Fitting a Strat Neck in a Tight Pocket.

[jbear]

Hey All,
I am swapping out a couple of necks as I like them beefier.
I have a 2009 Am Std body and I picked up an MIJ 62 RI neck, which is one of my absolute favorites. The neck is just ever so wider than the pocket. I have not tried to tap it in yet, but it definitely isn't one of those wiggle-it-in scenarios. So...what is the best way to fit this neck? I have a Dremel and I could sand down the pocket a tiny bit until it snugs in, but not having done this before...? I want to do this right and neatly without weakening structure.
Thanks for the help...in advance.

 

[The Guitar]

Re: Fitting a Strat Neck in a Tight Pocket.

Possibly micro routing on both sides of the neck heel. That's what had to be done for a wizard II neck to fit the strat body I got.

 

[ItsaBass]

Re: Fitting a Strat Neck in a Tight Pocket.

I'd start with a sanding block if the difference in size is very small, like you have described. I'd sand the neck pocket down a hair at a time, taking equal amounts off of each side until I got a tight, but not too tight, fit. You'll take a sliver of finish off of the body at the edges of the neck pockets when you do it, but as long as you are using the block and moving slowly, it won't look bad.

 

[jbear]

Re: Fitting a Strat Neck in a Tight Pocket.

Thanks very much!

 

[MetalManiac]

Re: Fitting a Strat Neck in a Tight Pocket.

I'd start with a sanding block if the difference in size is very small, like you have described. I'd sand the neck pocket down a hair at a time, taking equal amounts off of each side until I got a tight, but not too tight, fit. You'll take a sliver of finish off of the body at the edges of the neck pockets when you do it, but as long as you are using the block and moving slowly, it won't look bad.

No! Do NOT do this. Sand the neck heel down. More than likely the neck heel is a bit larger . Too tight a neck pocket is a good thing ! You do have to make sure you don't jam the neck into the pocket cause you'll fracture the edges of the neck heel, and maybe even split the wood on the body neck heel . Therefore sand the edges a slight bit on each side and refit. Make sure its still a tight fit for best tone.

 

[ItsaBass]

Re: Fitting a Strat Neck in a Tight Pocket.

No! Do NOT do this. Sand the neck heel down. More than likely the neck heel is a bit larger . Too tight a neck pocket is a good thing ! You do have to make sure you don't jam the neck into the pocket cause you'll fracture the edges of the neck heel, and maybe even split the wood on the body neck heel . Therefore sand the edges a slight bit on each side and refit. Make sure its still a tight fit for best tone.

Do you really recommend that he sand through the finish on the neck, only in the areas that are covered by the neck pocket, as opposed to simply enlarging the neck pocket, which he can do with very little precision required in an area where there is no detriment to sanding away the finish? It is illogical to make the neck heel smaller to make this work, but it makes sense to enlarge the neck pocket. Sand the neck, and then you have a permanently butchered neck. Modify a neck pocket, and no one will ever notice or care, and if they do, all they have to do is insert a shim if they put on a smaller neck in the future.

 

[SabbathFan0220]

Re: Fitting a Strat Neck in a Tight Pocket.

I would definitely go for a sanding block before I took a Dremel to it, the question is whether to enlarge the pocket or downsize the neck...

This may sound funny, but I would find out which one is more "correct" and modify the other to fit it. Do you have another neck or body that you can test with?

I only ask because I wouldn't want to sand a body to fit an oversize neck any more than I would want to sand the neck to fit an undersize pocket. Does that make sense?

 

[LReese]

Re: Fitting a Strat Neck in a Tight Pocket.

Pick your poison..

I'm willing to bet the finish is way thick on the AmSTD in that neck pocket. Wouldn't hurt to thin it a little. OTOH, I would see nothing wrong with thinning the finish on the neck, as long as you don't go through.

 

[Stratman]

Re: Fitting a Strat Neck in a Tight Pocket.

Try a DEEP pocket that is away from the nut sack.


Actually, sand the pocket and remove any paint that might be there.

 

[IanBallard]

Re: Fitting a Strat Neck in a Tight Pocket.

