guitar set up in akl

[Bg]

Actually I'd like to know how to shim a neck without considerably altering the tone of the guitar. Probably outside the scope of your usual setup though.

People have been shimming necks for years, including Fender. I would say anything over the thickness of a business card or so and I'd be making a wooden shim. Theres always microtilt - that isn't exactly a perfect wood to wood joint and no-one seems that bothered.

[Slowy]

Nash guitars just chuck a pick in there. And they seem proud of it too.

[badmotor]

Ha ha. I've shimmed plenty in the past, it just seems this particular one is a bit temperamental - looses bass and some sustain.

[ash]

If it's enough to notice a tonal chance, make a tapered wood veneer shim that covers the whole neck pocket area. Don't hack at the heel or pocket or install unnecessary hardware.

[Slowy]

If it's enough to notice a tonal chance, make a tapered wood veneer shim that covers the whole neck pocket area. Don't hack at the heel or pocket or install unnecessary hardware.

Is there any tonal advantage to angling a Fender style neck back like a Les Paul?

[ash]

Yes - If your tone is too full and rich and you would prefer it weedy and thin, try an ill-fitting neck shim

This is the tip of an ugly iceberg of untruths that fuel the internet. I don't have time to unveil it all, but suffice to say that the difference between bolt-on and set necks is more to do with the difference between the rest of the guitars in question - ie Fenders vs Les Pauls.

[slash-ed]

That sounds like a good topic for your first column on Six-String Samurai

[ash]

That sounds like a good topic for your first column on Six-String Samurai

I was going to say fourth or fifth, but that would make it sound like the first was imminent

Getting there...

[slash-ed]

[badmotor]

...
This is the tip of an ugly iceberg of untruths that fuel the internet. I don't have time to unveil it all, but suffice to say that the difference between bolt-on and set necks is more to do with the difference between the rest of the guitars in question - ie Fenders vs Les Pauls.

Apparently Fender used to chuck shims in from the factory using ex-employee business cards?... i.e. keep the part that says 'Fender' and cut off the employee name and throw it in the trash.

There's alot of crap out there... Sandpaper? Copper foil? Veneer? People using shims to actually revoice the guitar? I guess it's a matter of making sure energy is being transferred properly from neck to guitar no matter how you do it.

[Bg]

the humble business card is my weapon of choice, got to do something with them at 500 a box

[badmotor]

I've been doing some experiments today, and it's amazing the tonal differences materials and fractions of a millimetre make.

Slice of business card: wasn't enough angle
Ever so slightly thicker slice of card (we are taking fractions here): too much angle and killed bass and sustain.
Square of sandpaper with a lip folded over to create a 'tier' (Ash cringes in workshop): Tone not too bad and angle is good.

Last one is a temporary measure I think, until I can get some wood to make a wedge.



edit: Nerd out!

[Slowy]

I've been doing some experiments today, and it's amazing the tonal differences materials and fractions of a millimetre make.

Square of sandpaper with a lip folded over to create a 'tier' (Ash cringes in workshop): Tone not too bad and angle is good.

Corksnortling heaven!
More about the paper:
Brand, type, grit, did you fold the abrasive in or out? Was it new paper or pre-aged by smoothing the toenails of young virgin girls? What happens if you use paper of a different colour?

So many possibilities!

[ash]

I've been doing some experiments today, and it's amazing the tonal differences materials and fractions of a millimetre make.

Were you adjusting the action and intonation back to the same measurements each time?

If not those indirect changes are the more likely to be the source of the tonal effects than the angle, material or contact.

[badmotor]

I've been doing some experiments today, and it's amazing the tonal differences materials and fractions of a millimetre make.

Were you adjusting the action and intonation back to the same measurements each time?

If not those indirect changes are the more likely to be the source of the tonal effects than the angle, material or contact.

I'm probably adding to useless speculation... to be honest, it wasn't the same exact measurements it was more like doing it by eye and feel to get it 'kinda the same' each time.



*disclaimer for setup learners: Badmotors' experiments are far from scientific and should not used as a guide.