Hello. I am creating my first pastcaster. I am looking on ebay for bodies (i have a neck that I like off of a mim). I was wondering what the micro tilt feature is and how necessary is it? Also I see headings such as 57 reissue or 60s reissue. What exactly does this pertain to if the body is alder? I appreciate all feedback. Anything on what to look out for when putting a project together.

Thanks in advance

Worn frets, crackling electronics, fakes, pickups that are seated improperly...everything can be fixed, but you don't really want to buy without a good knowledge of what you're getting.

I find that the micro-tilt is a nice feature that eliminates the need for shimming the neck or neck joint if the neck isn't a good alignment with the bridge and saddles...again, where there's a problem, there is most always a fix, but it's best to start clean, IMO.

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Being able to play and enjoy music is a gift that's often taken for granted.

Don't leave home without it!

57 or 62 bodies have a deeper tummy cut, quite handy if like me your on the portly side.

Also being from higher up the catalogue I'd expect a better standard of body timber than on say a MIM roadworn or a highway one. Thats not a set in stone rule though.

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No no and no

The neck I have. I also have the electronics and pickguard from a working instrument.

When installing the neck, are ther any special things to pay attention to? What are the pros and cons to shielding paint ?

There is always a chance that you may need to use a shim in the neck pocket if the strings hit the higher frets. Not a big deal.

I've always used copper foil tape for shielding but many seem to like the paint as well.

_________________
Being able to play and enjoy music is a gift that's often taken for granted.

Don't leave home without it!

Hi Mike: though if I remember right you yourself ran a thread asking if anyone actually used their micro-tilt? I recall few people - if any - saying they did. I've certainly never needed to use it on any Strat.

I tend to think it a 1970s solution to a problem that modern manufacturing methods have more or less done away with. A neck pocket constructed with a flat bottom and to the right depth simply shouldn't need shimming.

Someone will want to correct me on that, though...

Cheers - C

I have a 70's Strat an luckily I never had to use the micro tilt but if I had to I'd still use a shim rather than creating a gap between the neck and pocket.

Thanks for all the help. For as long as I have been playingI have never really gotten into the mechanical part of guitaring. I have my eye on a few bodies on ebay and look forward to this project. Ill keep everything posted. Again thanks.