend neck materials were once thought to be “bullet-proof,” we’ve seen plenty of issues over the years, including too much or too little neck relief and even twisted necks. Causes for these issues range from manufacturing inconsistencies to extreme heat exposure.
Effects of a Warped Neck
- Difficulty in tuning
- Fret buzz
- Decreased sound quality and intonation issues
Identifying a Warped Neck
A warped neck can be diagnosed in several ways:
- Persistent tuning issues
- Visual inspection (eye-ball method)
- Using feeler gauges to measure string-to-fret distance
Solutions
We have successfully saved many problem necks over the years. The most common technique is to remove the frets, re-radius the fingerboard, and re-fret the instrument. Another possible solution is to shave or shim the bridge rout to adjust for an exaggerated neck angle.
These can compensate for possible deformations that have occurred in the carbon fiber epoxy blend over the decades.
Take-Aways
The durability of Steinberger necks is what draws many players to these instruments, and indeed, they are much more durable and more stable than wood in any circumstance. However, all materials have their limits, and it is important to avoid situations that would put your instrument at risk, such as leaving it in a hot car for several days.
While repairing a warped neck is not an inexpensive process, it’s often a more cost-effective solution than replacing the entire guitar or bass. Many repair shops lack experience with these phenolic fingerboards, so it’s crucial to trust an expert.
If your Steinberger has neck issues, or you suspect it might, we are happy to help at reasonable rates and with efficient turnaround times.
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