Looking for opinions on modifying my strat

[Frogman]

I have a "partscaster" that has a top/flush mounted OFR.

Problem is, the OFR does not actually sit completely on the body -- it's about 4-5mm high -- which I contribute to the neck pocket not being deep enough (most likely scenario).
The guitar plays great as it currently sits (ie: the action is great, the OFR is not canted forward or backward, etc), but I *do* want the OFR to be completely flush/dive-only like the guitar was intended.

I do not want to sand down the neck pocket as there would be too much room for error, so as of now, I see two options:

1. Install a trem-stop
2. Sand the neck heel down

I'm leaning towards option 2, as I really want the OFR to be flush as intended, but am just looking for some opinions before I do so.
Either option would be a "permanent" modification, but it *is* a partscaster, and I do not have any intention of selling the guitar, so I don't have any qualms either way.
But sanding the neck down would remove the Warmoth stamp on the heel -- I guess that's my only real cause for hesitation.

I don't know, what do y'all think?

 

[GuitarStv]

Re: Looking for opinions on modifying my strat

Just glue a piece of wood in the cavity to block the trem into the position you want. It'd be a hell of a lot easier than trying to sand down the heel of the guitar, and is reversible with a little work. You'll be able to dive, but not to bend up.

 

[vinta9e]

Re: Looking for opinions on modifying my strat

Sand the neck heel down

Bad idea.

 

[Chris of Arabia]

Looking for opinions on modifying my strat

Agreed ^^. I'd either go with a shim at the open end of the neck cavity, or the Tremelno.

 

[Funkfingers]

Re: Looking for opinions on modifying my strat

Unfortunately, cutting an angled floor into the neck pocket is the correct solution. Kahler-equiped Charvel guitars are manufactured this way.

One of the Dan Erlewine books has a formula for calculating the necessary corrective angle. I shall look it up and post more information later.

 

[uOpt]

Re: Looking for opinions on modifying my strat

Record what it sounds like now.

Put a shim. Record again, compare. If there is a sound change, reboot. If there is no sound change you just fixed with problem with $0.10 of materials.

Either way report back.

 

[uOpt]

Re: Looking for opinions on modifying my strat

Unfortunately, cutting an angled floor into the neck pocket is the correct solution. Kahler-equiped Charvel guitars are manufactured this way.

One of the Dan Erlewine books has a formula for calculating the necessary corrective angle. I shall look it up and post more information later.

I did that but it is tricky. The calculations are easy enough with basic geometry (mainly because you can then reverse them and see that you end up with the right values), but the neck pocket itself is big-ish and common full-size routers can "fall" into the template making a nick in the side of the neck pocket.

 

[Frogman]

Re: Looking for opinions on modifying my strat

Unfortunately, cutting an angled floor into the neck pocket is the correct solution. Kahler-equiped Charvel guitars are manufactured this way.

One of the Dan Erlewine books has a formula for calculating the necessary corrective angle. I shall look it up and post more information later.

The pocket actually is angled. It's just not deep enough.....OFR is just a few MM high off the body..

 

[J E C]

Re: Looking for opinions on modifying my strat

The neck wouldn't happen to be shimmed would it? If it is take the neck shim out and see what you get.

 

[Frogman]

Re: Looking for opinions on modifying my strat

The neck wouldn't happen to be shimmed would it? If it is take the neck shim out and see what you get.

No shim.

Like I said, the pocket is angled for use with a top mounted floyd, but the pocket is just not quite deep enough -- and maybe the tall frets also play a role.

 

[ItsaBass]

Re: Looking for opinions on modifying my strat

Don't over-complicate the matter; just use a shim. It's easy as pie, as effective as anything, and about as cheap as it gets.

 

[uOpt]

Re: Looking for opinions on modifying my strat

So...

How deep is the pocket, actually?