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Post subject: Replacing a Tele Neck?
Posted: Thu Jan 01, 2015 12:28 am
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Hi.

I was wondering if Fender offers a service where I could replace a neck?
The tele model I have is the Old Growth tele made in 2011. It's a 21 frets Maple U-shape neck, more specific:

Neck Shape: "U" Shape
Fret Size: Medium Jumbo
Fingerboard Radius: 9.5" (24.13 cm)
Neck Finish: Front: Gloss Nitrocellulose Lacquer
Back : Satin Nitrocellulose Lacquer
Nut Width: 1.650” (42 mm)
Scale Length: 25.5" (64.8 cm)
Truss Rods: Vintage Style Truss Rod System

I don't want to replace to an original spec. I'd like something like:

Neck Shape: "C" Shape
Fret Size: Jumbo Jumbo
Neck Finish: All Satin
21 frets
Can be the modern compound radius
Same 25.5" length
Can be the Normal Style Truss Rod System, the one I can use without having to take out the pickguard
Can be Rosewood fretboard instead of Maple

Any tips? Thanks in advance, Ken


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Post subject: Re: Replacing a Tele Neck?
Posted: Thu Jan 01, 2015 2:06 am
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Location: Province de Québec, Canada
Is it a American made guitar ?

For other , I don't know.

If yes any neck made in America by Fender or licensed will fit.

http://www.fender.com/parts/electric-gu ... Telecaster


http://www.fender.com/parts/electric-gu ... Telecaster


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Post subject: Re: Replacing a Tele Neck?
Posted: Thu Jan 01, 2015 2:58 am
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Location: Athens, Greece
Old Growth Pine Telecasters are MIA.


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Post subject: Re: Replacing a Tele Neck?
Posted: Thu Jan 01, 2015 3:01 am
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chromeface wrote:
Old Growth Pine Telecasters are MIA.



Easy job :D


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Post subject: Re: Replacing a Tele Neck?
Posted: Thu Jan 01, 2015 3:12 am
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Yes USA Made!

What if I go with a 22 fret neck? Still doable? (since mine is 21frets)


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Post subject: Re: Replacing a Tele Neck?
Posted: Thu Jan 01, 2015 3:21 am
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KenA wrote:
Yes USA Made!

What if I go with a 22 fret neck? Still doable? (since mine is 21frets)


IMO It will fit , neck and neck pocket is same , the 21th fret is just a longer fret board over the body about 1/4 inches longer.

I have many guitars, American made , and that is what is see between vintage neck and modern neck


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Post subject: Re: Replacing a Tele Neck?
Posted: Thu Jan 01, 2015 3:55 am
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stratele52 wrote:
KenA wrote:
Yes USA Made!
What if I go with a 22 fret neck? Still doable? (since mine is 21frets)

IMO It will fit , neck and neck pocket is same , the 21th fret is just a longer fret board over the body about 1/4 inches longer.
I have many guitars, American made , and that is what is see between vintage neck and modern neck


Great and thanks for the input. So if I go with the 22 fret I'll probably have to re-ajust the bridge saddles to keep the 25.5" scale lenght, right? Anyways, I'll probably leave that job for a service/repair guy, be it 21 or 22 frets.


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Post subject: Re: Replacing a Tele Neck?
Posted: Thu Jan 01, 2015 4:11 am
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KenA wrote:
stratele52 wrote:
KenA wrote:
Yes USA Made!
What if I go with a 22 fret neck? Still doable? (since mine is 21frets)

IMO It will fit , neck and neck pocket is same , the 21th fret is just a longer fret board over the body about 1/4 inches longer.
I have many guitars, American made , and that is what is see between vintage neck and modern neck


Great and thanks for the input. So if I go with the 22 fret I'll probably have to re-ajust the bridge saddles to keep the 25.5" scale length, right?

Not really ,neck length / scale is the same . I would say you may have to check intonation ( saddles ) every time you replace strings too .....

