Folks
I have a nice reverse hardtail Strat body on which the neck pocket could do with being about 2-3mm deeper, body is finish painted, to get round it I have made a plastic spacer which fits under the bridge plate, which works well, it’s hardly noticeable, but I know its there…what would be the best way to deepen the pocket without ruining it?
I’m sort of 50/50 to leave it or try and fix it, as I’d be gutted if I ruin it…
Stranger from another planet welcome to our hole - Just strap on your guitar and we'll play some rock 'n' roll
Comments
Alternatively, simply purchase a taller bridge. e.g. Schaller 3D6 - with or without optional steel spacer. (This would solve the over-long intonation screw issue of the current bridge.)
Take the neck off, trace the shape of the pocket up to and including the two headstock-side screws on a piece of paper. Use that as your template to cut the plastic. Cut it just past where the screws are and cut a couple of clearance slots:
Pop the neck back on and put the screws back in.
Partially tighten them but just before the gap is closed, slip the shim in.
Tighten up and you should find that your action is higher. If it's too high, use a thinner piece of plastic, if it's still too low, pop a second or thicker shim in.
Thanks for that I’ve used shims many times before, but in the opposite direction, it never occurred to me to use one at the open end of the neck pocket, new neck should arrive today so Ill give it a go…
It's a lot less scary (and effective) than fiddling about with the bottom of the neck pocket and, even though the shim this side is theoretically visible, you would REALLY have to be looking to see it...
New neck fits fine and Ive reprofiled the square Tele end to Strat radius and shaped the paddle head to Tele shape…..
The Brucie Bonus was the new neck from the top of the last fret to the underside of the heel is 1.3mm less than the Fender spec necks that were on it previously, so an unexpected fluke is that it looks like no shim or routing is necessary! What a result, waiting for tuners and Tru Oil