neck shimming question

[jessecoffee]

I recently acquired a custom walnut telecaster with quilt maple top. I'm super stoked about the body and neck, but the neck pocket is slanted back just a fraction too much, and I'm having to shim the neck slightly to get the angle correct.

What is the best material to use for shimming a neck? Do certain materials give a better connection between the neck and body for better transfer of enegry? Any help will be appreciated.

[robt57]

Maple IMO

[e-merlin]

Well, the one on the left has been my number 1 for over 10 years.



I always suspected that the neck was shimmed but never took the neck off because it played and sounded great. The other day I took it apart to take some pictures and found a pick and a couple pieces of masking tape in the neck pocket. Needless to say, I put it back where it was. In summary, I don't think it matters as much as I previously thought.

[tpaul]

I use old credit cards because they're just the right width and thickness. Just take a scissor and cut off a strip of plastic from the end of the card, about 1/8 inch to 1/4 inch wide, and slip it into the neck pocket. It should fit across the width of the neck pocket and be snug down to the body side of the pocket. If the plastic strip is too wide you'll have to notch it out where the neck mounting screws go through.

[robt57]

Like white guards do we??

Me too. actually I like Black Guards, but luv white guards. ;))

And I may have to put my rosewood CBS headstock Strat I have loose neck on a Tele after seeing you blue one there... Not reversed, but I kind of like that blue one for some reason....

Originally Posted by e-merlin

[charlie chitlin]

I used to use those old double edged razor blades from the early "safety" razors, but I haven't seen any for years.
I always felt comfortable with something real hard...but it could have been psychological...like 99% of this stuff.
I bet shim stock would be good.
And it's cheap.

[Guitar_Ninja]

Business card stock.

[robt57]

FWIW; On one assembly recently of a 22 fret neck with overhang the guard was too thick to let the neck sit flat in the pocket. It was late and I wanted to hear the Tele. I used a piece of thin plastic cutting board and raised the neck. Shimmed the entire neck with plastic, tinkered with the git for a bit, and then in the morning I played it for 20 minute before fixing it permanently.

I removed appropriate amount/thickness of wood from the bottom of the overhand of the fretboard, removed the shim and bolted it up finished.

It does have noticeably more sustain without the plastic, but it does not sound better per say, nor did it sound worse with the total plastic shim.

YMMV, But I doubt it... ;)

[ironweed]

I used to use pieces cut from playing cards (esp the Ace of Spades or the Jack of Diamonds). More recently, I've cut some from 0.010" brass sheeting you can buy at the hardware store.

[Doug Ferguson]

Originally Posted by ironweed

I used to use pieces cut from playing cards (esp the Ace of Spades or the Jack of Diamonds). More recently, I've cut some from 0.010" brass sheeting you can buy at the hardware store.

I've used playing cards for shims as years, but the brass sheeting sounds good. I'll try it out.

[PJ]

I use the plastic stuff that comes in new wallets for credit cards. Cut a strip and use a hole puncher to place the holes where your screws go through. It's just the right thickness for many applications without being too thick,, it stays put and plastic doesn't degrade over time like business cards and masking tape will.
Seems to work pretty good and I always seem to have that dtuff laying around in drawers.