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Installation
and Adjustment of
Moses Stringed Instrument Necks:
1) Heel width provided
at time of purchase:
To avoid the potential of a loose heel pocket fit, Moses replacement neck
heels are supplied slightly (app. 0.015”) wider than some body heel
pocket
width specifications. Some unsealed portions of wood bodies shrink over
time, leaving a larger than spec’d pocket. And some bodies have
paint/finish that rolls the edge into the pocket, leaving a smaller than
spec’d dimension. The Moses neck heel is intended to allow for a
tighter
fit in oversized pockets. Moses has provided a 1/16” (0.060”)
finish on
all sides of the heel pocket area to allow for light removal of material
to achieve a good fit for smaller pockets. Anywhere up to 0.022”
(total
of both heel sides) may be easily removed and brought back to a finished
look by sanding with 220, then 400, then 600 sand paper on a flat block.
Final surface finish is achieved by rubbing out with #0000 steel wool
as
required. You will have a perfect fitting neck.
2) Heel mount-to-body
threaded insert installation:
Best installation of the heel mounting threaded inserts for attachment
of
the Moses neck to the body is best done with both body and neck in hand.
This is due to the importance of achieving a proper balance between the
distances of the two outside strings to the fingerboard edges.
Manufacturing inconsistencies also result in varying pickup and bridge
placement. Complete instructions for threaded insert installation may
be
accessed by going to any Moses neck model page at www.mosesgraphite.com,
clicking on the ‘Moses Neck Details’ words in the upper right
and choosing
‘Threaded Insert Installation’ in the Table of Contents.
3) Tuning key installation:
a) Moses provides tuning key holes sized for the original manufacturers
tuners unless otherwise specified at the time of order. Should the hole
size need to be altered, Moses recommends that a reamer be used. The
second choice should be a round file. Avoid using a drill bit. It can
wander or catch on the holes’ side walls.
b) Tuner bushings
often have knurled/rough hole-mating surfaces. The
amount of knurl varies by manufacturer. As a result, tuners that are
spec’d for the same hole size may vary in their actual diameter
dimension.
As for quality hardwood necks, never force a knurled bushing in the
the
hole of a Moses peghead. Moses headstock materials do not give like
softer wood necks. Adjust the hole size appropriately to allow for ease
of insertion
c) For installation of tuner mount set screws, choose a drill size that
is between the solid inside diameter of the screw and the outside diameter
of the screw’s threads. Drill the hole. Then install the set screw
by
screwing in alternately two turns clockwise, then one turn
counterclockwise. You will be tapping the screws threads as you are
installing the screw.
d) Moses neck headstocks
have an airy low density filler as part of their
composition. You may see voids along on the inside walls of the tuner
holes. This is part of the manufacturing process and not a defect.
4) Refretting:
Moses necks refret at least as easily as wood necks, and definitely much
easier than those with phenolic fretboards. There is no grain/fibrous
material in the area of the fret tang to cause blowout. However you will
still need to maintain attention to detail to insure a clean pull of each
fret from the fingerboard edges. You may remove frets using the standard
technique of applying light heat with a soldering gun and pulling
vertically/evenly with a pair of flush ground nippers.
5) Truss rod adjustment:
All Moses necks are supplied with a fine tune truss rod system. This is
used in the initial setup and will not be needed for maintenance of a
constant neck shape. It is possible that a subsequent adjustment may be
required with in the first year as the neck incurs its final set.
Otherwise, adjustment will only be required should the player change/add
playing styles that produce a different string rotation and need for
increased or decreased relief. Most Moses necks are supplied with a
Gibson-style truss rod nut that uses a 5/16” Gibson truss rod wrench
or a
5/16” nut driver. Some necks may use a 5/32”/4 mm nut driver.
For
initial setup, set the nut just snug tight, then turn further clockwise
for about 135 degrees. It is likely that a further adjustment will be
required after you check the mounted neck on a playable instrument and
compare the relief with your playing style requirements.
Good playing for you.
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