Neck Pocket Gap

[KrisRichmond]

When putting my guitar together the neck fitted perfectly into the body, but when I screwed it together the neck rose up from the body leaving a gap.  What can I do about this?

Feeler gauge says the gap is .406mm (.016") and it fairly constant around the neck.  I could post pictures if you want but I dont think I can photograph something that small.  The guitar still plays well, I just cant help thinking it could sound better if the neck and body had a better fit.

Any ideas on what I can do with this?  Do you think the neck screws could be going to far through the body and pushing the neck up? If so would shortening those screws or installing a thicker neck plate fix it?

Any input would  be greatly appreciated

 

[Cagey]

You don't mention the strings fretting out, but is it possible you have a contoured heel on the body? If so, the two screws nearest the headstock need to be 1/4" shorter, or they'll pop the fingerboard up.

 

[KrisRichmond]

I do have contoured a heel, but I got the Warmoth contoured heel screws

 

[Cagey]

Not to call you stupid or anything, but are you sure you put the right length screws in the right holes? The short ones go in the holes closest to the headstock.

Past that, the holes in the body are clearance holes, so the screw threads shouldn't be biting in the body at all, which would preclude them "pushing" on anything since there's nothing to push against until they get into the neck. At that point, if they're too long, they'll push the fretboard off the neck meat. That's bad news.

Pull the screws out on one side, and just hold them next to the neck/body joint with the neck held in place with the two remaining screws. Does it look like they're too long? If so, they probably are.

Just because you ordered the right parts doesn't mean you got what you ordered. I've never had a problem with Warmoth, but I have with others and I'm sure I'm just beating the odds right now with Warmoth. Nobody screws up on purpose, but it certainly happens. You have to check your parts rather than depend on the stock pullers, or you could end up sorry.

 

[KrisRichmond]

Thanks for the reply Cagey,

I see what you mean about the body holes only being clearance holes, did not think of that.

I did check the screw length before putting the guitar together the first time around as I could see that them being too long would drive them through the fretboard.

There is no damage to the fretboard at all.

I have pulled it apart once to check if there was any debris in the neck pocket but it was fine and the neck fitted together perfectly, until I screwed it in again

 

[DangerousR6]

I've run into that before, sometimes it's necessary to use a clamp with soft jaws to hold the neck in place while driving in the screws..

 

[KrisRichmond]

I did think of using a clamp next time, thanks for the suggestion Dangerous

 

[AutoBat]

Same thing happened the very first time I put my Strat neck on my axe.  I raised the saddles all the way up and thought "man, this fretboard is really thick!"
Then an embarrassing amount of time passed and I noticed the neck/pocket gap.  I unscrewed it, pressed it down very hard whilst reattaching and it was suddenly gapless and my (after adjusting again) saddle height was in a natural looking position.

 

[stubhead]

Past that, the holes in the body are clearance holes, so the screw threads shouldn't be biting in the body at all

Before I even got there, I was thinking this. Drill the body holes so the screws slide freely. And no, I don't know why Warmoth drills them too small. But surely we can apply the catchall Mantra of the 21st Century:

"Ahh, it's the computer, you know?"

damn things :icon_thumright:

 

[KrisRichmond]

Thanks for the advice everyone, Neck pocket gap is now gone.

What I did for anyone intereested:

I got some corrugated  cardboard and rolled it up into pads to protect the guitar,
Attached the clamp and tightened it,
Then as I undone the neck screws I tightened the clamp. Little bit at a time (this meant the neck was clamped where I wanted it)
When the screws were out I put a little Lemon oil on them as Wenge is a very dense wood,
Then screwed the screws back in,

Perfect!