neck heel/pocket fit

[bonnerik]

how tight of a fit are warmoth strat bodies and unfinished strat necks supposed to fit ?

my latest project seem to have some wiggle room, the first few days the neck was bolted on the neck was actually not lined up. it took me some time to actually notice how the low e was alot closer to the edge than the high e. the neck is now lined up, but there is a little spring in the pocket especially on the bass side.

any thoughts ?

 

[leo12.]

My strat body & neck were tight no finish on either. If you get finish on both it might close it some bit. Pics might give more clues.

 

[bonnerik]

do you have to kind of squeeze them together ? because theres definetely wiggleroom on mine.

 

[Cagey]

I've built a lot of guitars using Warmoth parts, and the neck is typically pretty snug. You'd almost call it a "press fit".

 

[bonnerik]

thats not the case with my latest build. i have a danish oiled warmoth neck that fits very snug on an alder warmoth body that i have, u can lift it around without screwing it together, this isnt the case with this one.

 

[Strat Avenger]

Can't speak for the Warmoth neck on a Warmoth body, but my USACG neck on the Warmoth Soloist body was not all that tight. It's not sloppy with gaps or anything, but it dropped right in and you could take it right back out of the pocket with no friction.

 

[bonnerik]

ok!

would love to get a few more peoples opinions as to what is the norm here, is a cad machine just not that precise ?

 

[AutoBat]

the CNC makes the perfect cut every time. i think you'll find the fitment issues because wood can move around after the fact.

 

[-CB-]

I have built...  something like 9 or 10 Warmoth parts instruments.

Some necks were very tight.  Others seemed to have a little wiggle - not much.  Granted, if you have a little wiggle, and can get all that wiggle lined up one way, the strings wont be centered.  What to do... loosen it, line it up, and tighten it.  Not hard.

I'll say this - you dont want TOO tight.  If things contract, or the neck expands... you're in for cracks.  You want a little bit of looseness.  Also consider that some finishes are thinner - oil finish is thinner than lacquer.

I've never had a sloppy fit.  Have had I think... maybe two that were VERY tight, and where I had to lightly sand the pocket (not the neck!) to fit.

Wood will expand and contract... so its to be expected.

And... having had a fair number of genuine Fender guitars apart, I can say... they do no better, and a lot worse on the fit.

 

[duosonic]

depends on the body.  on warmoth strat bodies I've used the neck drops in the slot.  It will have a little top wiggle but not much.  I can say that the warmoth neck pockets are the tightest I've worked with.  I've had other bodies where the pockets are way off.  Fender's are the worst.  I always measure both the neck and the body.  I have seen slight variations (even with CNC) although I assume it's someone doing some post sanding.  I've never had a problem returning something if the measurements are off.

 

[bonnerik]

ok thanks for all the replies. anyone know which measurements the pocket/neck heel are supposed to be ? i want to measure them with a caliper.

thanks

 

[Pelagaard]

Right here, direct from the source.

 

[Super Turbo Deluxe Custom]

Any finish, particularly a non-nitro neck finish, can make those tolerances tighter.  I've been told by sales the body finish (even when the neck pocket shelf and walls are unfinished) can have a finish "lip" built up on the top.  Their suggested DIY solution is to get the finest grit sandpaper you have, do a few passes of equal number to both sides of the neck pocket by hand, and retry fitting.  Repeat as necessary.

 

[bonnerik]

ok thanks all for the replies, gonna see what i can do about it.

 

[DLD]

I just got a custom ordered body and neck...

It's a strat neck pocket on a tele...
Very loose... not too great. However...

I have had some bad luck. This is my third body from them on my first order. First one was damaged, second tele had too rounded edges and every pickguard stood out from the overly rounded sides... Those first two were a tight fit (they did have the tele pockets).

The neck is unfinished the body is finished same on all three bodies and both necks I got... So they aren't 100% consistent... after all you are not getting a neck fitted to your body, but two separate pieces...