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Post subject: 2 String Spacings = 2 Neck Pockets? + Mexico
Posted: Tue Jan 20, 2015 9:30 pm
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Help me sort this out in my head. It's bothering me. Here is my theory.

The great Fender vision of guitars with replaceable parts is different than having guitars with interchangeable parts. Although, many parts are interchangeable sometimes with acceptable compromises. The Tele evolved not as a cheap model guitar but to increase the interchangeability within the same model guitar.

Since the Fender Strat has consistently used two string spacings at the bridge (2 1/16 and 2 7/32) it begs to reason that there are at least two different neck pockets to accommodate them. This is because the size and profile of the neck joint follows the strings. The misconception that there is only one spec for a Strat neck pocket is clearly misguided. The proof is in the parts guitars. Some work, some don't, and others are acceptable although not ideal.

To make things even more complex the MIM Strats use a different nut string spacing. This (however small) changes the dimensions of the neck as it hits the body. This makes MIM and MIA Strats incompatible despite having the same bridge string spacing.

Without even looking at the specs I suspect all MIA Teles have the wider nut string spacing, all MIM Teles have the narrower nut string spacing, and 2 1/8 string spacing at the bridge. This should make all MIA necks and bodies interchangeable and all MIM necks and bodies interchangeable for Teles. In the world of Teles there is much more interchangeability.

You may have noticed I've left out MIJ to this point. That's because they used MIA specs. For all practical purposes MIJ is just as interchangeable as MIA. With their quality craftsmanship it's no wonder they no longer have a Fender license. It created competition within Fender itself. A problem fixed simply by restricting MIM nut string spacing.

Now before you all lay into me, understand there are a lot of Fender guitars out there. There are going to be exceptions to this. I really only have three Strats in front of me to look at. One each MIM, MIJ, and MIA. I know they can not speak for everything out of their respective factories. But... am i misguided on any of this?


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Post subject: Re: 2 String Spacings = 2 Neck Pockets? + Mexico
Posted: Wed Jan 21, 2015 2:27 am
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Lakatu wrote:
... am i misguided on any of this?


Yes 8)


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Post subject: Re: 2 String Spacings = 2 Neck Pockets? + Mexico
Posted: Wed Jan 21, 2015 2:37 am
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I have two Strats to hand.
One is MiM (1993-94), and one is MiA (2011-12).
I get out my calipers and measure the necks at the body end, and find that they're the same measurement.

Stop fretting (pun intended) about things that are not a problem, and spend more time fretting with your fingers on the strings :D


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Post subject: Re: 2 String Spacings = 2 Neck Pockets? + Mexico
Posted: Wed Jan 21, 2015 10:05 am
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stratmangler: I think you are right. Perhaps I was misguided asking this question here. My calipers and experience tell me something very different. Please, I mean no disrespect. I suspect that your MIA and MIM Strats have the same string spacing at the bridge. Ultimately, that is more important than the factory it came from when it comes to interchangeability. I always enjoy deriving smiles from playing but I get them from building too.

I did find one piece of information that I was wrong about in my statement above. Japan still has it's license to make Fender guitars. I'm surprised no one mentioned it yet. I find that very interesting since we do no see them here in the US. I'll guess it's like Hondas. Save the US car industry by making Japanese products so expensive it's not worth it. Even the American companies will tell you they can not make a car that will last as long as a Honda for as little money as the Japanese can do it. So which Americans does this save? It sure helps the businesses but the consumers are forced to buy an inferior product or spend more to acquire Japanese reliability. Regardless of the reason the fact remains that the American market no longer sees any competition from the Japanese Fender factory.

The reason the original post has become a problem for me is because I wanted to build some guitars where the necks, bodies, and electronics were all interchangeable. In this way I could experience the effects of changing only one of these elements keeping the other two perfectly equal. This ability has a high value to a luthier who can test the effects of different tone woods or designs in a more isolated (and less expensive) way than comparing two whole guitars allow. There are fewer variables. Unfortunately, when it came down to it this was not possible without using a consistent string spacing. Try this. The LR Baggs vintage bridge uses the narrow mounting holes of a 2 1/16 Fender bridge but has a very slightly wider string spacing of a Tele (2 1/8). You can set it up. It plays perfectly fine. You can also clearly see, without even measuring, that the strings get closer to the edge of the fretboard as they get nearer the bridge. It doesn't make it unplayable but there is a compromise involved even with this small change of 1/16 at the bridge. Now if your MIM and MIA Strats have the same string spacing at the bridge the only difference is .035 at the nut. That's a little more than 1/32. I'm sure you could swap them out and still have two playable guitars. The level of compromise is very small but it does exist. 5/32 is the difference between vintage and modern string spacing at the bridge. That's a higher compromise when swapping them out warranting different pockets.


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Post subject: Re: 2 String Spacings = 2 Neck Pockets? + Mexico
Posted: Thu Jan 22, 2015 8:00 am
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I don't put too much stock into your theory as there are multiple string spacings and nut width combinations even within the guitars made in the same factory. For instance A MIM standard has the narrow spaced bridge and a 42mm nut and an American Vintage reissue has a wide spaced bridge and 42 MM nut. The American standard has the same narrow spacing of the MIM standard and classic player line, but uses a wider 42.8 mm nut. All of these necks will interchange easily with one another despite country of origin. If you look down the American Fender line the American Standard and Deluxe and their derivatives are the only production models with the 42.8 MM nut, 42 mm is pretty standard with Fender. The 42.8 mm nut is more of a "modern" feature.

"You may have noticed I've left out MIJ to this point. That's because they used MIA specs. For all practical purposes MIJ is just as interchangeable as MIA. With their quality craftsmanship it's no wonder they no longer have a Fender license. It created competition within Fender itself. A problem fixed simply by restricting MIM nut string spacing. "

They are still making MIJ Fenders, we get some models here, but for the most part they do not allow new MIJ models to be available here since they compete with MIM models and lower end MIA models. They are typically for the Japanese domestic market only. http://www.fenderjapan.co.jp/


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Post subject: Re: 2 String Spacings = 2 Neck Pockets? + Mexico
Posted: Fri Jan 23, 2015 7:30 pm
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The Fender solution is an interesting one for those who can figure it out and understand what it means. Don't expect to without understanding the problem...


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