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Topic: Removing the Neck off a '70's BMI |
Dennis Montgomery
From:
Western Washington
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Posted 16 Jun 2019 11:22 am |
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Hi all,
I've completed the deep clean of the changer and other metal parts of my newly acquired 70's BMI 12 string. After removing the tuning tree I wanted to also remove the neck...but...there doesn't appear to be any obvious way to do so. There are no screws/bolts on the undercarriage that attach through to the neck like the tuning tree.
I'm thinking there may be a top section of mica & wood that pops off the frame and the neck screws are under that...and then a 2nd mica & wood section that makes up the undercarriage? I'm doubting that as I've removed all screws/bolts and couldn't pop off the top mica assembly. Either that, or the wood neck is glued directly to the top mica platform and isn't removable 
Anyone out there know for sure how to get the neck off one of these?
Thanks!
_________________
Hear my latest album, "Celestial" featuring a combination of Mullen SD12 and Synthesizers:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mhh6b_xXTx4&list=PLfXm8aXRTFz0x-Sxso0NWw493qAouK
Hear my album, "Armistice" featuring Fender 400 on every song:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLfXm8aXRTFz2Pz_GXhvmjne7lPEtsplyW
Hear my Pedal Steel Only playlist featuring Mullen G2 SD12 on covers like Candyman, Wild Horses, Across the Universe & more...
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLfXm8aXRTFz2f0JOyiXpZyzNrvnJObliA |
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Brian Hollands
From:
Geneva, FL USA
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Posted 16 Jun 2019 11:32 am
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Did you remove the fret board? Some are screwed down from the top then the fret board is placed over the screws
_________________
'81 Sho-bud LDG, 2 EMCI's |
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Dennis Montgomery
From:
Western Washington
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Donny Hinson
From:
Glen Burnie, Md. U.S.A.
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Posted 16 Jun 2019 2:42 pm
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A magnet would probably reveal if there are screwheads under the fretboard.  |
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Dennis Montgomery
From:
Western Washington
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Dan Rollans
From:
Little Rock, Arkansas, USA
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Posted 17 Jun 2019 7:21 pm BMI neck
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I’m the proud owner and player of two BMI guitars. My first BMI was a ten string. I sold it to buy a twelve string. I found it 15 years later almost completely disassembled. After removing the crossbars I found the screws to remove the neck.
Check under the crossbars for screw heads with finish washers.
By the way, after Don at BMI refurbished the guitar with Zane’s E9+6th tuning on ten strings it is the best sounding and playing ten string steel I’ve ever played. Very proud of it. |
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Larry Dering
From:
Missouri, USA
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Posted 18 Jun 2019 4:43 am
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| Good to hear Dan. I have 2 BMI S10s and one is all apart for my attempt to rebuild it. I hope to have similar results. |
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Lyle Dent
From:
Little Rock ,Arkansas
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Posted 18 Jun 2019 5:30 am Bmi
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Dan’s S10 BMI is one of the best sounding steels of any brand that I have ever heard.
It may also have a lot to do with Dan’s outstanding playing!
_________________
Rittenberry Prestige SD-12,Mullen G2 SD-12 ,Mullen PRP S-12 BMI S-12 V8 octal, BJS Bars, LiveSteelStrings,Steelers Choice Seat. |
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Dennis Montgomery
From:
Western Washington
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Posted 18 Jun 2019 8:01 am Re: BMI neck
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| Dan Rollans wrote: |
| After removing the crossbars I found the screws to remove the neck. Check under the crossbars for screw heads with finish washers. |
Well, they're not there on mine! Just pulled the crossbars to double check and there's no screws underneath them. The only screws on the whole undercarriage are the ones to remove the tuning tree, the little 1/8" inchers that hold the pedal crossbar return springs, and a couple by the changer that may or may not go through to the neck - I've removed them before and they don't seem to make any difference or loosen the neck at all
It wouldn't surprise me if design changes occurred over the life of these...mine is an early to mid 70's, Ser# 0073...