Anyways, I'll probably leave that job for a service/repair guy, be it 21 or 22 frets.
See a qualified luthier. Ask it before buying the neck what he think about that , you may see if he is qualified or not



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Post subject: Re: Replacing a Tele Neck?
Posted: Thu Jan 01, 2015 4:33 am
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Thanks stratele52, it's better to talk to not just one luthier, but a few to see what they all think.

ps. I omitted the quotes to save some space.


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Post subject: Re: Replacing a Tele Neck?
Posted: Thu Jan 01, 2015 4:39 am
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KenA wrote:
Thanks stratele52, it's better to talk to not just one luthier, but a few to see what they all think.

ps. I omitted the quotes to save some space.



+100

I read to often on forum guy bring their guitar at any guitar store.


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Post subject: Re: Replacing a Tele Neck?
Posted: Thu Jan 01, 2015 12:33 pm
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KenA wrote:
What if I go with a 22 fret neck? Still doable? (since mine is 21frets) ...So if I go with the 22 fret I'll probably have to re-ajust the bridge saddles to keep the 25.5" scale length, right?

Any Fender neck or Fender licensed neck should fit any telecaster body.
As has been noted, the neck and neck pocket is the same for both 21 and 22 fret necks, with the 22th fret neck having a lip that hangs out over the body .
As also noted, the neck length / scale length is the same for both 21 and 22 fret necks.

You do not need to take your guitar to a luthier, or more correctly, to a guitar tech, to replace the neck.
Simply unstring and remove the old neck and bolt on the new neck on using the four mounting screws and mounting plate.
String the low E string to see how the action looks.
Since your bridge height has not been changed, the low E string should sit off the fret board about the same as with the old neck.
If the string height is decent, install the rest of the strings at reduced tension and proceed to adjusting the neck side to side in the neck pocket and to adjusting the intonation as described below.

If the low E string is resting on the frets, and a bridge adjustment would make the bridge too high, you may need to shim the neck.
This is a relatively easy procedure, but is time consuming because you have to recheck the low E string height each time you add a shim strip, because even one strip of masking tape will significantly alter the geometry of the neck.
I use a small strip of masking tape, just above the top screw holes on the back of the neck, as shown below on a Fender neck that was being mated to a Mighty Might body.
It took three (3) strips of masking tape on this neck to achieve the proper neck geometry.

Image

If the low E string is too high off of the fret board initially, and if a bridge adjustment cannot lower the string enough, you can shim the neck at bottom screw holes, or use the Fender micro tilt adjustment is available, to tilt back the neck geometry.

When the low E string height looks generally acceptable, install the rest of the strings at somewhat reduced tension, but enough to stretch out the strings.
Check how both the low E and high E strings run relative to both edges of the neck.
If necessary, loosen the neck mounting bolts slightly and adjust the neck side to side in the neck pocket so that both E strings have a relatively equal amount of neck under them, and then tighten the neck mounting bolts.

Fender guitars are .25.5 inch (648mm) scale guitars.
Now that all strings are on, initially tune the guitar.
To correctly set the intonation, measure the distance from the bottom of the nut on the high E string to the contact point of the high E string at the high E bridge saddle.
Adjust the distance to exactly 25.5 inches to these two points using the bottom adjusting screw on the high E bridge saddle.
Make any final bridge height adjustments to the stings.

Re-tune all of the strings.
Check the tuning of the high E string at the 12th fret, which should be the exactly the same as when played open.
Adjust string length of the high E string if necessary.
This should not be necessary because the high E string has been measured to be exactly 25.5".
Check all of the rest of the strings and adjust them to where the tuning is the same at the twelth fret as when the string is played open.
All other strings should run slightly longer than 25.5" from the nut, with the low E string being the longest string, with the low E bridge saddle being the furthest back on the bridge plate.
Re-tune each string after each adjustment and check the tuning at the 12th fret.
(This guide is not designed to be an intonation adjustment guide for fine tuning three barrel, non-compensated bridge saddles, as that information can be found elsewhere).

