Poor neck pocket design on Fender MIM Guitars.

Reverb · November 7th, 2009, 12:31 PM

Hello

I have a Deluxe Players body that I am giving serious thoughts about unloading. It is stunning visually and that is why I purchased it but I cannot stand the squared off neck pocket Fender puts on these guitars.

On this particular body, I cannot get the neck heel to actually make contact with the bottom of the pocket. I have heard that this is a key contact area of the neck joint.

What are your thoughts? Should I redrill the neck and risk changing the scale? Should I put a popsicle stick in there or just leave it alone? Do you think this even matters as long as the neck feels like it is tightly mounted?

Thanks

ghostwolf · November 7th, 2009, 02:07 PM

a pic would help here, do you mean square like a tele neck pocket, or the micky mouse ears pocket that's becoming more common on low end guitars?

Reverb · November 7th, 2009, 05:03 PM

It is the mickey mouse ears pocket. I don't understand why they put them on strats. Either way, I solved my problem by enlarging the neck pocket screw holes to set the neck lower (closer to the bridge) and sanding my pickguard a little for a fit.

This is actually the second MIM body that I've had problems with. I also have a MIM Classic 50s body with a neck pocket problem- one side of the pocket is actually 1/8" deeper then the other so the neck fretboard is higher on one side then the other.
What is going on at that plant??? Squiers are better than this. Sorry... I'm venting now.

Regardless, I'm happy that I can still use this strat body.

Malikon · November 7th, 2009, 07:38 PM

you moved the entire neck closer to the bridge? Can it still be intonated? You need 25.5 inches from nut to high E string saddle right? Wouldn't that make the math for the fret spacing all wrong now?

AllroyPA · November 7th, 2009, 07:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Malikon

you moved the entire neck closer to the bridge? Can it still be intonated? You need 25.5 inches from nut to high E string saddle right? Wouldn't that make the math for the fret spacing all wrong now?

Not if it's within the adjustment of the saddle. I think he moved it fractions of an inch. Can anyone post a pic of this MickeyMouse pocket ?

07 road house · November 7th, 2009, 10:43 PM

mickey mouse pocket ? Never seen one

Goodkat · November 8th, 2009, 02:19 AM

I think Reverb meant something like this:

AllroyPA · November 8th, 2009, 05:19 AM

Thanks goodkat! This forum always delivers the goods

thaus · November 8th, 2009, 05:55 AM

I have heard that this is a common way to set the neck in the pocket without causing any finish cracks........

Goodkat · November 8th, 2009, 06:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AllroyPA

Thanks goodkat! This forum always delivers the goods

Yeah! We're The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen.

AllroyPA · November 8th, 2009, 06:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thaus

I have heard that this is a common way to set the neck in the pocket without causing any finish cracks........

I remember reading you don't want the screws to thread on the neck pocket holes in the body. Any truth to this ?

sonny wolf · November 8th, 2009, 06:22 AM

I own many great Strats...Mexican and U.S. models and I find them all terrific personally.I don't believe that if the neck pocket were straight instead of those slight curves you dislike,it would make much of a difference.You can try to fill them up with some carefully applied pieces of wood but I'm certain you wont hear a detectable difference.Most of the neck is making full contact with the body anyways so the string vibration is definetly happening.I must say however in all fairness that none of my Strats have that design but I strongly doubt a few millimeters of less wood will be noticable...definetely not to anyone in the crowd listening to your performance.How does the guitar sound and perform to you?That should the thing to judge it by....if it sounds good then it's a good one!

Goodkat · November 8th, 2009, 06:24 AM

BTW, Thaus, are you implying that there is usually no gap between the neck and the body?

But ... I better keep quiet! My MIM Strat is almost perfect in that department (it has a 3 piece body with one pretty visible seam though

).

thaus · November 8th, 2009, 06:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AllroyPA

I remember reading you don't want the screws to thread on the neck pocket holes in the body. Any truth to this ?

I think you meant to write the opposite! The neck plate screws should drop straight through the neck and only grasp into the body. If the fit through the neck threads itself, you won't get the best fit in the pocket. I have done this to just about all my strats that had this problem. Just took a large enough drill bit and made the holes (in the neck) just a bit larger so the screws just drop through.

thaus · November 8th, 2009, 06:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by goodkat

BTW, Thaus, are you implying that there is usually no gap between the neck and the body?

But ... I better keep quiet! My MIM Strat is almost perfect in that department (it has a 3 piece body with one pretty visible seam though

).

No, would never imply that!!

Us tone tweakers could never rest if the heel wasn't as snug as possible in that pocket. Some of my strats have the ultimate snug fit and others don't; I am not really bothered by it it. What I prefer is that the bottom of the heel as optimum contact with the body though........

AllroyPA · November 8th, 2009, 06:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thaus

I think you meant to write the opposite! The neck plate screws should drop straight through the neck and only grasp into the body. If the fit through the neck threads itself, you won't get the best fit in the pocket. I have done this to just about all my strats that had this problem. Just took a large enough drill bit and made the holes (in the neck) just a bit larger so the screws just drop through.

No, reread what I wrote. The screws should not grab on the body, just in the butt of the neck.

Offshore Angler · November 8th, 2009, 06:41 AM

How's does it sound? Isn't that what matters?

thaus · November 8th, 2009, 07:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AllroyPA

No, reread what I wrote. The screws should not grab on the body, just in the butt of the neck.

Oops.....sorry AllRoyPA, don't know what the heck I was thinking! You're absolutely right and I meant to write that I have drilled out the holes in THE BODY so the screws drop through!! Man, I hope I am not becoming dyslexic in my old age!

Goodkat · November 8th, 2009, 07:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thaus

... What I prefer is that the bottom of the heel as optimum contact with the body though........

All joking aside, this is what matters the most.

Oldboy · November 8th, 2009, 12:44 PM

Quote:

I remember reading you don't want the screws to thread on the neck pocket holes in the body. Any truth to this ?

Yes.The reason being that if they thread into the body holes, they can tighten up against the neck plate before the neck is pulled all the way tight down into the pocket.

Quote:

What I prefer is that the bottom of the heel as optimum contact with the body though........

That's the most important neck/body connection,way more then at the sides or end of the neck.Bottom surface of the neck heel should be tight and flat in the neck pocket.

Offshore Angler · November 8th, 2009, 03:34 PM

You just gotta remember, MIMs are budget model guitars. With MIA's in the $1000+ range, Lesters and 335s in the thousands.... keyboards are in the $1000's, heck, a good single snare drum costs what a MIM goes for, and drum kits are in the thousands. A nice amp will go for 1-2 thousand. So what do you expect for a budget import guitar? Perfection? They build them to a price point and offer an incredible value. Are they as nice as the high-end pieces? No, but for as little as they cost they are very impressive.

You want perfect? Buy a Pensa or PRS.