_________________
Hear my latest album, "Celestial" featuring a combination of Mullen SD12 and Synthesizers:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mhh6b_xXTx4&list=PLfXm8aXRTFz0x-Sxso0NWw493qAouK
Hear my album, "Armistice" featuring Fender 400 on every song:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLfXm8aXRTFz2Pz_GXhvmjne7lPEtsplyW
Hear my Pedal Steel Only playlist featuring Mullen G2 SD12 on covers like Candyman, Wild Horses, Across the Universe & more...
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLfXm8aXRTFz2f0JOyiXpZyzNrvnJObliA |
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Dan Rollans
From:
Little Rock, Arkansas, USA
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Posted 18 Jun 2019 8:46 am BMI neck removal
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| Hey Dennis, I just spoke with Don at BMI. He said back in the 70’s they attached the necks with screws under the fret board. He said you can use a small gauge string, .009-.010, to slide under and pull the fretboard loose to expose the screws. He also said not worry about damaging the fretboard. He has plenty in stock. Let me know if this does the trick. |
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Dennis Montgomery
From:
Western Washington
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Posted 18 Jun 2019 9:17 am
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Hi Dan,
Thanks so much for calling Don and getting the info for me...greatly appreciated! I've never separated a fretboard from a neck before so this should be an adventure Can you tell me what type of glue I should use to reattach the old (or new if I can't salvage the old one) fretboard?
I also wanted to give a plug for Don at BMI for something else. My BMI was missing the RKL lever and I spoke to him last week. He told me to send him the whole crossbar so he could repair the knee lever (since my BMI was so old he wasn't sure what type of knee lever assembly it used). He received it last Wed and I received the repaired piece just yesterday!
Now that's what I call excellent customer service
_________________
Hear my latest album, "Celestial" featuring a combination of Mullen SD12 and Synthesizers:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mhh6b_xXTx4&list=PLfXm8aXRTFz0x-Sxso0NWw493qAouK
Hear my album, "Armistice" featuring Fender 400 on every song:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLfXm8aXRTFz2Pz_GXhvmjne7lPEtsplyW
Hear my Pedal Steel Only playlist featuring Mullen G2 SD12 on covers like Candyman, Wild Horses, Across the Universe & more...
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLfXm8aXRTFz2f0JOyiXpZyzNrvnJObliA |
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Dan Rollans
From:
Little Rock, Arkansas, USA
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Posted 18 Jun 2019 9:32 am
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| Dennis I’m not sure about the glue. I would think that a Formica type contact glue would do the job. Ask Don when you order a new fretboard. |
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Brian Hollands
From:
Geneva, FL USA
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Posted 18 Jun 2019 10:03 am
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Dennis, You can use double sided tape to put the fretboard back on (there is a clear Scotch type double sided tape that's not thick). And yes, if you're careful you can re-use it.
A hair dryer will work to loosen up the glue/tape that it's held on with.
_________________
'81 Sho-bud LDG, 2 EMCI's |
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Dennis Montgomery
From:
Western Washington
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Posted 18 Jun 2019 11:06 am
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Success! Used my heat gun rather than a blow dryer and one of those thin 5"x8" metal sheets our roofers used on the garage roof between the shingles and the siding (on the top pic underneath the top edge of the fretboard). Just gently slid it under the edge of the fretboard, then worked it through with the help of the heat gun. Had the fretboard off in 5 minutes with no bends or creases so I can reuse it. I'll definitely sand the neck and fretboard underside smooth and go for the double sided tape trick rather than contact cement.
This is very cool because with a flat top surface, I can move ahead with my vinyl wrap project 
Thanks everyone for all the help
_________________
Hear my latest album, "Celestial" featuring a combination of Mullen SD12 and Synthesizers:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mhh6b_xXTx4&list=PLfXm8aXRTFz0x-Sxso0NWw493qAouK
Hear my album, "Armistice" featuring Fender 400 on every song:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLfXm8aXRTFz2Pz_GXhvmjne7lPEtsplyW
Hear my Pedal Steel Only playlist featuring Mullen G2 SD12 on covers like Candyman, Wild Horses, Across the Universe & more...
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLfXm8aXRTFz2f0JOyiXpZyzNrvnJObliA |
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