super stiff neck?

[ganzosrevenge]

I recently put .010s on my strat to see if lighter strings would do anything? Apparently, it became easier to intonate, but my neck stays just about DEAD straight. This has happened at .010 and .011. Even when I turn the truss rod, and I can feel it moving about, the neck stays DEAD straight. I took my strat to a technician and we viewed it through an x-ray machine and saw the truss rod was completely set up. The only way I can get any relief is by putting .012s or bigger on my strat. (And I don't want to do that again)

The way I checked for relief: a stewmac straightedge that came as part of my "basic setup kit". (Yes, it does wonders for radiusing and intonation). and even tuned to standard pitch, with strings stretched and retuned (for proper tuning stability), it's still dead straight. The most I can really eke with .010s is 1/64 to 1/32" of bend with the rod completely turned to maximize "concaving". (I have the biflex rod).

I'm hoping I have just a very stiff piece of wood. It resonates nicely, there are no cracks in the maple, etc. I know that if you glue 2 different pieces of wood together, their strength compound each other to some extent, so I'm wondering if that could also be the case. If I just happen to have a very stiff piece of wood, then so be it (and I hope that's the case). I also have a fairly thick neck (.87 at the first fret, to .99 at the heel) if that's of any help as well.

Lemme know what you guys suggest I do.

Jason

 

[idsnowdog]

Re: super stiff neck?

Go to a female chiropractor and get an adjustment. What you have is a Hawaiian hangup, otherwise know as a "lackonookieknot", it manifests itself in a stiff neck. Some acupuncture an adjustment and a happy ending makes it all go away!:friday:

 

[ganzosrevenge]

Re: super stiff neck?

haha snowdog

I wasn't talking about THAT neck (though I am suffering from that disease in your response) haha... female chiropractor, i wish there was such a thing for that ;-)

back on topic... any serious answers

 

[j9fd3s]

Re: super stiff neck?

the bigger the neck, the stronger it is going to be...

stiff neck eh?

 

[Zerberus]

Re: super stiff neck?

Generally speaking a stiff neck is not a problem, it can actually be very beneficial.

If however the neck cannot be set up to have relief, then a bit of up and close time with a heat press is in order. Unless of course it plays just fine the way it is.

 

[ganzosrevenge]

Re: super stiff neck?

how can a very stiff neck be beneficial? (I know 1/4sawns are usually a little on the stiffer side, but this is sawn on about 50 degrees from horizontal) The neck can be truss-rodded to the max amount of concave, and then it will sink maybe 1/64 to 1/32 of an inch, and that's it. 12s will give me the appropriate amount of action, but are almost unintonatable.

So how is stiffness good?

 

[JB_From_Hell]

Re: super stiff neck?

Can you set the action where you like w/o buzzing? If so, why do you want relief? If the thing is dead straight and plays fine, you've got the optimum situation.

 

[pzaxtl]

Re: super stiff neck?

how can a very stiff neck be beneficial? (I know 1/4sawns are usually a little on the stiffer side, but this is sawn on about 50 degrees from horizontal) The neck can be truss-rodded to the max amount of concave, and then it will sink maybe 1/64 to 1/32 of an inch, and that's it. 12s will give me the appropriate amount of action, but are almost unintonatable.

So how is stiffness good?

End grain that is running 50 degrees from horizontal means the neck is riftsawn, which, essentially, is not much different than quartersawn, and will result in a stiffer neck -- a more stable neck, too. With 1/64 to 1/32 of neck relief, you are well within the range of Fender's standard spec for neck relief which is .010". 1/64 = 0.015" and 1/32 = 0.03", both of which are actually greater than that which Fender specs. Why do you need a greater relief than this? If you've got a neck that stays flat without fret buzz and intonates well then you actually have the ideal neck setup.

 

[supernosher]

Re: super stiff neck?

yeah dude... what's your problem? haha

 

[d1dsj]

Re: super stiff neck?

Funny this thread has come up now. Last Wednesday I was talking to a local tech and we were talking about set ups etc. He was telling me about some of the guitars that he's set up over the years and one in particular that had a maple neck that took about 2weeks to finally shift! He said sometimes it can take a while but eventually the wood will give in to the truss rod assuming the rod all good, and that patience is the key as over adjustment can cause damage later on.

 

[ganzosrevenge]

Re: super stiff neck?

update: the neck is back to dead straight, and I can't find the little .040 hex wrench that raises saddles.

poo.