I just shimmed my Strat's neck and...

[Diego]

Surprisingly, the guitar's tone changed. And not subtly.

I decided to lift it since the saddles were at their bottom almost, and the saddle screws pinching my hand annoys me. Took a couple of old credit cards and did a double shim right away, because why not.

Readjusted the action and the pickup height accordingly, but I'm realizing that the Strat lost a lot of snap. Which would be awful for purists probably, but in my situation I'm finding my Strat just sounds mellower and sweeter, but still a Strat. The attack became less present, which I dig.
It's sort of doing on it's own what I try to do when I boost it. I try to slice the obnoxious frequencies out.

I'll try it louder and longer today, but I'm surprised to find a major tonal shift with this and I don't know if any of you guys has experienced the same.

 

[Van Noord]

Re: I just shimmed my Strat's neck and...

I find very subtle changes affect a Strat more so than other guitars. Essentially, it appears you interrupted/lessened the vibration, rounding off the attack.
I found similar results by going to Graphtech saddles. The Strat "ping" was reduced but my tone got warmer and more rounded at high volumes as a result.

 

[chadd]

Re: I just shimmed my Strat's neck and...

I find very subtle changes affect a Strat more so than other guitars. Essentially, it appears you interrupted/lessened the vibration, rounding off the attack.
I found similar results by going to Graphtech saddles. The Strat "ping" was reduced but my tone got warmer and more rounded at high volumes as a result.

I found the same thing when I used the original graphtech saddles.

 

[DrNewcenstein]

Re: I just shimmed my Strat's neck and...

Did you put the shims evenly across the neck pocket to raise the neck evenly, or only at the back to angle it backwards?

 

[MetalManiac]

Re: I just shimmed my Strat's neck and...

^ i sympathize with our ertswhile Chilean Brother, but a "couple of credit cards"?-Overkill!
That aint gonna work in the long run.
A shim would be a at most, a buisness card ( paper) oer at most a thin pick shim, and even then ,as much shimming as I've done, which is plenty, a thick buisness card or pick is usually too much .A little goes a very long way in shimming, and in fac, a paper thin shim is all it takes- beyond that, you may need to scrub the project..

 

[DrNewcenstein]

Re: I just shimmed my Strat's neck and...

I've found over the years that those thick subscription cards that come in magazines are the best, folded once to double it.

Printer paper would work if you triple fold it, but with the good-quality print-your-own-business/birthday card stock you only need one layer most times.

 

[Diego]

Re: I just shimmed my Strat's neck and...

I may have gone a bit too far, actually. It's not doing contact properly.

Lazy people work two times, they say.

 

[Skezza]

Re: I just shimmed my Strat's neck and...

When I do a shim, I use a thin credit card. " A couple of credit cards"? Too many mate imo. Make sure it's cut cleanly too. I'm not saying you need to use a machine, just make sure you cut it nice and level so it distributes evenly.

The reason it's not a subtle change in tone, is because it's not a subtle change.

 

[astrozombie]

Re: I just shimmed my Strat's neck and...

Why did you install a shim? If it's for playability reasons I have some questions I'd like to ask you.

 

[Diego]

Re: I just shimmed my Strat's neck and...

Well... for once, I could never get the action right at some strings, because the saddles wouldn't go any lower due to the low neck mounting height. And I don't even like my action that low, and even less on Strats which need to sound very clean.

I also remembered shimming an old Epi Strat I had and recalled it feeling just "better" with the strings higher from the bridge. Felt more resonant or something. That made me do it.

I might need to do some further work; I suspect the neck angle is factory-ruined in this Strat, shim or no shim. There's fret buzz I can't dial out from the 5th-9th fret range, even with full relief. So I suspect the neck is slightly tilted backwards. I'll have to bring the angle to the front a bit.

 

[Skezza]

Re: I just shimmed my Strat's neck and...

Diego, definitely check the neck isn't too straight. I've seen lots of guitars coming out of factories with the neck way way too straight. There needs to be a slight dip in the middle, as I am sure you're well aware.

 

[Diego]

Re: I just shimmed my Strat's neck and...

Yup man. I've added relief and it helps, but it still buzzes. And it's not on certain positions; it's even all across the 5th-9th fret range, suggesting it's more than just fret wear.

 

[Diego]

Re: I just shimmed my Strat's neck and...

So I just did a partial shim (only towards the neck, half of one credit card) to add forward angle... and it works!!
The guitar sounds amazingly clean all across the neck and I can keep the neck very very straight now (very even action across the fretboard) and sounds just the way I like it.
And man does it SING now. Sounds much more harmonic and thick. It's terrific to bend strings now.

...Did I mention my action now cannot go below something like 5 mm. and the intonation is shot beyond recognition and unadjustable? :lol: Man I'm terrible at these things.
Need to find a way to keep this wonderful new neck angle (or at least part of it) without sinking the neck too much at the front.

 

[Chickenwings]

Re: I just shimmed my Strat's neck and...

Took a couple of old credit cards and did a double shim.Surprisingly, the guitar's tone changed. And not subtly.

:haha:

 

[Diego]

Re: I just shimmed my Strat's neck and...

Oh, don't be like that man. If we're laughing at least explain why.

 

[vinta9e]

Re: I just shimmed my Strat's neck and...

Neck joint is the heart of the instrument.

 

[Diego]

Re: I just shimmed my Strat's neck and...

Yeah. I still can't quite get this right. Sadly in stock form it's far from OK. It's a cheapo Squier Strat so I'm not paying for a luthier, and I quite like it's sound, not as shrill as other Strats I've played.
But what is it good for if it's fret buzzing all the time?

Should sell both my Strats and buy a proper one, god******.

 

[jalguitarman]

Re: I just shimmed my Strat's neck and...

You know a person with an entrepreneurial sort of bent could possibly carve out a niche by offering custom made wood shims that conform to the contours of a Strats neck pocket. :naughty:

 

[koshikas]

Re: I just shimmed my Strat's neck and...

if you are doing it for the second time, i recommend using sand paper (medium grit) folded instead of credit cards or paper. my findings are that the grit makes the contact of the bottom of the neck and neck pocket a bit more firmly. material wise i'm not arbitrating that sand paper is any better than plastics or paper (wood, preferably maple being the best).

also the shim should atleast cover the inner-pocket edge upto (and pass) the inner screws.