Any way to straighten the top under the fingerboard tongue?

[Whiskeyrebel]

I'm sure there is, the question is how is it done, and is it worth the cost.

My mid 60s J50ADJ plays great up to the 14th fret, but all the frets on the tongue have a buzz. Sighting along the fingerboard edge, it looks like the tongue is not straight with the neck, as though the top beneath the tongue has a slight dive from the heel into the edge of the soundhole.

I guess the trivial solution is only play up to the 12th fret (no money past it etc..) but I'm curious what the proper remedy is.

The guitar was mostly unused when I got it. It was sold to me by a coworker who got it new when he was a teen. I don't know if he kept it strung to pitch all that time or not.

It was just beginning to belly slightly and lift the tail edge of the bridge (wood with the ceramic insert) a little. I installed a brass pin Bridge Doctor. I don't know if the torque from that is contributing, or whether the tongue dive is a symptom of the original bellying.

 

[Rob Sharer]

Ahh, the dreaded Rising Tongue Syndrome. This is usually dealt with by pulling the upper frets and planing the board, assuming the guitar doesn't need a neck reset. Don't despair, this can be repaired! Cheers,

Rob


p.s. Considering the lifting bridge, sounds like she needs to go in for a thorough checkout by a competent vintage acoustic man.

 

[Whiskeyrebel]

In this case it is more like Drooping Tongue than rising. It looks more like the fingerboard needs to be shored up under the soundhole edge as opposed to shaved down. Either that or the top needs to be flattened between the heel and soundhole, like it needs a jackpost there. But just by a mm or two.

The soundhole edge of the tongue is low, so planing the fingerboard would leave it thin at the 14th fret and thick at the nut and soundhole. A straight line struck between these edges would not be aimed level to the top. If the tongue were gone and you sighted along the rosewood to the 14th fret, it looks like it would be level to the top.

 

[Whiskeyrebel]

Bump...no pun intended.

So with that bit of extra detail defined, does it change the nature of the repair that would be performed?