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Post subject: neck trouble
Posted: Mon Aug 04, 2008 1:09 pm
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ok heres my problem. bout a year ago i had the nut replaced on my mim strat. since then it seems like it hasnt played the same and the G string has played out of tune on the first couple of frets.. i was asuming that the place i took it to didnt do a very good job. now ive just got it back from another store and now theyre telling me that the nut isnt the only problem. he says that my frets are worn and they need to be worked on also. but by the time i have the nut replaced again and have the frets worked on i mine as well buy a brand new neck almost ready to go from stewmac here http://www.stewmac.com/shop/Bodies,_nec ... uitar.html. so what should i do? buy a new neck or have the one i have worked on? oh and i need my guitar in two weeks so i gota decide quick.[/code][/url]


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Post subject: Re: neck trouble
Posted: Mon Aug 04, 2008 1:21 pm
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downsouth09 wrote:
ok heres my problem. bout a year ago i had the nut replaced on my mim strat. since then it seems like it hasnt played the same and the G string has played out of tune on the first couple of frets.. i was asuming that the place i took it to didnt do a very good job. now ive just got it back from another store and now theyre telling me that the nut isnt the only problem. he says that my frets are worn and they need to be worked on also. but by the time i have the nut replaced again and have the frets worked on i mine as well buy a brand new neck almost ready to go from stewmac here http://www.stewmac.com/shop/Bodies,_nec ... uitar.html. so what should i do? buy a new neck or have the one i have worked on? oh and i need my guitar in two weeks so i gota decide quick.[/code][/url]


Is the decision a money issue or a time issue? Or both.

I recently had my MIM in the shop for a fret dressing, and complete setup. It took me three weeks to get my guitar back, only because this guy is popular, and does good work. Did your tech give you an ETA? (estimated time to get the guitar back to you)? Do you like the neck you have now?

My tech charged me $150 for the fret dressing and a complete setup. I don't know what a new neck costs, but if it's more, I'd probably just go with getting the frets worked on.

If you're thinking of the new neck........will it even take more time? (ordering, shipping, getting it to the tech to put on-unless you do it yourself).

Those are all the questions that would go through my mind, and the info I would want for making a decision.

And in the end.....it's all your decision. I'm sure either way would get your guitar up and running again.

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Post subject:
Posted: Mon Aug 04, 2008 1:33 pm
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What does your tech say is actually wrong with your nut? Got to be something pretty bad if you need it replaced rather than just having a slot or two adjusted - trying to imagine what that could be.

Regarding the frets: I'm assuming you've got grooves developing, particularly on the treble side of the first few frets, is that right? So he's talking about levelling and recrowning them, yes? Should cost similar to a new neck.

Bottom line: how good is the neck you have at present? A keeper, and so worth some money to maintain it? Or not special?

Remember, although Mighty Mite (who supply StewMac's S-type necks, if memory serves) make a goodly range of decent necks, the one's you will buy from Stewart MacDonald are a pretty average, generic model, chosen to suit "average" customers. Not necessarily a ringer for the one you already have on there. You've considered your radius, the shape of the back of the neck, number of frets, whether you prefer heel or nut truss rod adjustment, the material and color of the finish...? And of course, you'll still have to pay to have the neck fitted and the guitar set up, unless you are comfortable doing that yourself.

Might indeed be right to replace the neck you've got - but think carefully first.

Cheers - C


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Posted: Mon Aug 04, 2008 1:36 pm
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Yes u might be able to get a new neck but then u will have to pay to have someone put that neck on the guitar...
Do another full setup and get the new neck to "agree" with ur existing body...
All that is more tech time too...
So I say get your neck worked on... unless u realy want a 'new' neck for that guitar.
And u know it won't cost more when ALL is said and done.

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Post subject:
Posted: Mon Aug 04, 2008 1:47 pm
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syeklops, its more of a money issue i guess. i wanted to have it to play at a gig but i dont absolutly have to have it. i have another guitar i can borrow. and the teck i took it to couldnt work on the frets.

ceri, what happpened the first time to get my nut replaced was me tinkering :oops: but he didnt actually say, but when i got it back the first time from being replaced the shop didnt even round off the nut so that says someting about the qualitly of work. and i suppose the necks a keeper. nuthing wrong with it than the present problems.


