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Post subject: Re: Fitted a new neck but not sure how to set it up right
Posted: Sun Feb 26, 2017 9:00 am
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Aspiring Musician
Aspiring Musician

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Ok thanks again. Slowly but surely I feel I'm getting there with this guitar. I have set all my guitars up previously, but that was only tweaking how they came out of the box. Starting from scratch is a whole different kettle of fish.


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Post subject: Re: Fitted a new neck but not sure how to set it up right
Posted: Sun Feb 26, 2017 11:07 am
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Professional Musician
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Location: Coastal Bend, Tx.
I think you'll be happier much closer to the standard Fender specs for relief, especially if your still having problems. Not only is it a good starting point but it is usually most players preferred relief.


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Post subject: Re: Fitted a new neck but not sure how to set it up right
Posted: Tue Feb 28, 2017 1:35 am
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Hobbyist
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I think you're pretty close to getting it. With the bridge height at approx. 3/8" (10 mm)just check the action at the 12th fret and compare with the action at the last fret. This section of the fretboard is level and the gap should not decrease (could increase by about 1/64"), otherwise the neck angle needs to decrease by shimming at the headstock end of the neck socket to drop the body end of the neck. If the gap is too much, shims are required at the bridge end of the neck.Try with masking tape thickness shims till the desired gap is achieved.
It is possible to get the neck angle pretty close without strings on the guitar by setting the bridge height, and by placing a 12" steel rule (straight edge) from the 13th fret to the bridge, the bottom of the straight edge should contact the bridge about 5/64" (2.0 mm) below the top of the bridge. Saves playing with the strings when removing the neck.
After the angle is set, set the relief and the action.
It's all learning have fun, Ross


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Post subject: Re: Fitted a new neck but not sure how to set it up right
Posted: Fri Mar 03, 2017 6:27 am
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Aspiring Musician
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Have just adjusted the truss rod again and the neck now looks pretty much dead straight. Will let it sit again and have another look on Sunday. It's still buzzing out when I get anywhere near the 12th fret, but I think now I'm this close for the sake of £20 I might just take it down the shop and get the rest done by a pro.

I'd rather pay the money and be playing it next week than have it sitting about for another 2 or 3 weeks while I try find the time and inclination to do it.


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Post subject: Re: Fitted a new neck but not sure how to set it up right
Posted: Sat Mar 04, 2017 10:53 am
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Professional Musician
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Location: Coastal Bend, Tx.
Hopefully you find a tech that can solve the issues w/ this axe, GL.


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Post subject: Re: Fitted a new neck but not sure how to set it up right
Posted: Sat Mar 11, 2017 12:06 pm
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Aspiring Musician
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Well got it back from the local shop and.......it's useless. High strings choking out above the 12th fret, action is playable but not great. But the choking notes are a total killer.

I'm starting to lose the will to live with this, before I brought this neck it was a cheap homebuilt guitar that was ok to play,no better, and pretty grim to look at. Now it's no longer a cheap guitar as the neck was decent money and the body and pickups weren't exactly bottom rung.

With this neck this is a £250-300 guitar, and I'm about ready to chuck it in a case and throw it in the loft never to be seen again.

Now I'm looking at my last option being to find somebody who will rebuild the guitar from scratch, tell me what's wrong and fix it. I've already been through the only 2 local 'luthiers', one shafted me and the one today I think is a decent guy but just not up to the task when it comes to anything more than adjusting a factory guitar slightly.

The neck feels great, I know the guitar sounds huge, and the guitar looks mega to my eyes, but it's severely testing my patience !


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Post subject: Re: Fitted a new neck but not sure how to set it up right
Posted: Sat Mar 11, 2017 1:06 pm
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Professional Musician
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Joined: Thu Aug 23, 2007 1:57 pm
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Location: Rossendale UK
Sounds like the neck and fret job might be a source of grief.
You need a long straight edge to check - one that can reach from the first fret to the last.
Take the neck off the guitar and use the truss rod adjuster to straighten the neck, using the long straight edge to make sure that the neck is straight by resting it on the fret tops.

If you can't get the edge to sit on all of the fret tops then things are not beyond recovery, but you're looking at a full fret dress and reprofile at least, and possibly a full refret, which would also mean a full setup complete with a new nut being fitted and cut.
The nut would need to be adjusted too following a fret dress and reprofile.

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Never argue with an idiot. They will only bring you down to their level and beat you with experience.


