9383 Members
50 Forums
26843 Topics
293737 Posts
Max Online: 390 @ 10/02/12 01:42 PM
|
|
|
#292187 - 26/01/12 11:21 AM
Advice need fitting a new neck
|
BladeCD
Be Nice (I'm New!)
Registered: 31/07/11
Posts: 12
Loc: Manchester
|
Hi all,
I’ve got a strat copy that started out as a £99 package I bought from PMT late last year and I’ve been modifying it.
I’ve just bought mighty mite neck which comes with 7/16 machine head holes but no string tree holes, it physically fits it is ever so slightly loose at the top of the fitting but nice and tight at the bottom end.
I don’t have the spring trees or machine heads yet as I want Gold coloured to match the body hardware.
What I'm not sure on is fitting the neck straight to the body and fitting string trees, I did think about using staggered wilkies but would like to keep it looking more orignal using 70s style machine heads and spring trees.
Also I've no idea how and where to fit the string trees, the most I can find is to compare to another strat (which I don't have) or a picture doesn't seem right to do it that way.
I've emailled a few guitar techs for a price in the manchester area but no replies so i'm on my own.
Any advice on what fittings (machine heads and string trees) and how to fit them and the neck would be great.
Many thanks in advance,
Matt
Edited by BladeCD (26/01/12 11:24 AM)
_________________________
Life is like a jigsaw puzzle, you just gotta put the piece together!
|
|
Top
|
|
|
|
|
#292201 - 26/01/12 11:32 PM
Re: Advice need fitting a new neck
[Re: Megi]
|
BladeCD
Be Nice (I'm New!)
Registered: 31/07/11
Posts: 12
Loc: Manchester
|
Hi Megi...
Thanks for the advice and link to your build, I've just finished reading the whole thread and has been a wealth of information and also inspiring.
I have to say you have done an amazing job to build from scratch.
I think its about time I stopped calling mine a modified £99 cheap strat copy now as the body will be the only thing left of the orignal inc the internal switch, wiring and pots.
SO i take it from your reply that the string trees are to keep the strings a consistant height at the headstock.
I've read that even with staggered its better to use one sometime two string trees are you not using any on your build?
Also my original chinese pickups from pole to pole is 56.7mm 54.7m 52.7mm but the new ones (being tone rider classic blues set are all 57.7mm so the neck pickup doesnt line up with the strings there slightly off centre on the E poles, is this normal do you know?
The tremolo is a Fender the same as yours (albeit a different smaller block?) which is 62.7mm from saddle to saddle and from E to E string is 51.7mm at the trem)
Thanks again for you help, sorry to be a PITA!
Matt
Edited by BladeCD (26/01/12 11:58 PM)
Edit Reason: I've been soldering for over 24 years personally and for my trade....yours looks good, so you must be doing it right - I like the addition of the heatshrink also.
_________________________
Life is like a jigsaw puzzle, you just gotta put the piece together!
|
|
Top
|
|
|
|
|
#292212 - 27/01/12 09:31 AM
Re: Advice need fitting a new neck
[Re: Jocko]
|
Megi
Old Timer
Registered: 08/07/11
Posts: 1281
Loc: Lincolnshire
|
Hi Matt - I suppose you could say the main job of the string trees is to push the strings down to give a bit more of an angle over the nut, without them, the angle can be too shallow, and the strings (especially the high E string) don't push down on the nut with enough pressure, causing problems with poor tone and/or buzzing and stuff like that. I'm not sure a consistent string angle for all the strings is massively important - as long as they each have enough of an angle, that is the main thing. You can have too much of an angle too, which will cause problems with the string sticking in the slot, so bear that in mind too. I built a telecaster before the strat, and went for a single string tree about half way down the headstock:
Sorry, this is the only pic I have to hand that shows the string tree, but I think you can see where I've positioned it. I don't like to use more string trees than necessary, as they do add to the friction on the strings, which could especially be a thing to think about with a trem-equipped guitar like a strat.
On the current strat build I'm doing, I am using the staggered Wilkinson EZ lok tuners, and as you suggest, I am going to try to get away without having any string trees (Fender's Eric Johnson model strat is like this) - if in the end I do need one, I can always add it later.
