How loose is too loose?

[royd]

I just received a warmoth neck replacement for my partscaster. The old neck is very tight... to the point that you have to pull it apart. The new neck has a gap about the width of a sheet of paper. Obviously some of that will disappear with finish but it still won't be nearly as tight as the old neck. Any thoughts? Is it too loose? Should I send it back?

[BB]

Personally, I think thats fine. The width of a sheet of paper will be pretty much negligable once the finish is applied. However, you are the one that has to live with it. If it's not up to snuff for what you want, do what you have to to make it right. Be aware though, Warmoth may not take it back.

[mellecaster]

I've put a whole bunch of Fenders together...and honestly feel the whole "Tight Neck Pocket" thang, is a bit over-hyped. I would be more concerned with Neck to body flatness fit...as in (2) nice Flat & True Mating surfaces, with a nice Thick neck Plate, and Quality neck screws, I almost never use partial shims, unless it's the only way out...JMO

[royd]

warmoth will take it back as long as I don't do anything to it. Once it has been mounted, it is mine.

The flat surfaces seem fine and the depth looks perfect.

I was going to do a tru oil finish... which I would guess will make almost no difference in width. So should I do a poly on it instead? I don't have the ability (or the extra cash) to do a nitro.

[red57strat]

A sheet of paper is not a gap.
It's fine.

[jwells393]

Put the finish on it and try it. If it makes you feel any better you could apply extra finish to the sides of the neck heel.

[Sarge]

I think one point to take in to consideration is re-sale factor in the future. I don't know about other folks but when I purchase a guitar the fit of the neck/body pocket is the first thing I look at. A "sheet of paper" is fine, but if I can stick a thin pick in it....I'd have to pass. IMHO & YMMV.

[BB]

Originally Posted by royd

warmoth will take it back as long as I don't do anything to it. Once it has been mounted, it is mine.

The flat surfaces seem fine and the depth looks perfect.

I was going to do a tru oil finish... which I would guess will make almost no difference in width. So should I do a poly on it instead? I don't have the ability (or the extra cash) to do a nitro.

Depending on the amount of coats, tru-oil WILL make a difference in width. USACG has very tight body/neck fit. On my tele project, I had to sand some of the tru-oil finish off the sides in order for it to go together!

Perhaps doing 9-11 light tru-oil costs will do away with the gap all together.

As a side note, my 71 tele has a good sized gap ( I believe 70's teles were notorious for this ) on the treble side. Believe me, it does not detract from the wonderful tone one iota.

[0le FUZZY]

YMMV.

<li>Yup!! mine duz big time !!
<li>Any gap there has never or will never make no nevermind tew me.
<li>Of all the TELECASTERs I haff owned that gap has been there save won which was tite and rite and the first time it slid over offin the Twin it cracked all the finish offin the edge of the neck pocket------never again !!

0le FUZZY

[sidneystreet]

I hastily loosened my strings and yanked the neck off my 50's Classic tele to swap pups without having to restring. I'm cheap, and lazy. In the rough handling I scraped away some of the finish in the neck pocket, and it doesn't look so tight anymore. Guess what? It sounds awesome just like before.

A tight neck pocket shows good quality control, but it isn't the big factor in great tone that you will sometimes hear.

Most of the crappy-sounding guitars I've played recently had darn fine looking neck pockets. They all do these days.