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Post subject: Strat sound too bright after changing the neck
Posted: Tue Jul 04, 2017 5:37 pm
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Hello Start peeps. Recently I've replaced the neck of my American Fender Strat with a new neck, also Amercan Standard neck, genuine Fender replacement part. However, I noticed that the tone of my guitar changed completely! It became too bright. But not like bright that you can control by rolling off the tone. It's somehow thin and clanky. There's no body too the tone like with the old neck. Even when I attack the strings moderately they clank, and there's no body to the tone. No power, it sounds thin and weak. Could this be only because of the neck, or can there be a different problem? Thank you in advance. Cheers!


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Post subject: Re: Strat sound too bright after changing the neck
Posted: Fri Jul 07, 2017 1:17 am
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What was the originals neck fret board and the new one ; Rosewood, maple ?
Did you do a complete and well done set-up ? Pickup height , action, intonation, truss rod ?

Yes a neck may change tone, but not like you say


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Post subject: Re: Strat sound too bright after changing the neck
Posted: Fri Jul 07, 2017 2:59 am
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It was rosewood and I replaced it with a rosewood neck from the same exact Strat model. I set up everything perfectly as before, but even when the guitar is unplugged, it sounds more thin and clanky, and ringy than before. Absolutely no body or depth to the sound, very thin and shrill. Thannks for the reply


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Post subject: Re: Strat sound too bright after changing the neck
Posted: Fri Jul 07, 2017 3:03 am
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If you have some experience to do good set up, I don't know what to say.


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Post subject: Re: Strat sound too bright after changing the neck
Posted: Fri Jul 07, 2017 3:55 am
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If you changed the previous neck due to damage could it be that the neck pocket was also damaged and the new neck isn't seated properly?

Was the previous neck shimmed?

Guitars change and mellow with age. How old was the original neck?

And finally, wood is wood and no two bits are the same. I saw a Custom Shop video where they made a lot of mileage in matching the tone of the neck to the tone of the body so that they compliment each other. Perhaps it is just your new neck and body aren't harmonically compatible. It could all be BS of course but I am sure we have all experienced two identical guitars in specification which sound different in the flesh.

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Post subject: Re: Strat sound too bright after changing the neck
Posted: Fri Jul 07, 2017 11:18 am
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It could be "dead neck syndrome".

I never put much stock in the precept until I actually saw one and installed it on a guitar.

Such instances are rare but -- apparently -- they do occur.

Arjay

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Post subject: Re: Strat sound too bright after changing the neck
Posted: Fri Jul 07, 2017 11:34 am
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I'd consider this as a setup related problem, not wood related. Same kind of neck replacing same kind of neck just doesn't completely change the sound of the guitar. IMHO&E(xperience), of course.
Add/Edit while writing: I've only heard about the DNS Arjay mentions, never met one. So, while it is a possibility, I think it's so rare I would go through everything else first, then (if possible) check if the same neck would kill another Strat, too.

I don't care very much how an electric guitar sounds unplugged, but there is a chance that a) at the neck change, something in the electronics may have suffered damage, and b) the thinness you hear unplugged may be your ears conforming to the thin sound when amplified. Note: this is just to rule out wiring problems, not to suspect your skills or perception.

If all is OK with the wiring: Neck seating in the pocket, neck angle, screws, tuning machines, string guides, nut, frets, saddles, strings, trem, relief, action, intonation, pickup height... (Did I forget something?)
Go through everything from scratch.
If you have notes on critical measures before the neck switch, compare those with the new ones. At the least, compare with factory specs.


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Post subject: Re: Strat sound too bright after changing the neck
Posted: Fri Jul 07, 2017 12:54 pm
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Reckoner wrote:
It was rosewood and I replaced it with a rosewood neck from the same exact Strat model. I set up everything perfectly as before, but even when the guitar is unplugged, it sounds more thin and clanky, and ringy than before. Absolutely no body or depth to the sound, very thin and shrill. Thannks for the reply


"I replaced it with a rosewood neck from the same exact Strat model"

Of course, you understand that such a circumstance doesn't level the playing field. No two Strats of the same model coming off the production line on the same day are going to be exactly the same. Which is why, when you audition a guitar for purchase, you'd best play several examples of the model you are interested in.

IMHO, if you're satisfied that your setup is dimed. I go with a tone wood issue. Try another neck.

Doc :wink:

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Post subject: Re: Strat sound too bright after changing the neck
Posted: Fri Jul 07, 2017 12:56 pm
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Put the old neck back on if you still have it and report back. :D


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Post subject: Re: Strat sound too bright after changing the neck
Posted: Fri Jul 07, 2017 1:23 pm
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jmattis wrote:
I'd consider this as a setup related problem, not wood related. .



We read so often guys saying he do the job properly and after many weeks of post, we ( and he ) discover he don't . :lol:


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Post subject: Re: Strat sound too bright after changing the neck
Posted: Sat Jul 08, 2017 7:50 am
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This is interesting since wood is supposed to have absolutely nothing to do with tone on a solid body electric says science. Actually it does, but more likely a setup issue. My brand new 2014 Strat had the same symptoms. I was pretty discouraged. It didn't stay that way for long. I continued adjusting the setup over the months and now it's a beast. I can't explain it, but maybe something new takes awhile to settle in. This assumes there is nothing faulty in the build, such as the contact of the neck to the body. Science says that doesn't matter, so don't even go there.


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Post subject: Re: Strat sound too bright after changing the neck
Posted: Sat Jul 08, 2017 10:03 am
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LawFlow wrote:
This is interesting since wood is supposed to have absolutely nothing to do with tone on a solid body electric says science.
I think you will find there are only a handful of stubborn defiants still around who will insist that wood has absolutely no affect on tone.
A few years ago there were a greater number of folks insisting wood was 100% irrelevant but the 100% idea has been pretty much debunked in favour of a "wood has a small affect on tone" stance.

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Post subject: Re: Strat sound too bright after changing the neck
Posted: Sat Jul 08, 2017 11:19 am
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LawFlow wrote:
This is interesting since wood is supposed to have absolutely nothing to do with tone on a solid body electric says science.

Science says no such thing. Wood vibrates, and vibrations transplant into both the pickups and strings.

Anyhow, my first guess here is that the connection between neck and body isn't as rigid as it should be. The second guess is that the neck could be a dud. With wood, no two pieces are alike.
But check the connection between the neck and body first. If you have some old duplication sheets from back when we used typewriters, that's excellent in finding out where it makes contact and where not. If not, some crayon marks can help too.


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Post subject: Re: Strat sound too bright after changing the neck
Posted: Sat Jul 08, 2017 12:59 pm
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Pickups are same ?


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Post subject: Re: Strat sound too bright after changing the neck
Posted: Sat Jul 08, 2017 1:04 pm
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stratele52 wrote:
Pickups are same ?


OP says he just replaced the neck.

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