New neck. American Channel Bound. Arrived with offset mounts.

[MelodicBend]

I asked about this before but the thread died.

I couldn't stand another day without owning one of these so I ordered one at their exorbitant price.

Yes, it is stunning and very well made but the pictures lie and the mounting holes are offset! It will not match a standard body. I believe it is designed for a deluxe or Pro II with contoured neck heel. See photos for reference.

FACB neck owners, did you guys receive standard drilled mounting holes or offset?

I really don't want to decide whether to drill a new hole in the body or the neck. I'd prefer to keep the neck original and drill a new hole in the body but that would yield somewhat of an unsightly heel and perhaps a structural issue. What do you guys think?

Just by principle, I'm leaning towards returning the neck. I love Fender but there's no excuse for publishing a photo of something and shipping something else. What I thought would be an easy drop in now has some pretty harsh implications and extra decisions.

 

[Dismalhead]

Never drilled a hole in a body to fit a neck; doweled plenty of necks and drilled a new hole though. No biggie IMO.

Those channel bound necks are pretty sweet.

 

[memorex]

I certainly wouldn't drill another hole in the body to keep the neck original. Drill another hole in the neck, no one will see the extra hole.

 

[drmordo]

I'd drill the neck.

 

[Hodgo88]

Yeah, drill the neck. Do the other three match up? Should be easy enough to mark the fourth hole with a punch and drill out with a 1/8" diameter bit.

 

[upnrunning]

I also would agree, drill the neck not the body.

 

[MelodicBend]

This place is the best!

I figured an new hole won't hurt the neck but this was unanticipated and I feel some hesitation.

I wouldn't mind hacking away at some import or aftermarket parts but this neck was quite expensive and I don't appreciate the unneeded surprise.

Thanks for the replies. If you guys have any recommendations for wiring and hardware including tuners, I'd love to hear them. I'm still in the fantasy phase of this build and acquiring parts slowly.

 

[Rufustelestrats]

Mark and drill the neck after you confirm the other three holes line up.

 

[maxvintage]

Send it back! You paid a lot of money for it and if it doesn't fit a standard tele they should tell. Nothng on the website suggests it won' tfit. They mention the neck pocket or neck end might need slight reshaping, but seriously, the holes drilled offset? Weird

 

[Hodgo88]

This place is the best!

I figured an new hole won't hurt the neck but this was unanticipated and I feel some hesitation.

I wouldn't mind hacking away at some import or aftermarket parts but this neck was quite expensive and I don't appreciate the unneeded surprise.

It's just wood. Don't drill all the way through, and apply a little beeswax to the neck screw threads when installing the first time. You can use a powered driver to get it most of the way but final tightening should be by hand.

For tuners, I've used Klusons, Gotoh, and Fender roadworn, all of which have worked great. For wiring, check this out:

 

[LowCaster]

That offset screws layout is more and more common in the Fender Range. It’s for the contoured heel. But don’t worry, the standard heel and the contoured heel are perfectly compatible. The neck pocket is square, so if you drill that hole, and later put the neck in an other guitar with the contoured heel, no problem the hole will be hidden. I put a replacement neck with standard screw holes in this guitar (pictures), I had to drill a hole in the neck for that offset screw. Also I saw pictures of replacement necks offered for sale with five screw holes…



I see no reason to be mad at fender for this. Replacement necks are specialized items, and I am happy that they are available to the public and not limited to luthiers and dealers. Anyway you need a minimum set of skills to successfully replace a neck, and using a drill is one of them.

 

[Hodgo88]

Anyway you need a minimum set of skills to successfully replace a neck, and using a drill is one of them.

Amen! Imagine if people built furniture like Partscasters... "These Ikea legs don't fit my Walmart table!"

 

[1stpitch]

Send it back! You paid a lot of money for it and if it doesn't fit a standard tele they should tell. Nothng on the website suggests it won' tfit. They mention the neck pocket or neck end might need slight reshaping, but seriously, the holes drilled offset? Weird

Actually Fender states that it might not fit right on the page for the neck. They say, "Other installation processes may be required, such as fret work, fitting the neck to the neck pocket, and other instrument setup procedures." This does not exclude the possibility that a screw hole might need to be drilled.

 

[ponycar]

I've drilled 2 of these. The other 3 holes line up. You if you don't have a drill or bit, buy a set of bits and a simple hand drill. Bolt the neck on with the 3 existing holes. Put the bit that fits the neck hole diameter in through the 3rd hole, twist it with your fingers to make a starting mark. Remove bit. Remove 1 of the other screws. Run next smallest bit in that hole to measure depth. Replace that screw. Put tape on the bit you will use to determine depth. Drill hole. Be careful.

If you're more concerned about the next person who owns something than you are concerned about yourself, send it back.

 

[2HBStrat]

I asked about this before but the thread died.

I couldn't stand another day without owning one of these so I ordered one at their exorbitant price.

Yes, it is stunning and very well made but the pictures lie and the mounting holes are offset! It will not match a standard body. I believe it is designed for a deluxe or Pro II with contoured neck heel. See photos for reference.

FACB neck owners, did you guys receive standard drilled mounting holes or offset?

I really don't want to decide whether to drill a new hole in the body or the neck. I'd prefer to keep the neck original and drill a new hole in the body but that would yield somewhat of an unsightly heel and perhaps a structural issue. What do you guys think?

Just by principle, I'm leaning towards returning the neck. I love Fender but there's no excuse for publishing a photo of something and shipping something else. What I thought would be an easy drop in now has some pretty harsh implications and extra decisions.

I would drill a new hole in the neck.

 

[Southpole]

I have two guitars with OEM channel bound necks and both have compound fretboard radius. Do the replacement necks also have compound radius?

 

[thegrasshopper]

If the photo does not match what you received and provided there was no disclaimer on that.. (the typical "product image might not correspond to...") I would return it with no hesitation

 

[MelodicBend]

I have two guitars with OEM channel bound necks and both have compound fretboard radius. Do the replacement necks also have compound radius?

Modern C in 9.5"-14" compound radius. What model guitars do you own if you don't mind me asking? I imagine them to be supreme strum machines!

 

[MelodicBend]

If the photo does not match what you received and provided there was no disclaimer on that.. (the typical "product image might not correspond to...") I would return it with no hesitation

It was an unwanted surprise and nowhere in the description does it mention the offset holes. I'm not ruling out a contoured heel build in the future, so it won't hurt me too badly to just keep it despite the annoyance.

 

[Southpole]

Modern C in 9.5"-14" compound radius. What model guitars do you own if you don't mind me asking? I imagine them to be supreme strum machines!

Modern C in 9.5"-14" compound radius. What model guitars do you own if you don't mind me asking? I imagine them to be supreme strum machines!

Just before they ended the production of the American Standards they did a special run using channel bound necks. I have a Strat and Tele, both in sonic blue. Great necks!