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Posted: Mon Aug 04, 2008 1:58 pm
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downsouth09 wrote:
syeklops, its more of a money issue i guess. i wanted to have it to play at a gig but i dont absolutly have to have it. i have another guitar i can borrow. and the teck i took it to couldnt work on the frets.

ceri, what happpened the first time to get my nut replaced was me tinkering :oops: but he didnt actually say, but when i got it back the first time from being replaced the shop didnt even round off the nut so that says someting about the qualitly of work. and i suppose the necks a keeper. nuthing wrong with it than the present problems.


If it's a money issue......then get estimates on New neck VS repairing the old neck. (and think about what YOU want-new neck or old neck)

I'm guessing from what you're saying, that your tech isn't good enough to do fret dressing?, and if you're not happy with THAT tech, look for some others.

I actually went to three guitar techs, and got three estimates, before having the fret dressing and complete setup done for my MIM Strat. That gave me the opportunity to see the shop, meet the tech, and get a feeling for each tech. It also gave me three estimates to think about. I thought that going to each one of the techs, would help me decide, who I'd like to use in the future as well.

I ended up taking my guitar to the tech that was cheapest ($150), not because of money, but I liked how he treated me, the lines of people bringing their guitar to him for work (must be decent to have such a customer base), and I was absolutely happy with his work.

One of the other techs, wanted to ship my guitar out to another tech for the fret work.

The last tech that I checked out, does the guitar work for Santana.....and he was VERY expensive, compared to the others. (I don't have Santana's money).

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Posted: Mon Aug 04, 2008 2:00 pm
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downsouth09 wrote:
ceri, what happpened the first time to get my nut replaced was me tinkering :oops: but he didnt actually say, but when i got it back the first time from being replaced the shop didnt even round off the nut so that says someting about the qualitly of work. and i suppose the necks a keeper. nuthing wrong with it than the present problems.


Hmm, well I hesitate to mention it in the august company of the Forum, but if you pop back over to StewMac and take a look at this page -

http://www.stewmac.com/shop/Nuts,_saddl ... _Nuts.html

- you will notice, second item down, the pre-slotted Tusq nut for Strats, for a princely $6.29.

Here at the Forum of course we naturally prefer people to make their own nuts, ideally from a bone selected from the skeleton of a cow they first hunted and shot themselves.

But [whispering] strictly between you and me, if you slip one of those Tusq nuts in place, quite often you can get away without any further adjustment of the slots - job done. At worst, you will only need to get a tech to adjust the slots a little to get the strings to the ideal height for your requirements. Not pricey. But don't tell anyone I told you that: it just don't have the right cred round here. It's OK: nobody was listening... :wink:

- C


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Posted: Mon Aug 04, 2008 2:06 pm
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Ceri wrote:
downsouth09 wrote:
ceri, what happpened the first time to get my nut replaced was me tinkering :oops: but he didnt actually say, but when i got it back the first time from being replaced the shop didnt even round off the nut so that says someting about the qualitly of work. and i suppose the necks a keeper. nuthing wrong with it than the present problems.


Hmm, well I hesitate to mention it in the august company of the Forum, but if you pop back over to StewMac and take a look at this page -

http://www.stewmac.com/shop/Nuts,_saddl ... _Nuts.html

- you will notice, second item down, the pre-slotted Tusq nut for Strats, for a princely $6.29.

Here at the Forum of course we naturally prefer people to make their own nuts, ideally from a bone selected from the skeleton of a cow they first hunted and shot themselves.

But [whispering] strictly between you and me, if you slip one of those Tusq nuts in place, quite often you can get away without any further adjustment of the slots - job done. At worst, you will only need to get a tech to adjust the slots a little to get the strings to the ideal height for your requirements. Not pricey. But don't tell anyone I told you that: it just don't have the right cred round here. It's OK: nobody was listening... :wink:

- C


I HEARD THAT!

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Post subject:
Posted: Mon Aug 04, 2008 2:11 pm
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Syeklops wrote:
I HEARD THAT!


Hahaha! :D Yep, thought I'd get in trouble for that one...

Seriously though, I find that with a minimum of effort you can turn one of those Tusq nuts into something every bit as good as what arrives on a stock Strat. And sometimes I'm kind of tweaking at it trying to find adjustments to make, just cos I feel it's kind of morally wrong to install a pre-made nut and do nothing to it...

Nice little product, for the money.

Cheers - C


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