Hey All,
I am swapping out a couple of necks as I like them beefier.
I have a 2009 Am Std body and I picked up an MIJ 62 RI neck, which is one of my absolute favorites. The neck is just ever so wider than the pocket. I have not tried to tap it in yet, but it definitely isn't one of those wiggle-it-in scenarios. So...what is the best way to fit this neck? I have a Dremel and I could sand down the pocket a tiny bit until it snugs in, but not having done this before...? I want to do this right and neatly without weakening structure.
Thanks for the help...in advance.

I've run up against this a few times before when building my "fake" Stratocasters. The MIJ/CIJ FENDER necks are ever-so-slightly wider than the MIA (or MIM) FENDER neck pocket. My advice -- use no power tools, but gently hand-sand the walls of the neck pocket from the bottom up to arrive at a satisfactory fit. Use masking tape to shield the painted edges of the body from errant sanding strokes and test-fit often during the process to avoid overdoing it. Generally, 80-grit is effective on alder bodies but you may need 60-grit for northern ash and other similar hardwoods.

Best of luck, HTH

Arjay, your friendly forum counterfeit specialist

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"Here's why reliability is job one: A great sounding amp that breaks down goes from being a favorite piece of gear to a useless piece of crap in less time than it takes to read this sentence." -- BRUCE ZINKY

I have done it many times and even with a MIJ neck with a USA body. What I do is take a pain stir stick and then glue (I use adhesive back) abrasive, like 80# grit on one end of the stick and 180# on the other end. Then I sand the edges of the neck sockets very carefully, making sure the sick is level. Strokes inward are the best and less likely to chip the edges of the paint. It does not take much. Start with the 80# on both sides of the neck socket and then finish up with the 180#. The 80# cuts pretty fast and the 180# dresses it up. When I say "both side of the neck socket" I mean you want to take off an even amount on both sides.

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Xhefri's Guitars
www.xhefriguitars.com

+1

Good call on the sanding stick, Xhefri!

Arjay

_________________
"Here's why reliability is job one: A great sounding amp that breaks down goes from being a favorite piece of gear to a useless piece of crap in less time than it takes to read this sentence." -- BRUCE ZINKY

Most grateful! Thank you.