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Post subject: measuring neck pocket depth and size
Posted: Fri Aug 06, 2010 10:50 am
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Neck pocket depth is mentioned here often, I am confused about neck pocket depth and size.

What are the proper strat dimensions for neck pocket and from which points to you measure? Along the axis of the neck or across or vertically?

I am planning a build up and need to be sure what neck and body I am mating

Thanks in advance

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Post subject: Re: measuring neck pocket depth and size
Posted: Fri Aug 06, 2010 11:32 am
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Hi oneal: you are in the right place! :)

Whenever I have a Strat in pieces I take the opportunity to make lots of measurements and enter them on blank data sheets printed out for the purpose. I've amassed quite a bit of information about various models, and as far as neck pockets are concerned the stats are pretty consistent. Here they are.

Depth of neck pocket from the face of the guitar is always 17mm / 0.669". Get that dimension exactly right and you will never need to shim the neck.

Length of pocket along the center line of the body averages 76.5mm / 3", though this dimension varies a tiny bit from one guitar to another. So long as you get the neck bolt holes in the right place in relation to the curved end of the pocket it doesn't matter precisely where the other end is, within a mil or so either way.

Width of the pocket at the widest point, just behind the curved corners is 55.5mm / 2 3/16". A hair's breadth more is acceptable if you intend to allow lacquer to arrive on the sides of the pocket.

Remember that the sides of the pocket are not parallel: they angle to match the edges of the neck. You can get that right by doing an accurate drawing where the edges angle towards one another at a rate whereby they have reduced to 43mm / 1.692" apart 12.25" north of the curved end of the neck pocket (i.e. at the nut) - or you can just copy the angle off an existing Strat neck.

The corners are routed with a 3/8" router cutter. That is a very skinny router piece and you shouldn't use it to do the rest of the job: it is not strong enough. Just switch it in to finish the corners with. If you can't find a 3/8" cutter and matching ball-bearing collars anywhere else Stew-Mac sell it. A bit expensive, but since you shouldn't use it for anything else it will last you a lifetime:

http://www.stewmac.com/shop/Tools/Speci ... yword=0583

Still: where I live I can get that cutter from a good quality tool supplier much cheaper, and I bet you can too.

The curved end of the neck pocket has a radius of around 128mm / 5 1/16". That one is not an official stat but comes from my own measurements of many neck pockets and neck heel ends. You've possibly seen me building necks to that spec on other threads here in the past: it seems to work well. On the other hand, part of me questions the sixteenth in that 5 1/16" measurement. I wouldn't be surprised if Fender originally designed that to be an even 5 inches. Take your pick.

And there ya go. Build your routing templates and finished neck pocket to those dimensions and it will work perfectly - I'm here to testify. :wink:

oneal lane wrote:
Thanks in advance

You're welcome in advance.

Cheers - C


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Posted: Fri Aug 06, 2010 12:04 pm
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Ceri,

Thanks for all the good info. I was hoping I would catch you here on the forum.

I have a beautiful Maple neck from a Korean Squier II. Its very comfortable in my hands and has a nice shiny amber clear finish, Very pretty and low wear. It's a lot like the classic vibe necks around on new Squiers. Everything about it looks about identical to my 2007 MIM Standard neck. I do not have precise measurements yet however. Hence this post.

The problem is that it's mated to one of those dreaded plywood bodies. It's a real odd couple. ($90.00 pawn shop special)

I have a MIM Sunburst Fender Deluxe Players Ash body on the way.

This is my first build and want to mate them up right if a marrige is feisable.

I am planning for 57/62 Fender pickups and will be my first pickguard buildup also.

I will be getting back to you on this when my body comes in.

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Posted: Fri Aug 06, 2010 12:29 pm
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Hi again: it sounds a great project! Building a guitar to go with a neck you love is an absolutely ideal project, and the specs you mention are the biz. Way to go! :D

Couple of thoughts. If this is the first time you've built a neck pocket then let me encourage you that there is nothing to worry about. It is perfectly do-able if you are comfortable with a hand-held router.

