neck pocket on LP type

[vjay]

Hi everyone, my first build and I've run into an issue I'm not sure about. I searched the forum and have not found where it is answered.

When I place my bolt-in neck in the pocket, the bottom of the fretboard is very high above the body, like 3/16". So that distance plus the fretboard and the frets is quite high. In my test fit I let this go and proceeded. Once it came time to string it was pretty obvious I had an issue.

I raised the bridge quite a bit, (how much is too much is another question I have) and still could not get the strings off the frets.

Now I've seen reference to the neck angle and shims but don't know how to check that angle in the first place.

I think the pocket isn't deep enough or the heel is too thick.


Any suggestion?

[latestrummer]

I would suggest taking some if the thickness from both the pocket and the heal. Be careful that the screws aren't too long when you're done. A sharp 3/4 chisel is what I would used in the pocket and a hand plane for the heal. Just be careful you don't go too far the other way:)

[Deleted]

Measure how deep the pocket is. On my bolt on neck lp my pocket is around 1 1/4" deep. The neck is 1 1/2 " thick. If any thing I would look at making the pocket deeper. If you take it off the neck, it not as easy to fix if you go to far with it.
Make sure if you take it out of the neck pocket, make sure you get the angle right. I am guessing the angle of the neck was done in the pocket.

By looking at your pictures it dos look like the pocket in not deep enough. On kits, this happens. I look at it as part as kit building. One reason I bought kits was to learn how to fix issues.

Also, make sure after making adjustments to the pocket or neck, that your neck screws are not too long. You don't want them coming through the fret board.

How I was helpful.
EB

[vjay]

Jan 25, 2015 14:25:10 GMT -6 @eagleblues said:

Measure how deep the pocket is. On my bolt on neck lp my pocket is around 1 1/4" deep. The neck is 1 1/2 " thick. If any thing I would look at making the pocket deeper. If you take it off the neck, it not as easy to fix if you go to far with it.

EB

Thanks, but mine are vastly different measurements! The pocket is 3/4" deep and the neck at the heel is 15/16".
We're both talking Saga kit right?

[Deleted]

No the one I have is not a SAGA kit. I sold my Saga some years back. But they way your picture looks it looks like the pocket is not deep enough. I like my fret boards to be almost on top of the body.
If you have a router. I would take it down a 16th at a time to get the neck where I wanted it. You can achieve the goal with chisels and sand paper, but you need to take car not to gouge the pocket.
I like using routers for this. If you don't have one maybe a friend can help you out with that. Or maybe you could rent one.
After looking at you tape measurement your neck is the same as mine. I just looked at it wrong. Sorry!
So I would still lean in doing something with the pocket. It is a little bit of work but wort the effort.
EB

OH here is the SAGA I did sometime ago.
www.guitarattack.com/saga/saga2407/saga2407.htm

[dnic]

Looks like the neck pocket is very shallow. A sharp chisel used carefully is prolly the most efficient way to deal with this problem. I would leave the neck alone and take it all out of the pocket. I'd take a little less than the gap between the body and the fretboard as seen in your pic and match the angle of the bottom of the pocket. Get it as flat and gouge free as possible, the only place that is real critical is the front edge that is seen when assembled. If the strings are still to high after this you can increase the angle of the pocket, taking more from the front and leaving the rear alone. You don't want the back or heel of the neck resting on the fretboard extension. It will split when tightened up if it hitting the top.

[vjay]

OK thanks all. I have to say the chisel method isn't anything I'm looking forward to. How do I make a mark, measurement, plane etc? The angle of that plane has to be good.

I'm seriously thinking about trying to get Saga to send me a different body. I know it's a kit but, learning about set-up, intonation, electronics, and final finishing is enough for me.

[GuitarAttack Forum]

If you are not comfortable with the chisel, you might consider some coarse sandpaper stuck to a sanding stick the width of the neck pocket. I've used this method before, and the key is doing the math to figure out how much wood you need to remove BEFORE you start sanding. Mark where you need to sand to with tape.

I would send a note to Saga first and see if they will replace it. Beware...the replacement you receive might be worse!

John