Strat neck on Tele body - question

[blakktode]

Hi.

I'm looking at installing a S-style neck on a T-style body.

(not my first choice, but it's what I have to work with)

Would it be better to flatten the slight radius on the end of the heel, add a small radius to the pocket, or just leave them both the way they are ?

The body isn't cut yet, so I have leeway there.

I understand that this is probably not the brightest of questions, but I'm just starting out and it's something that I would be better off being sure of.

Thanks in advance.

[jkingma]

I've done it twice... once each way.

If you're going to have a pickguard then square off the neck to match the p/g cutout. If you are not using a pickguard then rout the pocket to match the neck. That's the way I did it.

BUT it also depends on what end of the neck your truss rod adjusts.

[blakktode]

It adjusts at the headstock, so that works out.

Thank you.

[Ironwolf]

Keep in mind, either of those two options will alter the scale length slightly. It would be better to mount the neck without alterations and make a custom pickguard to cover the small gaps between the pocket and neck.

[blakktode]

A custom pickguard is something I could have made locally.

Thank you.

[jkingma]

Originally Posted by Ironwolf

Keep in mind, either of those two options will alter the scale length slightly. It would be better to mount the neck without alterations and make a custom pickguard to cover the small gaps between the pocket and neck.

the scale length is the scale length... its a function of the neck itself and can't be changed.

I think you mean it may alter where the bridge needs to be placed.

If I understand, the body is being made from scratch, so the bridge can be placed where it needs to be without having to match up with pre-existing holes.

The body isn't cut yet, so I have leeway there.

[Rob DiStefano]

leave the strat neck heel alone. ain't that big a deal.

[Casual_Reader]

Originally Posted by Rob DiStefano

leave the strat neck heel alone. ain't that big a deal.

+1 ...it keeps the mix and match vibe.

if you were to sand it flat, you'd be taking about 5/64ths (2mm) off... a difference that saddle adjustment should be able to handle without moving the bridge.

It doesn't technically change the scale of the guitar, but it does change where the pickups are located in relation to that scale... by 2 mm.

to get pedantic... the center line of the tele neck pickup is between the 24th and 25th fret position. The space between those 2 frets is .357" - the p'up center line is .093 from the 24th. Moving the scale changes it from roughly 1/4 the spacing to nearly 1/2 the spacing - centered. (I warned you it was pedantic)

would you hear the difference? would it place the p'up where you'd notice more harmonic canceling? probably not, but I still like the look of the gap better.

[soulfixinman]

I was thinking of this the other day,

Can you change the heal and headstock to make a Strat neck into Tele?

[Rob DiStefano]

Originally Posted by soulfixinman

I was thinking of this the other day,

Can you change the heal and headstock to make a Strat neck into Tele?

quick answer - if you know what yer doing and can support that notion, yes.