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Post subject: Re: Fitted a new neck but not sure how to set it up right
Posted: Sun Mar 12, 2017 2:06 am
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Rock Star
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First of all, why would you accept a guitar back from the local shop if it isn't in proper setup?

"Choking out above 12th fret" - played normally or choking just when bending?
Might suggest (wait, hasn't this one come up before..?) too much relief. Might be uneven frets. The neck may need some fallaway. Might be a combination of several problems.
Anyway, take it back to the shop, their job ain't finished.


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Post subject: Re: Fitted a new neck but not sure how to set it up right
Posted: Sun Mar 12, 2017 7:25 am
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jmattis wrote:
First of all, why would you accept a guitar back from the local shop if it isn't in proper setup?

It's not uncommon that temperature and humidity differs between a setup and a player's home, causing changes over a few days.
Which is one of many reasons why guitar players should learn how to set up a guitar.


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Post subject: Re: Fitted a new neck but not sure how to set it up right
Posted: Sun Mar 12, 2017 11:24 am
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That's possible, although not probable - at least I got the impression the guitar had problems right from the gotitback moment.
And just about the only thing affected by shop/home temp/humidity difference is relief. In any case, a tech should give instructions if he/she/it suspects changes are to be expected.

I fully agree every player should know how to set up their guitar. Probably 95< % don't... 8)


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Post subject: Re: Fitted a new neck but not sure how to set it up right
Posted: Sun Mar 12, 2017 5:36 pm
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Professional Musician
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Location: Coastal Bend, Tx.
Sounds to me like an impasse has been reached if a tech couldn't solve the problem. I would guess its probably a neck angle problem from a to thin body possibly..

I wouldn't do anything crazy to the neck as the $ you have in to it is the more substantial #.
Maybe think about getting a different body to try w/ the nice neck.

Do you have a Tele body? or are you determined to fit the tele style neck to a strat style body. If so you may need to find a better tech.


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Post subject: Re: Fitted a new neck but not sure how to set it up right
Posted: Mon Mar 13, 2017 3:33 am
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Aspiring Musician
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Yes unfortunately due to where I was parked I didn't have time to check the guitar, i used him before to do a simple set up on a mim strat and it came back playing like a dream, so I don't doubt his ability for the simpler things.

He did say it might not be perfect and to go back if there were any problems, which I can't do until Thursday. I'll see what he says, what he tried and what he suggests.

I got myself some calipers aswell so I can measure the body thickness and the neck.

Is there a specific place I should be measuring the neck? At the heel I assume but any particular fret?

I have no other use for this neck right now, the guitar is pretty much exactly what I wanted when i built it, so don't really want to swap any fundamentals. Especially as I'd then have to find another back routed, twin humbucker 4 pot body, which aren't exactly everywhere.


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Post subject: Re: Fitted a new neck but not sure how to set it up right
Posted: Tue Mar 14, 2017 7:52 pm
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Professional Musician
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Location: Coastal Bend, Tx.
Caliper's are necessary for what you are trying to do. Anything else is only as close as you can read it.

I would probably measure somewhere centered on the neck between the mounting holes and the corresponding location on the body cavity.
I am not sure what the body thickness should be but if you have another Strat you could compare the two.
You should also compare the previous old necks measurement.


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Post subject: Re: Fitted a new neck but not sure how to set it up right
Posted: Wed Mar 15, 2017 8:50 am
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Aspiring Musician
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Could making the neck pocket a couple of mm deeper help things?

If so would I be better off removing it from the neck heel or the pocket seat? Depends on the measurements I guess.

I still have the old neck and have a mim std strat to compare it to.

Will measure everything up tomorrow before I head back down the shop to see what his thoughts are.


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Post subject: Re: Fitted a new neck but not sure how to set it up right
Posted: Wed Mar 15, 2017 11:40 am
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Rock Star
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moochy13 wrote:
Could making the neck pocket a couple of mm deeper help things?
Based on what you have told here (the internet diagnosing is always a PIA...) plus the pic where the neck/body relation shows, I'd evaluate the height of the neck in the pocket is not the biggest problem.
The neck/fretboard height in relation to the body top is seldom a crucial factor in playability if the saddles can be raised to proper action, plus the pickups can be adjusted to proper height.

moochy13 wrote:
head back down the shop to see what his thoughts are.
Talk to him/her/it first about neck angle, checking if frets are level, relief and action.
If all those (and the nut slots) are alright, I'd be surprised if the neck height would need to be altered.

(BTW, did you ever get that Tele with the Irongear Smoke Stack with push/push coil tap wired? What was the correct diagram?)


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