Guitarbuild neck pocket depth

guitarcookie1

I’ve had two bodies from them now, a Strat and a Tele. In both cases the neck pocket is about 2mm too shallow which means the bridge saddles are always that bit too high. 

Anyone else found this? Is it something I’ve done wrong & how can it be rectified (easily)?

The necks used have been a Jap/USA Strat (could be either), GSP Strat neck and a Hosco Tele neck. 

GoldenEraGuitars

Have you measured it with callipers? You must have a USA neck.. the Japanese one would be too wide.

guitarcookie1

GoldenEraGuitars said:

Have you measured it with callipers? You must have a USA neck.. the Japanese one would be too wide.

I’ve not actually measured it, I’m going by the fit of the neck in the body - currently the GSP neck is fitted to the Strat body and the bridge saddles are as high as they can go to accommodate the lack of depth in the neck pocket. 

Can post pictures tomorrow when the light is better. 

GoldenEraGuitars

Yip, callipers and photographs would be handy. 

guitarcookie1

Hopefully these show the issue. 

I think that the side dots should be just showing above the body to give a better height at the bridge. 

https://i.imgur.com/gFnVwEK.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/WMDVAe1.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/qFmPp3q.jpg

The bridge saddles are raised to the top of their adjusting screws. 

GoldenEraGuitars

If you can measure the depth of the cavity and the depth of the heel of the neck with callipers that would tell us more. 

SteveRobinson

Vintage spec is 5/8" or just under 16mm deep and I think that's what Guitarbuild work to.

Modern Fenders tend to be a little bit deeper.

DrBob

I have had this with a GuitarBuild body in the past

guitarcookie1

GoldenEraGuitars said:

If you can measure the depth of the cavity and the depth of the heel of the neck with callipers that would tell us more. 

https://i.imgur.com/ecfUOS0.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/og7yy9p.jpg

Possibly not the most accurate, but hopefully near enough? 

SteveRobinson

Both those measurements are vintage correct.

guitarcookie1

SteveRobinson said:

Both those measurements are vintage correct.

Ok, thank you. 

What could I be missing in my setup that means the saddles are so high?

GoldenEraGuitars

Do you have a picture of the nut?

Andyjr1515

The simplest fix is a thin shim between the nut side of the heel and the two fixing screws.  It wouldn't take a lot (offcut of an old store card/credit card should be more than plenty) and it's much easier than trying to change the pocket.

guitarcookie1

GoldenEraGuitars said:

Do you have a picture of the nut?

https://i.imgur.com/G2ZrtbX.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/HAbHI9J.jpg

Nut height is about 4.8mm on the bass side (my eyes are not very good). 

WezV

Is something stopping the necks fully sitting in the pocket?  it doesn't look like it, but the measurements don't stack up

A few quick sums:
24.4-15.9 = 8.5mm.   Is the end of the neck 8.5mm above the body surface? (don't forget to account for plate thickness)

8.5+2mm for frets (*or actual fret height if you let us know that) = 10.5mm.   IF you put a straight edge along the frets overhanging the body,  is this height consistent all the way to the bridge?

add on double whatever you want your 12th fret action to be. i.e, 1.5mm at 12th needs 3mm at bridge. 10.5+3 = 14.5mm.    This gives the height your saddles should be above the body plane, which is about right for most strats

Your saddles look to be well above that, so there must be some angle in the neck join.   Either its not sitting properly, or it has some angle built in.   You can check with a spirit level app on your phone.   first put the guitar on a level surface, measure the angle on the body, hopefully zero.   now measure the tops of the frets.


The other option is the neck isn't straight enough, but i really don't think that's the issue from what we can see here???

GoldenEraGuitars

@WezV can you see a shadow between the bottom of the neck and the top of the pocket?

https://i.imgur.com/TjOKrTx.jpg

I wonder if the two rear neck plate screws aren’t in right and are pushing the heal upwards? This creating an angle 

WezV

GoldenEraGuitars said:

@WezV can you see a shadow between the bottom of the neck and the top of the pocket?


I wonder if the two rear neck plate screws aren’t in right and are pushing the heal upwards? This creating an angle 

i wasn't sure either way from the pic, but i think the neck not being fully seated is the most likely explanation 

guitarcookie1

GoldenEraGuitars said:

@WezV can you see a shadow between the bottom of the neck and the top of the pocket?

https://i.imgur.com/TjOKrTx.jpg

I wonder if the two rear neck plate screws aren’t in right and are pushing the heal upwards? This creating an angle 

WezV said:

GoldenEraGuitars said:

@WezV can you see a shadow between the bottom of the neck and the top of the pocket?


I wonder if the two rear neck plate screws aren’t in right and are pushing the heal upwards? This creating an angle 

i wasn't sure either way from the pic, but i think the neck not being fully seated is the most likely explanation 

Well spotted both, thank you

I never saw that. Neck removed and set properly and all is good

mikem8634

That was some impressive problem solving