Hi Everyone, I need to draw from this pool of knowledge (I've searched the net, Fender Strat sites, etc. but, no luck)

I have a black 1979 Strat (US) and I got rid of the neck (3 screw, micro-tilt) because it was WAY to thick for my hands - Now, many years later, I have been trying to put another neck on the body and every thing I try just doesn't work! By that I mean the strings will never fit right on the neck, i.e., at least one of the "E" strings will be too far over to even get it ON the neck

I've tried squire necks from Japan, MIM and Korea, no luck; I tried a 1959 RI neck, same problem, tried a USA neck (can't remember the year), same problem

Would you please tell me the neck I need to put on her so I can get back to playing again?? I know I could buy another 79 neck, but then I'm back to the same problem I had with the THICK neck.

ANY help here would be greatly appreciated

that's an odd problem you are describing.

Your best bet might be to take the guitar (and some of the necks you have) to a decent guitar repairman.

your original neck could be reshaped more to your liking, you know.

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Member #26797
My other guitar is a Strat.

Have you tried any other 3-bolt necks on her..? I'm sure it's possible to switch between 3- and 4-bolt necks, but it seems to me that it would require a fair amount of work to get everything correctly aligned.

It is an unusual problem... the neck would have to be the most expensive part of a guitar to replace (if you want a good one), so reshaping the original neck -- if you still have it -- sounds like a good idea. Not all '79 necks will be the same, but chances of finding a slimmer neck at a price that you like will be remote.

You could look for necks from earlier years in the '70s, but people are asking for extortionate sums these days... well over $1,000.

Welcome!

I've seen a lot of those 3 bolts from the late 70s where a particular neck was fitted for a particular body. For example, I've seen some where the butt of the neck was cut at say, an 89 degree angle for the body's corresponding 91 degree neck slot angle. I've also seen many times where there was a dime's worth of space between the low E side's neck butt as it sat in the body's neck slot joint and even at this, the high E string was still right on the edge of the fret/fingerboard. Or worst of all, the high E side fingerboards/necks would start curving in/out between the 8th and 11th frets where fret sprout would be outright dangerous.

Some players will praise their 70s Strats to the hills but the truth of the matter is, Fender quality control was at its lowest point during these years. Granted, not all of them were bad guitars but from SO many of them that I've seen, even brand new back then, as long as the guitar could be strung up, out the factory door it went.

The bottom line is that you very well might be attempting to attach appropriately dimensioned Strat necks into what is an irregularly dimensioned neck joint.

Note that just because something is older, it does not immediately follow that it is better.

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That's why he needs to take it to an expert: a good local luthier.

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Member #26797
My other guitar is a Strat.

Without a doubt!

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First, I want to thank everyone for taking time to help me with your reply's
You've all made some good points and I truly appreciate your "sweet time" (I'll give it right back to ya one of these days...)

Someone gave me a name of a guy that is supposed to do "neck" work and I'm going to give him a call and see if I can take those necks and the body to him for help.

Thanks again guys!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Yeah, Jimi!

Best of luck!!

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Please let us know how it turns out.


Some pictures would be cool too. Good Luck.

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Member #26797
My other guitar is a Strat.