Lowering a neck pocket...

Bluesdude · April 17th, 2005, 08:11 PM

I got a body from warmoth, and after everything was finished, i was adjusting the action, and noticed i had to set the saddles excruciatingly high to get even a low action. The problem is the neck sits too high in the pocket, so i either need to chisel out 1/2 a centimeter of the neck pocket, or off the bottom of the neck. So 2 questions. Should I either take wood off the bottom of the neck or take it out of the neck pocket, and whats the best method for either?

eryque · April 17th, 2005, 08:19 PM

If you're good with a router, it would probably be easier to remove that wood from the neck pocket.

However, it's probably easier yet to just shim the neck. Shim the end of the pocket away from the bridge to angle the fretboard down towards the bridge. I'd do that first, the only material required is a business card or something similar, and the only tool needed is a pair of scissors. And there's lots of room for error too.

popthree · April 17th, 2005, 09:16 PM

i just got thu doing this to a guitar. i used strips of duct tape. started with 2...worked my way up to 5 before i hit the right angle. i initially tried a business card, but it wasn't quite enough..and when i folded it in two, it was way too much.

steve s · April 17th, 2005, 09:19 PM

I had the very same problem on a Warmoth body just recently. I got a Warmoth neck too and the pocket was just too shallow. I put mine on a mill and used a 1/2 inch end mill and took some out. My main problem with it was that the pocket angle was not right either so I corrected that too at the same time. Machine tools and machining is my trade so I knew what I was doing. I would suggest using a milling machine if you could or have someone do it. A router may be very difficult cause there is no support on two sides of the pocket for the most part.

P.S., .....don't cut down the neck.....that seems even more difficult cause of the possibility of changing the neck angle, plus the mismact possibility at the back of the neck and heel.

Ramblin Ray · April 17th, 2005, 10:03 PM

If you lower the neck pocket too much, you can pop out a couple of frets if the tips of the the screws go too deep into the neck. You can grind the tips a bit and use a neck plate pad to be sure.(the pad acts as a washer)

Caper · April 17th, 2005, 10:40 PM

I bought an Allparts neck and body, I figured it was the surest way to go, you would think the neck and body would be a perfect match, NOT. The neck pocket wasn't deep enough. The university I attend has a Machinist and Mech. Technologist program so I had one of the instructors set the body up on a CNC machine and he fixed it. I then sent it to a guy who builds guitars to have it set up. He also added a micro tilt, did an excellent job.

SteveY · April 18th, 2005, 01:29 AM

Stick some nickels under the legs of your bridge.

JerryPro · April 18th, 2005, 04:22 PM

I would not cut anything right now.

I would put it together with the shims and I'll bet that after about a month or so you'll be pulling those shims out.

What happens is once the neck and string pressure is on the new neck pocket it will settle in. Also I noticed a paint buildup in the pocket nearest the body. I also removed that excess which improved the angle a bit.

Mine took the full thickness of a credit at the very back edge of the neck pocket. I mean the strings were actually lying on the fretboard without it. After 3 weeks I had to remove the shim. Now it's perfect.

I was on this board asking the same questions. Now I am glad I didn't CNC the neck pocket.

tomkatf · April 18th, 2005, 04:34 PM

... have you checked the relief (slight amount of curvature) in the neck when it's under tension (tuned up to pitch)?? If that's off you may just need to make a truss rod adjustment...I'm only asking because the last three neck/body pairs I've bought from Warmoth have been nearly perfect, only requiring a slight trussrod adjustment to taste...HTH.

Best,
Tom

TheGoodTexan · April 18th, 2005, 04:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SteveY

Stick some nickels under the legs of your bridge.

Yep - the quick answer.

I would run with this method for a few weeks of playing before attempting a modification of the neck pocket.

Fuzzy had a picture of it posted a few weeks. Do a search.

Joel Terry · April 19th, 2005, 04:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheGoodTexan

Quote:

Originally Posted by SteveY

Stick some nickels under the legs of your bridge.

Yep - the quick answer.

I would run with this method for a few weeks of playing before attempting a modification of the neck pocket.

Fuzzy had a picture of it posted a few weeks. Do a search.

Here's FUZZY'S thread with the nickel-raised bridge saddles; unfortunately, when I read the thread, FUZZY's pics were not coming up.

Joel

gottliver · April 19th, 2005, 11:39 AM

shimmed her up and away I went. Brought it to a respected luthier for a set up and he told me what I've believed for many years now. Warmoth rarely ever requires shims. If both the body and neck are warmoth then its probabely a matter of having the frets leveled. Warmoth does not do this on their necks.

Right now he is setting up my tele, he's gonna take out the shim, set it up, and determine if the frets need a leveling or not. Can't wait 'till friday.

