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lumberjim · 03-07-2019, 12:40 PM

After adjusting the cavity to make room for the switch and Tone knob that were in the way, we put it back together, and it was still too high. So, We cut out and added a shim. I traced the heel of the neck on a thin piece of walnut he had set aside for this kind of thing. Then we tested the fit with a folded business card. 2 layers got it where we wanted it, so then drill through the shim where the neck bolts will go, and sand or plane the shim to the .0025" at the heel end, and disappearing on the neck end. that creates the correct angle so we can get the strings to be nice and low but parallel with the neck.

I didn't take any pics of the shim, but I did get Pete using the veneer slicer to reduce the thickness of the shim.

oh, he finally tried the super glue and masking tape trick. i had told him about it and he kind of blew it off saying he'd been using spray adhesive for 20 years, and etc.... but he tried it one day for a little template that wasn't critical... and was amazed at how strong it held and how easy it was to do. 'changed my life' I think is what he said. lol.. I did teach him a trick.... and he also said he'd probably try the neck heating trick if he ever comes across a neck as bad as mine was. Given the proper disclosure and if all other methods fail as mine did.

So yeah. a good long productive day at the luthier's shop. I was there until after 10pm. And I have one more adjustment to make....

This stems from that same frigging 3/8" error I made gluing the fret board onto the neck. I trimmed 1/8" off the neck, 1/8" out of the neck pocket...and figured I'd just extend the saddles to make up the last 1/8". well, the tremolo block under the bridge is butt up against the inside of that pocket, which becomes the fulcrum instead of the 2 posts like it should be.

I need to rout that 1/8" out of the upper edge of the trem pocket to let it forward enough to contact the posts properly. Then I'll need to nibble the pick guard down right there to match.

And THEN I can intonate the strings and call it done. (yeah...we'll see about that)

look how low the strings are:

03-07-2019, 12:40 PM	#6
lumberjim I can hear my ears Join Date: Oct 2003 Posts: 25,571	After adjusting the cavity to make room for the switch and Tone knob that were in the way, we put it back together, and it was still too high. So, We cut out and added a shim. I traced the heel of the neck on a thin piece of walnut he had set aside for this kind of thing. Then we tested the fit with a folded business card. 2 layers got it where we wanted it, so then drill through the shim where the neck bolts will go, and sand or plane the shim to the .0025" at the heel end, and disappearing on the neck end. that creates the correct angle so we can get the strings to be nice and low but parallel with the neck. I didn't take any pics of the shim, but I did get Pete using the veneer slicer to reduce the thickness of the shim. oh, he finally tried the super glue and masking tape trick. i had told him about it and he kind of blew it off saying he'd been using spray adhesive for 20 years, and etc.... but he tried it one day for a little template that wasn't critical... and was amazed at how strong it held and how easy it was to do. 'changed my life' I think is what he said. lol.. I did teach him a trick.... and he also said he'd probably try the neck heating trick if he ever comes across a neck as bad as mine was. Given the proper disclosure and if all other methods fail as mine did. So yeah. a good long productive day at the luthier's shop. I was there until after 10pm. And I have one more adjustment to make.... This stems from that same frigging 3/8" error I made gluing the fret board onto the neck. I trimmed 1/8" off the neck, 1/8" out of the neck pocket...and figured I'd just extend the saddles to make up the last 1/8". well, the tremolo block under the bridge is butt up against the inside of that pocket, which becomes the fulcrum instead of the 2 posts like it should be. I need to rout that 1/8" out of the upper edge of the trem pocket to let it forward enough to contact the posts properly. Then I'll need to nibble the pick guard down right there to match. And THEN I can intonate the strings and call it done. (yeah...we'll see about that) look how low the strings are: __________________ This body holding me reminds me of my own mortality Embrace this moment, remember We are eternal, all this pain is an illusion ~MJKeenan Last edited by lumberjim; 03-07-2019 at 01:23 PM.