Source for 3 bolt neck w/ rosewood board

[jondanger]

Hey folks. I have a 1995ish Crafted in Japan Telecaster Custom (TC72) that I really like a lot. It has an OV in the bridge and a real CuNiFe vintage WRHB in the neck. It’s nice and light, overall great guitar. I recently sold an AV62 that someone offered me a stupid amount of money for (rare color), and now I kind of want another Tele with a rosewood board. But I’m wondering if I could source a neck for the TC72 that fits what I’m looking for and be just as happy as I’d be with an AO60s or similar.

I’ve done some online research but haven’t found anything yet. Anyone have any recommendations for a source for a 3 bolt micro tilt Tele neck with a rosewood board? I think the bolt pattern might be slightly different than the USA stuff. Is that true? I would be fine doing a custom order, even though I know I’m probably looking at ~$350.

 

[ScribbleSomething]

Not sure of any bolt patern differences. You can buy the Mexican versions from Fender or Stratosphere. The new ones don’t have the hole drilled near the body. So the can be used 3 or 4 bolt or, i suppose, if there are any other differences.

I’ve been thinking about getting a rounder board for my Mexican 72 deluxe. I have found an other aftermarket.

 

[The Ballzz]

Using a Forstner bit to create a recess for the "Micro-Tilt" washer and re-drilling a 4 screw neck to match the 3 screw mounting is a fairly simple set of tasks. You could drill and dowel the existing 4 holes if you want, but it would not be truly necessary if they aren't close to the new holes. You may get lucky and find that the 2 holes at the headstock end of the heel already match up anyway! I'm not sure, as I've not monkeyed with any 3 screw units recently!
Just My $.02,
Gene

 

[jondanger]

Not sure of any bolt patern differences. You can buy the Mexican versions from Fender or Stratosphere. The new ones don’t have the hole drilled near the body. So the can be used 3 or 4 bolt or, i suppose, if there are any other differences.

I’ve been thinking about getting a rounder board for my Mexican 72 deluxe. I have found an other aftermarket.

Thanks for the tip. I generally have liked the Classic Series Mexican necks. All the ones I see now are Pao Ferro, but I’ll keep checking the site for a real rosewood board.

Using a Forstner bit to create a recess for the "Micro-Tilt" washer and re-drilling a 4 screw neck to match the 3 screw mounting is a fairly simple set of tasks. You could drill and dowel the existing 4 holes if you want, but it would not be truly necessary if they aren't close to the new holes. You may get lucky and find that the 2 holes at the headstock end of the heel already match up anyway! I'm not sure, as I've not monkeyed with any 3 screw units recently!
Just My $.02,
Gene

On most necks wouldn’t I go through the truss rod? I considered this but didn’t pursue it because of that.

 

[The Ballzz]

You could alternatively make sure that the neck pocket is properly angled to avoid the need for even utilizing that "Micro-Tilt" function & system. Most guitars that I've encountered with "Micro-Tilt" installed, have not required the use of such!
Just Sayin'
Gene

 

[warrent]

warmoth.com will drill for a three bolt. You can get the plate from fender.

We offer necks to function with the Fender® 3-bolt scenario. Only our Vintage/Modern Construction necks with top adjusting truss rod are compatible with this set-up. Headstock shapes include Strat®, CBS®, and Tele® styles. We rout for the mounting plate and drill for the screw holes but we do not supply any of this hardware. It seems that there are some reissue models that use slightly different hardware...we don't know the specifics; our holes match the early 70's Fender® specs. The cost for this custom work is $15 over usual neck pricing. Yes, we also offer Strat® and Tele® bodies routed for the three bolt hardware.

 

[backporchmusic]

I just bought a 2007 MIM tele custom with rosewood and swapped it in place of the maple neck my 2018 model had. Then sold off the 2007 custom.

My guess is the rosewood will become harder to find used as its all pau ferro now.

