shimming neck for a higher action.

[dankomal]

hi,
I quite like a high action on my guitars but I can't get the bridge saddle screws any lower on my av 62 strat to raise the action any more, the truss rod is about right.
do I need a shim at the neck end of the neck pocket?
cheers,
mal.

[Old Cane]

Got any pictures? That would help. But it sounds like a shim may be needed. Just add some more details like photos and string gauge, etc.

[boris bubbanov]

Sometimes guys (like me) put shorter saddle height screws on a guitar. That can become a problem later on for guys liking higher action.

Check your height screws against the recipe set forth at www.callahamguitars.com. If yours seem to be on the short side, you can order the longer ones from Bill. While you're at it, try those hardened trem mount screws. Those are inexpensive, but fantastic.

You can also remove a trem spring if you currently have 5, and/or you can back out the claw screws also. Both these thing will raise the back of your plate, which has the effect of raising ones action on a Strat. Hopefully it will not mess up your tuning stability too much.

[dankomal]

Originally Posted by Old Cane

Got any pictures? That would help. But it sounds like a shim may be needed. Just add some more details like photos and string gauge, etc.

I use 10 gauge strings, and have three springs in the claw, the trem is set up for just a little bit of floating, I have the usa vintage reissue bridge,
the high E won't go any further without the screws falling out, though the others have a bit of saddle height adjustment left.
i'm sorry but I can't take any pics at the moment.
thanks,
mal.

[winny pooh]

Sounds like the opposite problem, that the neck angle is A pushing the strings too high. If the side markers line up with the body edge. then the neck has a thick heel. If the side dots closer to the pickguard are higher than the others then it may already B have a shim or a thicker pocket where it meets the pickguard.
I have fixed issue like these by using a file to either A- equally lower and level the entire neck pocket or B- lower the hump that is causing a less than straight neck angle.

[Vizcaster]

First, eliminate the possibility that a former owner was a DIY-er like Boris or me; the quickest fix might just be some new set screws (No 4-40 if I'm not mistaken). I agree with your suspicion that a shim would do the trick. Try a strip of veneer or thin wood, maybe between 1/32" and 1/16" thick, 3/16" or 1/4" wide, and long enough to span across the neck pocket. You'll just be inserting it near the outside end of the neck pocket (towards the headstock) so you probably don't need to remove the neck completely. I would, though - you never know maybe there's a shim in there towards the heel that you can just remove, or there are stickers or other gunk that interfere with the neck pocket fit - sometimes you find a chunk of screen to keep things from sliding.