Removing an Acoustic Guitar Neck

Place a bath towel on a table. Place the acoustic guitar face up on the towel. Loosen the guitar string knobs at the end of the guitar neck. Remove the strings from around the fret knobs. Pull the strings off the guitar neck.

Apply heat from a heat gun to the fret over the dovetail joint where the neck meets the hole of the acoustic guitar (typically the 15th fret on the guitar neck, counting from the guitar string knobs). Continue to apply the stream of heated air from the gun in a back and forth pattern until the fret can be seen.

Wrap masking tape around the end of a flat-edged jeweler̵7;s screwdriver. Insert the tip beneath the fret on one side. Lift up on the tip to further loosen the fret. Repeat this procedure on the other side of the fret. Continue to alternate between sides of the fret until it comes free. Place the fret aside.

Shake the can of lemon oil for 10 seconds. Spray a side of a soft cloth with the lemon oil. Wipe the sides and edges of the neck with the moistened side of the cloth. Reapply lemon oil to the cloth and repeat this procedure to protect the wood when the glue is removed from the neck.

Apply the stream of heated air from the heat gun̵7;s nozzle along the sides of the neck, alternating form one side to the next. Continue to do this until you can see the neck visibly lift off from the body of the guitar.

Shake the can of dry lubricant for 10 seconds. Spray both sides of the oyster knife blade with the lubricant. Insert the edge of the blade beneath the fingerboard on the neck. Run the blade along the length of the fingerboard to further loosen it.

Drill two holes, side by side, into the fret slot inside the dovetail area with the portable drill. Place a cappuccino maker next to the guitar and plug it in. Add water to the cappuccino̵7;s water reservoir.

Cut the hose of a basketball pump free from the body with a utility knife. Place the cut end of the hose against the part of the cappuccino maker where the coffee holder would normally be placed. Tape the hose in position with strips of duct tape.

Insert the needle at the end of the hose into the one of the two drilled holes in the acoustic guitar. Press the button that activates the cappuccino maker. Hold the needle vertically so that the steam going into the hose exits inside the guitar. Remove the needle after 40 seconds. Lift the guitar neck off the acoustic guitar.