Picked this up off here last year and I am finally getting around to doing something with it...
The problem is that the neck pocket is too shallow, so when I seat a neck in place it sits 4-5mm higher against the body than normal. This means that, when strung using a standard ashtray tele bridge the strings just sit/rest on the frets. I didn't even try a shim because of the amount that it is out.
So I was thinking of adding a jazzmaster/jag style bridge with threaded saddles to raise up the string height up more. Then maybe using a Gibson style tail piece.
What do you think? Doable? Or is there a better solution?
Comments
Option 2, something along the lines you say but I think you will need to introduce an angle to the neck pocket to get things all where they need to be.
So you think the neck will need a shim at the body end to create the angle? That shouldn't be a problem depending on how much angle is required I guess..
You forgot Option 3) BURN IT! I've just received my latest energy bill
jasonbone75's Option 1 would be my choice - possibly with a Charvel-style inclined pocket floor.
The two screw holes at either end of the neck pickup cavity suggest that a dogear P90 had been fitted at some point. That would require some clearance height for the strings. So, perhaps, raising the bridge is the solution after all?
In the immortal words of this forum, it needs a Bigsby. A B5 system would look right and might help with on-strap balance.
I have a Bigsby kicking around somewhere so that could be an option but I saw this as more of a hardtail guitar...
It had a Wilkinson ashtray bridge and did indeed have a dogear P90, it all worked fine, I cant for the life of me remember which neck I used, but can only assume it was quite shallow thickness (by some sort of luck)
I now recall putting something else together where the neck was too “thick” and a different neck solved it…
Ive made so many now I cant remember what went with what
Out of curiosity, Ill have a look at my necks later and see if there is much difference in thickness…
Thinking further about it I would have used a three saddle bridge and the saddles have quite a range of adjustment, more so than a 6 saddle
Perhaps it was a combination of saddle adjustment range and a shallower neck….
Not much help really, but if you get it right it will yield something special, @poopot did a nice one with a floyd if i recall.