chemicals to bend the wood?
unless jimi made it toss it?
if you really wanted to take drastic action you could alter the compression rod to make it a dual action.
i forget exactly where i saw this done, but its not too tricky, its just a trick.
the pro is that even if the neck is still backbowed you can ajust the rod and fix it.
the con is that is will be forever changed, and on vintage stuff thats no good.
i think that strings(heavey gauged, tuned high)
might not be the best option. mainly becuz it may create a bow(relief) in a different area but your problem area may still be affected.
i think that MAYBE, just maybe, if you took the neck off, put it on a flat table and appllied a clamp or to to the problem area until it was straight that might help alot more.
and it might even by wise to try the addition of heat and water altho that would be a very tricky job becuz of the 40+ year old glue lines.