I would rather sand the neck heel a little, than risk ruining the neck pocket. Have you seen how thin the wood is on the top edges? It's also very easy to form cracks in the corners of the pocket from normal use...imagine if you weaken that pocket edge even more. A neck is a neck. Unless it's an actual vintage Fender that's worth thousands, you can buy a pretty good neck for less than $200, with whatever vintage spec and finish you want.

 

[jake_xms3_punk]

Re: Fitting a Strat Neck in a Tight Pocket.

sand the sides of the neck pocket with a block. it will take some elbow grease but it shouldn't take too long

 

[jbear]

Re: Fitting a Strat Neck in a Tight Pocket.

I had a bunch of stuff that needed work, so...luthier did the work...gently sanded the sides of the pocket (adhesive sandpaper on a block). Fit was perfect and it plays/sounds just like I had hoped.
I know exactly what I like for my playing style...this neck isn't going anywhere, so that's a non-issue.
Thanks all.

 

[User34603]

Re: Fitting a Strat Neck in a Tight Pocket.

The best bet is to have a repair guy with a template and hand-held router remove the small bit of side material from the pocket. Doing it with sandpaper and a flat stick may work and it may make it a mess. Some guys are skillful and careful and some are ham-handed. An alternative is the remove material off both sides of the neck that fits into the pocket. Remember: the neck fits DOWN into the pocket.... the rear is wider than the front in both the pocket and the neck !

 

[PFDarkside]

Re: Fitting a Strat Neck in a Tight Pocket.

I had the same issue with a MIM neck and Warmoth body. The neck simply wouldn't fit with the thick glossy finish. I ended up mating the neck to a Fender body and it fit fine. I think either the Fender tools have grown sloppy over the years or the just build them with a bigger tolerance so they never have an issue mating them on the assembly line. As much as it pains me to say it, a little thinning of the finish on the neck is probably the "correct" thing.

 

[jeremy]

Re: Fitting a Strat Neck in a Tight Pocket.

ive run into this a few times. figure out which part is out of standard and fix that one. if the neck is standard then fix the the pocket, if the pocket is standard then fix the neck

 

[kramersteen]

Re: Fitting a Strat Neck in a Tight Pocket.

I think if you need to retrofit a component into the guitar, any modification has to be made on the incoming part, not the receiving host. So it's the neck that has to be modified, not the body (neck pocket). In case he wants to put in the original neck in the future, he can do so without having to modify the neck pocket with a shim or whatever.

haha no way man that's silly talk. Way to ruin a neck.

 

[ItsaBass]

Re: Fitting a Strat Neck in a Tight Pocket.

I think if you need to retrofit a component into the guitar, any modification has to be made on the incoming part, not the receiving host. So it's the neck that has to be modified, not the body (neck pocket). In case he wants to put in the original neck in the future, he can do so without having to modify the neck pocket with a shim or whatever.

I don't know how to argue this other than to repost what you already responded to. It outlines the reasons why modding the neck pocket, not the neck, is the way to go.

Bottom line, it's just common woodworking sense not to try to make an already-finished part skinnier only in certain precise areas, when you can just globally widen an unfinished (or unimportantly finished) hole to accept that part.

 

[kramersteen]

Re: Fitting a Strat Neck in a Tight Pocket.

So when the guy wants to fit the original neck into the (now) already widened neck pocket, he'll just use a shim or a toothpick to achieve a tight fit, and not care about the aesthetics?

I don't know about you but to me, it's just common modification sense to avoid any irreversible alteration to the guitar if possible. If you alter the neck pocket, then the body isn't original anymore.

Bro sometimes you just have to admit when you're wrong. :smash:

If you alter the neck than the guitar isn't original anymore. Its full silly to even consider modding the neck in that waty.

 

[Will S-T]

Re: Fitting a Strat Neck in a Tight Pocket.

ive run into this a few times. figure out which part is out of standard and fix that one. if the neck is standard then fix the the pocket, if the pocket is standard then fix the neck

This exactly!

Only mess with the non standard part, you can't return wood to an original neck or body

 

[DESERTRAT1]

Re: Fitting a Strat Neck in a Tight Pocket.

Sounds to me like two roads that lead to the same place. In any case if it's still fairly tight when you're done don't forget the Vaseline.