One suggestion. Construct your pocket routing template in the thickest plywood or MDF you can get hold of. It will look something like one of these (with or without other cavity positions):
Image

Then I so, SO strongly recommend you do a dry run or two. Lay the template over a scrap piece of wood that is thick enough and route yourself a test pocket or two:
Image

When you've done that you can try the neck in the test piece and see how it fits, particularly the sides and the curved end. If it isn't perfect you can make adjustments to your template - or make another one if it turns out the pocket is too large. Only when that template is absolutely perfect do you move on to the actual body, secure in the knowledge you can route an excellent pocket every time.

Another approach is to make the pocket template by copy-routing from an existing Strat body. I have never seen that demonstrated better than on page two of Andy's current build thread. This is the job described and carried out to perfection:

http://www.fender.com/community/forums/ ... c&start=15

...And just for the heck of it, here's the pocket on a body seconds after the router came out. Is it the right depth? ...Yes it is :D :
Image

oneal lane wrote:
I will be getting back to you on this when my body comes in.

Well I'm sure you know how happy the friendly folks round here will be to help in any way we can. We love this stuff! Carry on... 8)

Cheers - C


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Posted: Fri Aug 06, 2010 12:39 pm
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Ceri,

The body I ordered is from Pickers Parts and is a genuine Fender finished body. The pocket and all other holes etc are cut.

OL

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Posted: Fri Aug 06, 2010 1:03 pm
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oneal lane wrote:
Ceri,

The body I ordered is from Pickers Parts and is a genuine Fender finished body. The pocket and all other holes etc are cut.

OL


:lol: :lol: :lol:

Oh. Then I completely misunderstood the first post. So you just want to know if your neck will fit the body?

So I guess I gave a lot too much detail... D'oh!!! :lol: :lol: :lol:

OK - well we want to see pics as you put it together, please. :D

Cheers - C


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Posted: Fri Aug 06, 2010 1:25 pm
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Well, I thoughly enjoyed that post!

Ceri wrote:
Another approach is to make the pocket template by copy-routing from an existing Strat body. I have never seen that demonstrated better than on page two of Andy's current build thread. This is the job described and carried out to perfection:

http://www.fender.com/community/forums/ ... c&start=15

Ceri,

You are too kind :oops:

Definatly owe you a bottle of Harveys Blue Label (or three) for that :D

Andy (gone all shy)

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Posted: Fri Aug 06, 2010 1:33 pm
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Great stuff! It's the University of Guitar Building :D

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Posted: Fri Aug 06, 2010 1:57 pm
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No problem, I learned a lot already.

I will post some pics when I get all my parts together.

I am hoping the neck and body just fit naturally. Let's hope.

Thanks again.

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Posted: Tue Aug 10, 2010 10:41 am
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Ceri,

My Fender MIM Sunburst body just arrived.

The Korean neck fits the pocket and the 4 screw line up, although the fit is somewhat tight.

There is a space between the heel of the neck and the rear of the body pocket of 1.5 to 2 MM. Is that normal or something of concern?

OL

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Posted: Wed Aug 11, 2010 6:57 am
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oneal lane wrote:
The Korean neck fits the pocket and the 4 screw line up, although the fit is somewhat tight.

There is a space between the heel of the neck and the rear of the body pocket of 1.5 to 2 MM. Is that normal or something of concern?

Hi oneal: that gap doesn't sound right, though I'm sure we'd like to see pics to make a better judgement. I wonder what others think about a gap in that position?

If you push the neck up to close the gap does that send the screw holes out of alignment?

Cheers - C


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Posted: Wed Aug 11, 2010 8:07 am
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Ceri,

Yes the screw holes are slightly out of line if I was to push it up. But it's so tight I dare not try.

After looking at the situation I think the Korean neck is not going to work. It's too tight in the pocket and the heal is not the correct shape. I could start reshaping things but I might ruin something.

I took the neck of my MIM standard and it fit the MIM Deluxe Player body absolutely perfectly.

I am thinking I will get a American Standard neck for the body. Are the MIA and MIM necks compatable? I like the string spacing on MIA more than MIM.

The body is a beautiful sunburst Ash.

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