 

[jondanger]

You could alternatively make sure that the neck pocket is properly angled to avoid the need for even utilizing that "Micro-Tilt" function & system. Most guitars that I've encountered with "Micro-Tilt" installed, have not required the use of such!
Just Sayin'
Gene

Yeah, I’m pretty shim-literate [emoji6]

 

[jondanger]

warmoth.com will drill for a three bolt. You can get the plate from fender.
View attachment 557608 We offer necks to function with the Fender[emoji768] 3-bolt scenario. Only our Vintage/Modern Construction necks with top adjusting truss rod are compatible with this set-up. Headstock shapes include Strat[emoji768], CBS[emoji768], and Tele[emoji768] styles. We rout for the mounting plate and drill for the screw holes but we do not supply any of this hardware. It seems that there are some reissue models that use slightly different hardware...we don't know the specifics; our holes match the early 70's Fender[emoji768] specs. The cost for this custom work is $15 over usual neck pricing. Yes, we also offer Strat[emoji768] and Tele[emoji768] bodies routed for the three bolt hardware.

Cool, this seems promising. Thanks!

 

[jondanger]

I just bought a 2007 MIM tele custom with rosewood and swapped it in place of the maple neck my 2018 model had. Then sold off the 2007 custom.

My guess is the rosewood will become harder to find used as its all pau ferro now.

See, I knew I wouldn’t be the only one who wanted this very specific thing and was willing to go big in order to put it together.

All the Mexican necks I’ve seen so far have been pau ferro and from what I’ve seen of that wood, it’s too inconsistent in shade from one fretboard to another for me to buy with only a stock photo to go by. I figure if I’m going this route, might as well get the super dark rosewood that I really want.

 

[The Ballzz]

Warmoth makes a very nice neck!
Just Sayin'
Gene

 

[backporchmusic]

See, I knew I wouldn’t be the only one who wanted this very specific thing and was willing to go big in order to put it together.

All the Mexican necks I’ve seen so far have been pau ferro and from what I’ve seen of that wood, it’s too inconsistent in shade from one fretboard to another for me to buy with only a stock photo to go by. I figure if I’m going this route, might as well get the super dark rosewood that I really want.

With the three bolt, the necks set up very easily and are always (newer ones anyway, not real 70s ones) so easy to dial in minute changes that would require shimming in a 4 bolt.

My project came out spiffy, so I recommend you give ebay and reverb a shot until you find the right rosewood neck!

Mine set up great--its the ash/bigsby alongside its 'donor.'

 

[TimTam]

On most necks wouldn’t I go through the truss rod? I considered this but didn’t pursue it because of that.

4 bolt necks necks with the truss rod anchor at the middle, far end of the neck, yes ... the middle screw of a 3-bolt neck is right over the truss rod anchor on those necks. But on some Fender necks the anchor is further back from the end, closer to between the top two neck screws. That's what you would need.

If you don't install the actual micro-tilt mechanism on the neck you will still need to deal with the machine screw that mates with the tilt plate on the neck. You could do this ...
http://www.wheeldiamond.com/proattach.htm
Or replace the machine screw with a regular-style (but probably larger than standard) neck screw.

Either way, on a neck already drilled for 4 bolts that will mean filling the top two holes, as their separation and placement is slightly different to the two two holes on a 3-bolt neck.

The alternative choice, re-drilling the body to take a 4-bolt neck and neck plate is harder. Also the microtilt grub screw hole at the bottom of your current 3-bolt neck plate will be exposed outside the bottom of a 4-bolt neck plate (which is shorter).

 

[jondanger]

4 bolt necks necks with the truss rod anchor at the middle, far end of the neck, yes ... the middle screw of a 3-bolt neck is right over the truss rod anchor on those necks. But on some Fender necks the anchor is further back from the end, closer to between the top two neck screws. That's what you would need.

If you don't install the actual micro-tilt mechanism on the neck you will still need to deal with the machine screw that mates with the tilt plate on the neck. You could do this ...
http://www.wheeldiamond.com/proattach.htm
Or replace the machine screw with a regular-style (but probably larger than standard) neck screw.

Either way, on a neck already drilled for 4 bolts that will mean filling the top two holes, as their separation and placement is slightly different to the two two holes on a 3-bolt neck.

The alternative choice, re-drilling the body to take a 4-bolt neck and neck plate is harder. Also the microtilt grub screw hole at the bottom of your current 3-bolt neck plate will be exposed outside the bottom of a 4-bolt neck plate (which is shorter).

This is great information. Gives me a lot to think about . . .