Neck pocket gaps

Casabg

Hi All, 
I have just picked up a custom shop masterbuilt strat. There was a neck pocket gap and the neck needed realigning as the bass E was too close to the edge of the fretboard. Now that the adjustment has happened the pocket gap is even worse. Thoughts ? Thanks
https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/pb35iakjtc7pu2szp76kw/h?rlkey=foysjglqt3u47iv2czq2bu4h4&dl=0

Can’t seem to upload pics

Casabg

https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/upckpxjp1x84okvvmordx/IMG_8759.JPG?rlkey=azwpfojrqk4obrhtpz0l5kmat&dl=0

Hope this pic works

elstoof

Yikes. Is this new from a dealer?

Casabg

It sure is and an excellent dealer, great people

fretmeister

Send it back.

Casabg

That’s what my gut says too, thank you

nero1701

Yes, I'd have sent that back

elstoof

+1 looks anything but masterbuilt

guitars4you

Not what I'm use to seeing on a CS or MB - Often so tight that you can accidentally damage the finish, on the body, putting it back 

Casabg

Thank you all for your insight

BillDL

Even on most of the ready sprayed bodies I've bought in the past for less than £300 to build Partscasters with standard Fender and Squier necks, the pockets have been a very accurate "squeaky" fit, and so tight that I've chipped finish around the pocket as mentioned by @guitars4you;. I wouldn't accept a guitar with a gap like that at the neck pocket.  It's been badly routed and I'm wondering what the pin holes are close to the edge of the pocket.

One of the other views from your DropBox photos:

Just my opinion also, but it might just be due to the perspective in some of the photos, but it looks to me as though the fret ends have been bevelled too far in from the fretboard edge.  It looks as though the fretboard edges have been "rolled", and that makes it somewhat harder to contour the fret ends, but the low E string looks very close to where the bevel starts in some of the photos.

Casabg

BillDL said:

Even on most of the ready sprayed bodies I've bought in the past for less than £300 to build Partscasters with standard Fender and Squier necks, the pockets have been a very accurate "squeaky" fit, and so tight that I've chipped finish around the pocket as mentioned by @guitars4you;. I wouldn't accept a guitar with a gap like that at the neck pocket.  It's been badly routed and I'm wondering what the pin holes are close to the edge of the pocket.

Thank you, it’s A relic, so I would anticipate that they are deliberate dings. Actually, this is a rebuild because the last guitar had a massive Lacquer run.

https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/s8r033xqcby7ilquxlkav/IMG_9421.JPG?rlkey=6mw6bs011elafljelac7zpt9z&dl=0

richardhomer

That needs to go back…

Casabg

Yes, this is after the neck has been realigned, just by loosening, the screws, moving the neck and tightening, the gap is now much worse

p90fool

Is it a 70s reissue?

Offset

Send The Bugger Back.

Unacceptable on a mid-range guitar let alone a high-end one.

guitars4you

Casabg said:

Yes, this is after the neck has been realigned, just by loosening, the screws, moving the neck and tightening, the gap is now much worse

My experience on a CS or MB is that there is no/little negotiation for such alignment anyway - Normally perfect (unlike many original examples) such is the advantage of CNC routing etc 

ICBM

p90fool said:

Is it a 70s reissue?

My first thought too!

Casabg

no it's a 60s, Strat and I was thinking, if they were like that in the 60s, then it could be argued that it's an authentic copy. However I'm not getting that vibe

ICBM

Casabg said:

no it's a 60s, Strat and I was thinking, if they were like that in the 60s, then it could be argued that it's an authentic copy. However I'm not getting that vibe

Some were, although not commonly - routing accuracy in the 60s wasn't all that high either, although it did get noticeably worse in the 70s. Joking aside, even if they were all like that it would not be acceptable on what is supposed to be a modern high-quality replica *but with the faults - usually listed as things like worn frets, crackly pots etc - removed*. Even the Mexican 70s reissues have neck pockets that fit properly.

I also agree with BillDL that the frets are excessively filed at the ends, that's neither vintage-accurate nor desirable for playability.

guitars4you

Casabg said:

no it's a 60s, Strat and I was thinking, if they were like that in the 60s, then it could be argued that it's an authentic copy. However I'm not getting that vibe

The advantage of CNC ensures such issues stay in the vintage era - not all vintage guitars had ‘alignment’ issues but some did - Accuracy of CNC generally eradicates such issues