April 17th, 2005, 08:11 PM	#1 (permalink)
Bluesdude Tele-Meister Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 114	Lowering a neck pocket... I got a body from warmoth, and after everything was finished, i was adjusting the action, and noticed i had to set the saddles excruciatingly high to get even a low action. The problem is the neck sits too high in the pocket, so i either need to chisel out 1/2 a centimeter of the neck pocket, or off the bottom of the neck. So 2 questions. Should I either take wood off the bottom of the neck or take it out of the neck pocket, and whats the best method for either? __________________ So much rythm, grace, and debonair from one man?

April 17th, 2005, 09:16 PM	#3 (permalink)
popthree Friend of Leo's Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Tulsa Age: 43 Posts: 2,842 47 Photos	i just got thu doing this to a guitar. i used strips of duct tape. started with 2...worked my way up to 5 before i hit the right angle. i initially tried a business card, but it wasn't quite enough..and when i folded it in two, it was way too much. __________________ don't taze me bro !

April 17th, 2005, 09:19 PM	#4 (permalink)
steve s Tele-Meister Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Atlanta Posts: 413	I had the very same problem on a Warmoth body just recently. I got a Warmoth neck too and the pocket was just too shallow. I put mine on a mill and used a 1/2 inch end mill and took some out. My main problem with it was that the pocket angle was not right either so I corrected that too at the same time. Machine tools and machining is my trade so I knew what I was doing. I would suggest using a milling machine if you could or have someone do it. A router may be very difficult cause there is no support on two sides of the pocket for the most part. P.S., .....don't cut down the neck.....that seems even more difficult cause of the possibility of changing the neck angle, plus the mismact possibility at the back of the neck and heel. __________________ Can't play too hot, but my stuff looks good!

April 17th, 2005, 10:03 PM	#5 (permalink)
Ramblin Ray Tele-Meister Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: New York Posts: 404	Carefull!! If you lower the neck pocket too much, you can pop out a couple of frets if the tips of the the screws go too deep into the neck. You can grind the tips a bit and use a neck plate pad to be sure.(the pad acts as a washer)

April 18th, 2005, 04:22 PM	#8 (permalink)
JerryPro Tele-Holic Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Arkansas(Razorbacks) Age: 46 Posts: 556	I had that same problem I would not cut anything right now. I would put it together with the shims and I'll bet that after about a month or so you'll be pulling those shims out. What happens is once the neck and string pressure is on the new neck pocket it will settle in. Also I noticed a paint buildup in the pocket nearest the body. I also removed that excess which improved the angle a bit. Mine took the full thickness of a credit at the very back edge of the neck pocket. I mean the strings were actually lying on the fretboard without it. After 3 weeks I had to remove the shim. Now it's perfect. I was on this board asking the same questions. Now I am glad I didn't CNC the neck pocket. __________________ ...it's not the load that breaks you down it's the way in which you carry it.

April 17th, 2005, 08:19 PM	#2 (permalink)
eryque Poster Extraordinaire Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: albany, ny [not chicago] Posts: 7,126 44 Photos	If you're good with a router, it would probably be easier to remove that wood from the neck pocket. However, it's probably easier yet to just shim the neck. Shim the end of the pocket away from the bridge to angle the fretboard down towards the bridge. I'd do that first, the only material required is a business card or something similar, and the only tool needed is a pair of scissors. And there's lots of room for error too.

April 17th, 2005, 10:40 PM	#6 (permalink)
Caper Friend of Leo's Join Date: Mar 2003 Posts: 2,169 7 Photos	I bought an Allparts neck and body, I figured it was the surest way to go, you would think the neck and body would be a perfect match, NOT. The neck pocket wasn't deep enough. The university I attend has a Machinist and Mech. Technologist program so I had one of the instructors set the body up on a CNC machine and he fixed it. I then sent it to a guy who builds guitars to have it set up. He also added a micro tilt, did an excellent job.

April 18th, 2005, 01:29 AM	#7 (permalink)
SteveY Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Santa Cruz, CA Age: 58 Posts: 1,422	Stick some nickels under the legs of your bridge.

April 18th, 2005, 04:34 PM	#9 (permalink)
tomkatf Tele-Meister Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: San Diego Posts: 204 12 Photos	Probably a Silly Question but... ... have you checked the relief (slight amount of curvature) in the neck when it's under tension (tuned up to pitch)?? If that's off you may just need to make a truss rod adjustment...I'm only asking because the last three neck/body pairs I've bought from Warmoth have been nearly perfect, only requiring a slight trussrod adjustment to taste...HTH. Best, Tom __________________ "it's really groovy to be here... didn't even rain... no buttons to push"... Jimi Hendrix, Monterey 1967

April 19th, 2005, 11:39 AM	#12 (permalink)
gottliver Tele-Meister Join Date: Aug 2003 Posts: 250	i've had the same issues shimmed her up and away I went. Brought it to a respected luthier for a set up and he told me what I've believed for many years now. Warmoth rarely ever requires shims. If both the body and neck are warmoth then its probabely a matter of having the frets leveled. Warmoth does not do this on their necks. Right now he is setting up my tele, he's gonna take out the shim, set it up, and determine if the frets need a leveling or not. Can't wait 'till friday.