Should I cut neck pocket deeper?

I am working on my first telecaster build and made the neck pocket the 5/8" deep specified on the plans.

I found a neck online, and it turns out that the neck is 1.07" thick at the heel to the top of the radiused fretboard....so approximately 1/16" thicker than a standard telecaster neck.

I figure pocketing my body is easier than successfully taking 1/16" off the heel of the neck.

Should I go ahead and route my neck pocket 1/16" deeper, or will that 1/16" throw everything too far off if I leave it as is?

To cut or not to cut, that is my question.

Thanks

If the neck is what's thicker, can you shave something off the heel?

I'd leave the body alone personally...if it is to normal spec. That way you can get a normal neck down the road and be able to just slap it on. Changes to the body would be irreversible.

If its just 1/16th you should be able to compensate by raising the bridge saddles. Might even be an improvement.... more space to adjust pup height, less break angle over the saddle etc.

If its just 1/16th you should be able to compensate by raising the bridge saddles. Might even be an improvement.... more space to adjust pup height, less break angle over the saddle etc.

I agree. But if you want to take the heel down (I would not make the pocket deeper) just stick some 80 grit sticky sandpaper to a piece of plate glass, mdf or what I use a granite block and sand the heel down. It won't take long, and the heel will be dead flat.

it's a lot easier to deepen the pocket a bit with a router than to shave the heel and keep it deadflat for optimal contact. I don't see a problem doing the pocket instead of the heel

Those numbers are nominal. If you look at the technical drawings from Fender they allow for some tolerance of part sizes. I seem to recall +/- 1/32 or so. You shouldn't have to do anything.

I'd clamp the neck in as is... check out the alignment with the bridge , sideways and saddle heights... it may well fit into spec..

if the pocket is slightly off you have the template..so you could re adjust any alignment issues as well as drop the depth an few MM's ... or just skim the depth ...

part of building I guess.. fine adjustments...

before you change anything from stock standard string it up and see how it comes up under load -you may have enough adjustment in the bridge to compensate

avoid fiddling with the neck -if it goes of flat and parralel to the plane of the fretboard you will be sorry

drop the floor of the pocke using a 1/2" deep pattern folower bit in your router
you won't need a template - dont take off much 1/32 can make all the difference