Taylor Neck Reset 101

[@lancesheffield1212]

I recieved my shim set from Taylor today and did the neck reset myself in a little over an hour considering I was really taking my time. As a reference my 814CE was 10/64ths or 3.5mm on the low E at the 12th fret (almost double factory specs.) and it really is very simple as long as you accurately measure your string height and just understand that the shims are numbered from -20 to +30 (all even numbers) and you can raise or lower the string height / action by moving 2 shims incrementally up or down as needed for every 1/64th" you want to move up or down. You also maintain the neck geometry by making sure to keep a 6 increment relationship between the neck and the body shim #'s. So in my case I had an existing #6 shim under the fret board and a #12 shim at the body joint and I needed to take 5/64ths off so I went from a #6 up to a #16 on my fret board shim and up to a #22 at the joint between the neck and body shim and it was dead on factory specifications (5/64ths) when I was finished to my disbelief. I know it might seem like a lot of information but I had put doing this off for a long time and it was extremely easy, fun, and my guitar plays better now than when I bought it new.

[@burlingtonbill4687]

Well I purchased a Taylor from Cream City music in Wisconsin and to set the action the fellow lowered the saddle. Come to find out much later it was actually missing a bolt that held on the neck. I was going to snug up the neck when I could see a small gap and when I took off the Taylor tag that covers the bolts I discovered one had never been put in. Lucky for me we were wintering jus 3 hours from El Cajon, California and the fine folks at Taylor fixed it and put in a new saddle bone. Now the action is great and it plays and sounds great. Burlington Bill busking from the road and here on you tube!

[@dlmullins9054]

Doesn't surprise me with Taylor. They aren't customer oriented. I have been trying to purchase shims from them, but unless you are the original owner they will not help you much. It's why this is my last Taylor. Not worth the frustration. Be prepared to keep doing neck resets every couple years or so. They get harder to work on each time too.

[@burlingtonbill4687]

I have to say that the people at the repair center in El Cajon bent over backwards for us and fixed my guitar at no cost to me. I would buy another Taylor in a heartbeat. Also we toured the factory and they were so nice.@@dlmullins9054

[@richurro20]

@@dlmullins9054 Every other guitar maker has that policy. if your not the original owner they cant help you. Martin does it, Gibson does it, shoot even Yamaha does it.

[@ghoops4295]

love it!

[@dlmullins9054]

How can we purchase shims from your site? I went and looked but could not find them. There isn't a Taylor service station anywhere near me here in the middle of Appalachia.

[@jimcamp2423]

Makes sense, shims cheaper than bridge fix. although tweaking the saddles that plastic part is about $ 10 if you screw it up. The whole set of shims ? What do they charge for that ? Might just be easier to use paper or business card(s) as shims. One could always manufacture their own shims and sand them to proper thicknesses, trial & error. While more time consuming, you're only doing it once in a blue moon anyway. It's not like shimming a bolt on neck isn't a reversible process. Ovation has shims in the saddle/bridge slot as well as bolt on necks at some point for an easier adjustment process. Look at what our hero Leo Fender did with the design of the Telecaster/Stratocaster in the 1950's that is now a Taylor acoustic guitar neck reset approach ? With shims, you can't mess it up without being able to go back to what you started with as a neck reset, just don't start using glue to be permanent.

[@zoltarwizdom6708]

I should’ve watched this before sanding down the saddle :)

[@sdriza]

lots of saddles out there!

[@RickMcCargar]

I had a local luthier lower my action by doing this reset. When I received the guitar, the fretboard was visibly lifted off the top of the guitar, Not by much, but enough that you scan slip a few pieces of paper beneath the top and fretboard. Is that how this should appear after doing this? Thank you for any info you may provide.

[@greatkingrat]

I just got my 210CE back from a qualified Taylor Tech after a reset. The action is now amazing! I cannot get any paper between the neck and the body, in fact it still gives the impression that it’s glued on. That doesn’t sound right at all.

[@Natethefarmer89]

How can I purchase a shim set from you?

[@pdadamsMusic]

I thought this was going to instruct on how to use Taylors shim?

[@Dboy-ui1fb]

I took my taylor to sam ash for a set and now I feel like my guitar got raped. The action is good, feels good. But that beautiful echo sound is gone. Not sure what to do. I hope it's just the strings.

[@SuperReverbious]

When you say you took it for a "set" do you mean a "setup" or a "neck reset"? If you walked into Sam Ash and said "the action is high can you fix it" they probably just sanded down the saddle to lower it and in the process probably destroyed the sound as well as the intonation. The good news is a new saddle is about $20 from Taylor's website and that's pretty easily reversed if that's what they did. On the other hand if you went in and said I need a neck reset and they said they could do it without voiding your warranty, they may have sent it to a taylor authorized repair center for the evaluation and work and had it done under warranty. That would be worth knowing. A setup and a neck reset are different things. Having a non authorized shop work on your guitar can void the warranty, if you are even the original owner. If you're not, there isn't any warranty anyway so any repairs are at your cost. But I'd still take it to an authorized service center because they will understand the taylor neck joint and how to PROPERLY set the guitar up. What I would suggest is that you first understand exactly what was done to the guitar. Second, go on the taylor website and click OWNER RESOURCES and then SERVICE CENTERS, then scroll down to the map and put your zip code in. See if Sam Ash comes up as a Taylor Authorized Service Center. I doubt they will. But you may find one in your area. If you are the original owner, you may or may not be able to get the neck reset under warranty if it actually needs it. My experience is Taylor tries to do everything possible to avoid honoring their warranty anyway. Still I would recommend that you 1) Call taylor factory support and discuss what the guitar is doing and how to get that sorted out. 2) Take it (or ship it) to a Taylor Authorized Repair Center for evaluation and repair. Be prepared to pay for what's needed because Taylor probably won't honor their warranty. But it's your guitar. If you explain how you want it set up, the Taylor Authorized Repair Center should be able to set it up to your preference which may be the same as Taylor's factory setup, or may be something different. 3) If you take it to a non taylor authorized repair center, expect they will do nothing but mess with the nut or saddle. Recommended reading: Taylor Website, Owner Resources, Service and Support Center, Guitar Care: Document called Assessing A Taylor Guitar Set up Here's the link: taylorguitars.zendesk.com/hc/en-us/articles/4403711312013-Assessing-a-Taylor-Guitar-Set-Up

[@Dboy-ui1fb]

@@SuperReverbious wow bro thanks for the info. Yeah I took in for a setup. The major problem I had was intonation, I use a capo alot. But when I put capo up at 4th or 5th fret it goes out of tune. That's why I sent it to Sam ash. The guy there did sand the saddle a but but mainly he put a couple shims in the neck attached to the body. Basically he took it apart. It's definitely not the same. Intonation is better but just not right. I can't take back to him either because they are shutting down all locations.

[@123Yossarian123]

I dont understand why other brands dont do this

[@Chris_Lohmann]

That would be because Taylor patented their neck joint. If other brands copied it, they would be violating Taylor’s patent and Taylor would have legal grounds for a lawsuit.

[@greatkingrat]

Ooh, in NZ you can’t get a shim set without being a qualified Taylor Technician.

[@mikegreen2417]

Cool cool.

[@macchi205]

"Probably, this neck attachment system causes the guitar lose some volume."

[@RahulSharma_JaiMataDi]

I don’t think so … bolt on don’t sounds good

[@davidbirk9813]

I guess all Collings and Bourgeois guitars are junk, among others.

[@RahulSharma_JaiMataDi]

@@davidbirk9813 For ME in front of Martin they are 😂