You have now successfully replaced the neck on your guitar.
But I do have to question why you would want to go to jumbo-jumbo frets. :shock:
In my experience, smaller speed bumps are preferred.
In any event, don't waste your time and money consulting with gurus and having someone do this work for you when you can easily do it yourself, and enjoy the fact that you did it yourself.


Last edited by MickJagger on Thu Jan 01, 2015 12:57 pm, edited 2 times in total.

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Post subject: Re: Replacing a Tele Neck?
Posted: Thu Jan 01, 2015 12:51 pm
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MickJagger wrote:
KenA wrote:
What if I go with a 22 fret neck? Still doable? (since mine is 21frets) ...So if I go with the 22 fret I'll probably have to re-ajust ...


Wow MickJagger, thanks a lot for this tutorial. Actually quite doable, just be cautious with the details.

Do you know if the new neck already comes with the 4 holes? or just a pinch indicating where I should drill it?

Not sure about going Jumbo frets, just thought it would be a bit easier to bend strings?


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Post subject: Re: Replacing a Tele Neck?
Posted: Thu Jan 01, 2015 1:55 pm
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KenA wrote:
MickJagger wrote:
KenA wrote:
What if I go with a 22 fret neck? Still doable? (since mine is 21frets) ...So if I go with the 22 fret I'll probably have to re-ajust ...


Wow MickJagger, thanks a lot for this tutorial. Actually quite doable, just be cautious with the details.
Do you know if the new neck already comes with the 4 holes? or just a pinch indicating where I should drill it?
Not sure about going Jumbo frets, just thought it would be a bit easier to bend strings?

I have only used Fender necks purchased from eBay which are pre-drilled.
If you are using a new neck that has not been drilled, that complicates your project a little, but if you proceed carefully, you should be able to do it.

I would first determine how deep the holes are in the original neck by inserting a small diameter drill bit into the holes.
Place masking tape on the top drill bit at the point you want to stop drilling.
The masking tape on the drill bit should not enter the tip of the drill.
Now you know the exact depth when drilling by marking the drill bit with masking tape.

Then I would measure where the holes are on the old neck in all directions.
You can also make a template by cutting a piece of paper, taping it to the old neck and sticking a pen in to the mounting holes.
Then I would take the new neck, fit it carefully into the neck pocket of the body, and while holding the neck as straight as possible, take a drill with the small drill bit and just score the neck where it lines up with the body in the center of the body hole.

Remove the neck from the body.
Check the score marks with the measurements you made and with the template.
Don't rely on any one mark-up.
All three approaches should be used to determine the exact mounting hole placement.

If everything lines up correctly, take the small diameter drill bit and drill the mounting holes, perpendicular into the neck, to the depth previously determined from the old neck, where the masking tape is on the drill bit.
Do your drilling with the neck separated from the body.
Remember: Measure 10 times...., and carefully drill once....
You can use two or more drill bits to drill each hole to a proper diameter.
Remember, the final diameter of the mounting holes should be less than one-half (1/2) of the diameter of the mounting bolts.

Bolt the neck onto the body, shim if necessary, checking with the low E string, and then string the guitar at reduced tension.
Check both E strings for how they run on the neck and adjust side to side if necessary.

If the placement of the body holes, relative to the neck mounting holes do not permit for adequate adjustment side to side, to adjust both E strings to the fret board, the holes in the body can be slightly enlarged because these holes are really just guide holes.
The neck is held onto the body by the pressure from the mounting plate and the mounting bolts screwed into the neck.
That being said, you want the body guide holes to be as small as possible, relative to the mounting bolts.

If you follow these instructions and are careful, you should be able to accomplish this project.
Good Luck, Ken !!
And think twice about getting those big frets.....


Last edited by MickJagger on Thu Jan 01, 2015 2:14 pm, edited 1 time in total.

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Post subject: Re: Replacing a Tele Neck?
Posted: Thu Jan 01, 2015 2:07 pm
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Thanks again MJ ... I'll try to find one with the holes pre-drilled and study a bit more about the pros and cons of having jumbo frets.


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