On the pole spacing for pickups - I think the original Fender strat pickups were all done at the same spacing, which is more or less 52mm from the low E to the high E pole. It's a bit too wide in the neck position, and a bit too narrow at the bridge (especially because of the angled pickup there) but I just try to get the outside strings at least running over part of the polepieces, if not going right over the centre. It seems fine in use, and that's how the original strats were, so what else can you do? It is a bit ironic that some of the cheaper pickups from the far east do have varied pole spacing to get better pole alignment - just one of those things really!
I think the trem I have is a 54mm spacing, high to low E string, so yours at around 52mm is a bit narrower still, but you should still be able to get reasonable polepiece alignment for the pickups with care - the neck pickup will be a bit on the wide side re polepiece spacing, but it should be OK I would think.
Finally, cheers for liking my wiring, unlike you, I had never done any soldering at all before I started tinkering with the insides of Guitars, so I'm always pleased when a professional at it likes what I'm doing. The shrink wrap does seem a good idea to me - it helps to avoid possible short circuits, but with the fine wires used, also adds a bit of strength to some of the joins, which I think makes for better reliability.
Anyway, do stick around and post more about your strat (post some pics perhaps?) and hope it goes well, cheers. 
EDIT: good advice from Jocko too - him da man for modding strats! Sorry J, didn't read your post before replying to Matt's.
Edited by Megi (27/01/12 09:36 AM)
_________________________
Graham, jazz guitar nut!
|
|
Top
|
|
|
|
|
#292272 - 29/01/12 01:34 AM
Re: Advice need fitting a new neck
[Re: Megi]
|
BladeCD
Be Nice (I'm New!)
Registered: 31/07/11
Posts: 12
Loc: Manchester
|
Thanks for your help Megi and Jacko!
I've spent a day or so trying to decide and thinking about it and I've ordered the Wilkinson Ez-lok & Staggered machine heads, which was my first thought after buying the neck, I've got two roller type spring trees in gold if needed and fairly confident in fitting them thanks to your help.
I did get a reply from a local tech with a qoute of minimum £100 to fit the neck and trees, so learning is my only choice at that price!
I'll post some before and after pic's when I've done it, certainly can't wait.
_________________________
Life is like a jigsaw puzzle, you just gotta put the piece together!
|
|
Top
|
|
|
|
|
#292299 - 29/01/12 02:34 PM
Re: Advice need fitting a new neck
[Re: BladeCD]
|
Mark P
Professional Forumite!
Registered: 21/10/09
Posts: 455
Loc: Scotland
|
Ouch! £100 is a bit steep. 
On the positioning of the string trees Fender has service diagrams for strats which can be helpful for layout queries.
Service diagrams
If you click on the download link for a particular model the schematic appears as a PDF file on screen.
Good luck with the project - take the guys advice on the forum here and I'm sure you'll be fine!
|
|
Top
|
|
|
|
|
#292399 - 01/02/12 12:41 AM
Re: Advice need fitting a new neck
[Re: Mark P]
|
BladeCD
Be Nice (I'm New!)
Registered: 31/07/11
Posts: 12
Loc: Manchester
|
Hi all, just thought I would give an update!
Well I've done it, I took my time and measured and checked everything a dozen times and took the plunge and something must of gone right cause I'm still smiling now 4 hours after setting it up!
My fingers are numb and thumb is throbbing but I cant tell you how happy I am, it took me to that place and time went.
Its a great improvement I'm not sure its that due to it being a better quality or becasue its a maple neck (never used maple neck before.
Though I have also noticed I can feel vibration in the neck is this normal?
The tech guy who quoted £100+ said he may have to shim the neck with wood which was why it was so expensive.
There is less than 1mm gap either side on the neck so I'm not sure how to shim that unless I use shavings.
I did get the 'what if there is a something better' thought but after all the expense of almost replacing a complete £99 strat, part by part the thought was sent packing, its perfect!
Thank you so much all of you for your help, its appricated and hopefully one day reciprocated!
I will take some picture's tomorrow!
Edited by BladeCD (01/02/12 12:53 AM)
_________________________
Life is like a jigsaw puzzle, you just gotta put the piece together!
|
|
Top
|
|
|
|
Moderator: stickyfiddle
|
|
FREE Pre Sale
Personalised Setup worth £55
On every guitar sold (Since
1995)
Click on the Images For Further
Details
Acoustic Guitar Setup
Electric Guitar Setup
I have also created a page to help
explain, in basic terms, why a guitar sold by me will:
Play Better
Sound Better
Feel Better
Look Better
Stay In Tune - Longer Whether buying a guitar or otherwise, I hope you find the
information of value.
|
|
|
|
