Neck fitment

Jacques_nasi

I've got all my parts together for my 'Blues strat copy on the cheap', and want to start final assembly. ?

my question is now, how do I know if the neck is seated correctly in relation with the body? should it be dead straight inline with the body or slightly angled? if so how do I go about ensuring fitting the neck correctly? Any help will be greatly appreciated!

AlanRatcliffe

Either way works, as most things affected by it are adjustable. However a slight angle is usually preferable as it gives you a better string/body clearance, lets you raise the saddles to get the palm shredding screws out of the way and gives you more height adjustment range on your pickups. Changing the angle is simply a case of shimming the neck.

makepeace

Hi Jacques,

The only way to check for sure is to put it together. Once everything is together and strung up, check the bridge setup, action and relief as per the fender instructions that they have kindly place on their site:

http://www.fender.com/support/articles/stratocaster-setup-guide

If you can't get it to play nicely enough after doing the above, then there is a chance you might need some shims to raise or slightly angle the neck. These will just be slips of hardwood that you can get cut at a board/furniture workshop.

Good luck and let us know how it goes. And don't forget to post some pictures ?

Jono

EDIT: found this which may be of some service if you're feeling super pedantic http://www.tundraman.com/Guitars/NeckAngle/index.php :?

Fish-Eagle

Awesome advice guys, I will sure be using this soon as well!! Thank you very much!