Does a Neck Heel / Pocket Gap affect scale length ??

[evh_slash]

So I have about 3 identically set up Ibanez guitars but 1 in particular has always felt quite stiffer to play (the strings feel tighter, despite being gauge 9's)

After close inspection, I've noticed that the Neck doesnt fit as snugly in the bolt on pocket, and there is a slightly larger gap between the neck pickup and the neck heel . I can confirm also from looking side-on that the other 2 guitars' necks sit deeper in as the side dots of the 19th frets are deeper into the neck pocket.

Could this be a potential reason for the guitar being harder to play / feeling tighter ? I'm assuming the larger distance between neck heel and body result in a slightly longer scale length ?




Perhaps if I could sand / smoothen the edges of the neck pocket OR corners of the neck heel I could get the neck deeper in hence reduce the unnecessary gap and potentially help playability ??

 

[AlexR]

Re: Does a Neck Heel / Pocket Gap affect scale length ??

No, because you intonate the guitar by adjusting the saddles so it plays in pitch.

Of course your setup affects the precise intonation, so guitars of identical measured length could end up with different saddle positions. But then again your setup is the root cause of guitars plying differently in the first place.....so its all academic with the original premise.

 

[evh_slash]

Re: Does a Neck Heel / Pocket Gap affect scale length ??

That's some great info actually, thanks man !

 

[Clint 55]

Re: Does a Neck Heel / Pocket Gap affect scale length ??

With the guitar strung up, loosen the neck bolts and wack the neck snugly in the pocket then tighten the bolts.

 

[GuitarDoc]

Re: Does a Neck Heel / Pocket Gap affect scale length ??

With the guitar strung up, loosen the neck bolts and wack the neck snugly in the pocket then tighten the bolts.

Extremely poor advice, especially without even seeing the guitar. That is "bull-in-a-china-shop" advice. There is no need for brute force when dealing with a precision instrument. I would never advise doing that to any guitar.

If your guitar is accurately intonated, it is fine, leave it as is. If the scale length is indeed off, too long, it will be an insignificant amount to affect the feel or playability of the guitar. String sets of the same size can actually feel drastically different depending on brand or type of string (thicker core wire, hex or round core, alloy, etc.).

 

[Masta' C]

Re: Does a Neck Heel / Pocket Gap affect scale length ??

What the other Clint suggested here has been done many times with reasonable success. Seems a bit barbaric to me, but dozens of guys from the Warmoth forums to the Strat and Tele forums swear by it. Though, they say to let the string tension do the work...no need to bump it under tension.

 

[GuitarDoc]

Re: Does a Neck Heel / Pocket Gap affect scale length ??

let the string tension do the work...no need to bump it under tension.

Ah, and there is the key. If the neck is already wedged tightly into the pocket (which we don't know because we haven't seen the guitar), "wack(ing) the neck snugly" may cause damage, like cracking/splitting the wood. Wedges are used to great success to split logs.