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Post subject: Contemplating a neck swap
Posted: Fri Sep 13, 2013 1:49 pm
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Aspiring Musician
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I would like to swap necks between my 2012 American Deluxe Strat and my 2013 Standard Strat. In theory the procedure is simple and straight forward. However I've never actually performed the operation so before making the attempt I would like to ask those who have if there's more to it than the obvious.

Thanks and Cheers!
BM

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Post subject: Re: Contemplating a neck swap
Posted: Fri Sep 13, 2013 5:30 pm
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Hey BM,

I'm far from the most qualified person on this forum to answer your question, BUT here's my take on it after taking off and replacing the necks on a half dozen Strats, or in the case of my "Relic" build and Plus restoration, just fitting a "new" one on.

Four years ago the very idea of taking a neck off and replacing it seemed a fantastic achievement to me. But at the time I had only played acoustics.

Not sure what's obvious to you, probably all of it, but here goes:

Fender necks are pretty much interchangeable, except if one has a Contour heel, then one hole won't match up to a non-Contour heel pocket, but I have read that you can drill it for standard.

Doesn't matter if it's 21 or 22 frets.

I always soap or wax the screw threads for ease of tightening and better feel. Torque them down gently and in a diagonal pattern (rather than clockwise, for instance).

I put both E strings on and check the alignment along the edge before anything else. If you feel it's too close on one side, loosen the screws, gently whack the headstock, then tighten the screws. Repeat until satisfied. It should go without saying that you want the screws firmly tight but not stripped.

Sight down the neck's edge and check the alignment with the bridge. You want it slightly higher than the bridge plate, lower than the top of your saddles.

I've never had a problem with that, but you can adjust the microtilt through the neck plate if it has one, after loosening the screws, or shim the neck in the pocket. Again, I've never had that problem but maybe a more refined player would require tighter specs.

Play the ding-dong-dangle out of it for a few days and recheck.

- Dan

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Post subject: Re: Contemplating a neck swap
Posted: Sat Sep 14, 2013 4:03 am
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    danagos wrote:
    ... Not sure what's obvious to you, probably all of it, ... Fender necks are pretty much interchangeable, except if one has a Contour heel, then one hole won't match up to a non-Contour heel pocket, ...
Obviously what should be obvious to me wasn't. :oops: Good thing I read your post before beginning the operation and attempting to put the contoured peg of my American Deluxe Strat into a square hole of the Standard Strat.

Thanks for the detailed reply, danagos. It's very much appreciated.

Cheers!
BM

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Post subject: Re: Contemplating a neck swap
Posted: Sat Sep 14, 2013 7:23 pm
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Actually the Deluxe neck will fit a Standard body it has the extra fifth hole drilled.
A standard neck will not fit a deluxe body it does not have the fifth hole drilled for a contoured neck.
You can yourself install a Deluxe Neck onto a Standard body.
Be sure to put a small amount of liquid soap on the screw that is going into newly threaded hole.
Now the Standard neck on the deluxe body must be taken to a repair shop.
The fifth hole should be drilled by an experienced person.
You run the chance of running a drill through the front of your fretboard.

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Post subject: Re: Contemplating a neck swap
Posted: Sun Sep 15, 2013 4:22 am
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Good catch Donny, I didn't know about the 5th hole, although I've had my Dlx neck off and taken pics.

The liquid soap is a good idea too.

Something to deduct from the enormous list of things I don't know but should. :D

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Post subject: Re: Contemplating a neck swap
Posted: Sun Sep 15, 2013 6:07 am
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danagos wrote:
Good catch Donny, I didn't know about the 5th hole, although I've had my Dlx neck off and taken pics.

The liquid soap is a good idea too.

Something to deduct from the enormous list of things I don't know but should. :D

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Lets just say I done a couple in my day.

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