American Strat neck replacement

[Shellcaster]

I'm not sure if this is the right place for this question bbbbuuutttt I wanted a more experienced groups response before I dive in because I've never installed these "new style" fender locking tuners in a brand new neck. The last 2 necks I got I had finished by Warmoth the holes for the tuning pegs were bored and sanded smooth. I ordered this with a satin finish as well but the they came kinda rough. Should I be worried about trying to gently clean em up or just smooth out the rough bits and not worry about it?

I realize this may be a stupid question but every time I refrain from asking a stupid question I usually end up with a stupid result... Any help (or judgement) is welcome and appreciated in advance and thank you for taking the time to stop by

 

[Hodgo]

Yeah you can chase those with a reamer, a dowel with some sandpaper, or a drill bit to get them smooth. Won’t take much.

 

[Shellcaster]

Yeah you can chase those with a reamer, a dowel with some sandpaper, or a drill bit to get them smooth. Won’t take much.

Thank you for responding...

I only have hand tools at the moment and part of my other hobby is tinkering with fountain pens so I've got some super fine 8000 and 12000 micro mesh sheets I thought of hitting it with just to get the big chunks. The last thing I wanna do lopside one lol

Also, the only other "disappointment" was that I was expecting to see the old double corrugated custom white cardboard neck box they used to come in instead of a tri-fold piece of cardboard with some foam wrap for "packaging" but that is more trivial lol

 

[stratamania]

It should be in general discussion or tech talk as it is a general question rather than an actual build being documented. I will request it to be moved.


And of course go and buy some suitable sandpaper

 

[Shellcaster]

It should be in general discussion or tech talk as it is a general question rather than an actual build being documented. I will request it to be moved.


And of course go and buy some suitable sandpaper

Lol. I've got some, just not the grit I need lol

 

[stratamania]

Lol. I've got some, just not the grit I need lol

That was why you need suitable sandpaper.

 

[Shellcaster]

That was why you need suitable sandpaper.

Yes sir

 

[Strat Avenger]

Although none of the 5 Warmoth necks I've bought looked like that, I really don't see what the issue is. Once the tuners are installed. none of that will show.

 

[Shellcaster]

Although none of the 5 Warmoth necks I've bought looked like that, I really don't see what the issue is. Once the tuners are installed. none of that will show.

Wasn't so much of a "complaint" as a curiosity... The absence of the classic white Warmoth neck box... Now that's the real disappointment

 

[teleme01]

Buying from Warmoth, I am assured that the quality is better than my standards. Buying a Warmoth neck from other sources, I have concerns of counterfeiting. Strange as it is i would prefer a warmoth with a flaw to a counterfeit without flaws.

 

[Shellcaster]

Buying from Warmoth, I am assured that the quality is better than my standards. Buying a Warmoth neck from other sources, I have concerns of counterfeiting. Strange as it is i would prefer a warmoth with a flaw to a counterfeit without flaws.

I agree... I was more making a joke. In the 90s they actually had custom boxes for the necks they shipped them out in. My statement was more a nostalgic wish and a joke

 

[teleme01]

I bought 3 of the flawed garage sale necks and knowing what the flaws are, they are all still professional stock quality, with a ding.

 

[Shellcaster]

I bought 3 of the flawed garage sale necks and knowing what the flaws are, they are all still professional stock quality, with a ding.

The neck on my brown guitar is technically a "flawed" neck as well... The headstock is a 1/16th thinner than standard. Looks fine to me, their loss my gain...

In fact it even came in that shiny fancy box I was thinking of

 

[Shellcaster]

It should be in general discussion or tech talk as it is a general question rather than an actual build being documented. I will request it to be moved.


And of course go and buy some suitable sandpaper

Also, thank you if it was you for moving my thread instead of deleting it. I know I was making jokes about the packaging and worried it would be deleted because I believe they were being misunderstood

 

[Shellcaster]

Well the first stage of the neck replacement is complete. I wish I could say I enjoy working on guitars but after 3 decades of DIY to be left handed with options the answer is still no.

I thought I was hard on guitars but this thing was like the ghost of SRV played it for 5 years non stop and than it was left in a garage for the next 20. The wiring was barely hanging on and the neck has been taken off and put back on wrong at least twice as it literally dropped off my lap before I got the screws all the away out. The electronics are also shot, I've got a new switch and pots on order and the body is so light because it was routed to be a "super strat" at the factory. I've got replacement bridge saddles on order because they are so rusted out they now vibrate and 2 of the screws are just totally gone. I also had to replace half the silicone spacers on the pickups because they had dissolved...

Bbbbuuutttt the pick-ups are awesome and now I re-soldered everything and have a non-damaged neck the thing is brighter and punchier then my old Strat with Texas Specials, almost too bright. I'll be re-doing the wiring when I take the neck off when I have to do it's final "settled in" adjustment and light polish of the frets to get the low E-string buzz nipped but it's all worth it!

Pictures in posts below... Also I own no power tools and do it all by hand, starting with an extacto-knife and a bit of 2000 grit wet/dry to smooth out the tuning peg holes. Why do people pay big money to have this done by hand again when CNC and get it perfect in like 30 seconds flat? Lol

 

[Shellcaster]

Fitting the tuning pegs

 

[Shellcaster]

 

[Shellcaster]

Cleaning and before re-soldering

 

[Shellcaster]

Aaaaannndddd stage one complete. They aren't tex-mex like I thought, just really hot American standard (especially the bridge wow) that happen to have similar tone and output... To be continued...

 

[Shellcaster]

Ha, I just realized my dirty laundry pile is in one of those pictures my bad. I rent a room from a CO-worker because prices are out of control around here like everywhere else in Western Washington... My living space/workshop is all the same room bbbbuuutttt I get to use the basement as a jam space which makes it perfect for it just being me