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tomsd - Posted - 05/29/2026: 13:44:32
I’m restoring an old SS Stewart banjo and the first thing I want to address is a lifted fretboard at the neck-pot joint. The fretboard was touching the pot, which I think was part of the cause. Also, it was tough to get the flesh loop/head out because it is so tight and now will have to be forced back down to remount the head. I think i should file it back so there is an air gap. Does that sound right or is there something else i should consider?
Appreciate any advice I can get.
lightgauge - Posted - 05/29/2026: 13:58:39
Your two choices are to sand the neck back or put spacers/shims between the pot and lower neck area to hold it back further from the pot. I am no SS Stewart guy, so you choose which.
Bill Rogers - Posted - 05/29/2026: 16:04:15
Take the neck off and set the head; then put it back together.
Joel Hooks - Posted - 05/29/2026: 16:56:42
It is common and expected to remove the neck. It is also easy.
tomsd - Posted - 05/29/2026: 18:10:06
Thanks all. I’m pretty sure that the separation of the fretboard from the neck was caused by it pressing on the tension ring. That’s my concern, not the difficulty in squeezing the flesh hoop through the space. Was just looking for confirmation that the neck and fretboard shouldn’t press against the tension ring. @lightgauge I didn’t think of the spacers!
DSmoke - Posted - 05/30/2026: 04:25:52
If you sand that area back, be prepared for the action to rise. Was the separation there before you removed the head?
tomsd - Posted - 05/30/2026: 09:19:05
quote:
Originally posted by DSmoke
If you sand that area back, be prepared for the action to rise. Was the separation there before you removed the head?
That makes sense. Hopefully it's negligible. maybe i'll shim the lower neck first like @lightguage suggested and check the action when the fretboard isn't pushing on the pot. And yes, the separation was already there. It was like that when I bought it.
Thanks.
Edited by - tomsd on 05/30/2026 09:25:21
