The guitar is original, see pictures below for details. The neck has those vintage tuners with cellulose lacquer all over (which is a bit sticky by the way) and the most unique feature is certainly the thin headstock with no string tree. Tried one in a store just before buying and the sound is identical, so pickups are original also and they sound great, they all have their own character.

As you can see in the pictures, the neck joint has not been messed with, it`s "virgin". You can also notice the unusual bridge block under the guitar which is longer.

Note that the filed frets #20 and #21 are not a problem to me, they are lower than original but playable, and I almost never get that high on the neck anyways.

I have a reasonable experience with guitars, as I have built a few classical guitars a decade ago, I had to build my necks from scratch. Note that there were no truss rods into them however.

Nonetheless, I decided to bend my neck because I have seen Dan Erlewine, the well known american luthier, doing just that to assist a stiff truss rod on a Les Paul and it worked for him. It didn't for me. I don't think there is a damage to the rod as it does what it is supposed to do, it changes the relief, but not enough. I could add a few more quarter turns but it`s not worth it, it's too stiff already.

Someone asked if there was an additional washer, there was none other than the thin one to protect the wood. The threads are clean, well greased and not stripped. However, I suspected that the rod was hitting the end of the capped bolt that tightens it so I added a washer myself and thought I had found the culprit, but it didn't help neither.

...but we may wonder why the rod was going that deep into the bolt...it might be normal I don't know. If the rod was broken though, I don't think it would tighten the way it does. Still a mystery, but I think I'll have to buy another neck...

Why not try contacting the original owner and seeing if they have the recipt. Explain that the guitar is in a state and needs warranty work. Its along shot but may pay off.

I do think that the non transferable warranty is stupid. its like FMIC are guaranteeing the buyer not their product. I'd rather have a 5 year from manufacture warranty.

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No no and no

Just add a sliver of wood in neck pocket at the back as Fender use to do in the fifties and early sixties this will alter the angle of the neck slightly lowering the action and be the answer you need without replacing necks, it would be a pity to have to replace an original EJ neck and you dont know what rubbish you may end up with , do this I have a feeling it will work for you.

Inserting a piece of wood? Sounds like an interesting idea, never thought of that, I`ll ask a luthier about it, if it`s feasible, it would probably work. Just wonder if there is enough space for that...

Simon I did it to one of my partscasters and it works. The sliver which goes under the neck at the back is only about 1 to 2mm thick as wide as the neck about half inch wide.

Simonmtl the term to search is called shimming. It may allieviate the symptom but wont solve the problem.

Why not just take the guitar to a repair place and pay to get it sorted if feasible. I cant see it being much more than a setup issue myself. Maybe a incorrectly inserted rod.
Whichever its a long way past forum debate solving and needs some hands on attention.

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No no and no

That's the long and short of it. The best advice.

BTW: the EJs I've encountered in shops were my idea of the very top of the production line range. Very nice instruments.

But this is not the first EJ we've seen here with neck and/or pocket issues, is it?

- C

yeah follow Niki's advice.

Ceri, probably best to not talk about that one!!!!

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I'm not an expert, but I play one on the internet.

Looks like Fender is going back to the days of the seventies with shoddy work and 3 bolt necks that rattled along so sad to hear.

out of the thousands and thousands of guitars fender puts out, we hear these problems very very rarely.
Often times when the full story comes out you find that the problem is the result of damage, or of someone who doesn't know what they're doing, or understand how simple parts work has been dicking around.

Not saying this is the case here, but on 2nd hand guitars you have no idea what has happened to the guitar before you got it.

Sometimes people are less than fully honest when they sell gear.

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I'm not an expert, but I play one on the internet.

Oh I see, the sliver you were talking about is a shim. I thought you were talking about inserting a thin wood laminate =inside= the neck, which may sound foolish but if it was feasible, it might have solved the relief problem.

I agree that shimming is not the solution, as long as the relief is out of spec, the action will be suboptimal.

Yes, I definitely have to get an experienced luthier check it out, this is what I will do as I can't do anything more.

Damn, those necks are expensive on stratosphere!! 800$+ !!

Thanks all.

Yeah but should yours be duff you know you can make some money back. Just post a link to your auction here so we dont get snared please.

All the best with it.

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No no and no

aahhahaha! Note that we are better off staying away ffrom used necks on ebay at all.