Dugz Ink Posted January 25, 2005 Report Share Posted January 25, 2005 So, I've been flailing around with my first project guitar for a couple of weeks now. I've done a couple setups before, and they've turned out pretty good, but this one was driving me nuts! So I took it to a guy who does setups for Nashville session players. He pointed out that there is a slight warp in the neck that I bought on eBay... and it can't be fixed. So I called the guys at USA Custom Guitars, and talked to Steve for a while. (He was totally cool and very informative!) We discussed some options, and he told me to spend some time at a specific guitar shop that uses their necks, checking out various fret sizes, neck profiles, and so on, before buying a custom neck. That's cool! After I talked to him, I had to run to an event that the Songwriter's Guild was holding. When I got home, I started looking at the pictures on USA's web site, again. Hmmm... all of their 22 fret necks have an overhang... and my guitar neck does not. (The neck ends even with the fretboard... and my neck pocket and mounting screws were set up for that neck.) I started checking other sites... Warmouth, Mighty Mite, Fender... and all of the necks I saw have a fretboard overhang on the 22 fret necks. I am soooo pissed off right now! I knew I could end up with a warped neck (from eBay) but I never expected this big of a mess! I wish I could beat that seller with his guitar neck! So, does anybody have any productive ideas? The neck is slightly visible between the fretboard and the body, so I hate to patch a piece of wood in there just so I can use a "standard" neck. I really DON'T want to buy all of the tools (right now) just so I can build a neck for this beast... but the body has turned out so nice that I can't scrap it. I've already written to the guys at USA, to see if they can make a neck without the overhang. It would be nice if they could... but I have no idea what they can do. Did I mention that I'm really pissed off? D~s Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rhoads56 Posted January 25, 2005 Report Share Posted January 25, 2005 ummm, so what actually is the problem here?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skibum5545 Posted January 25, 2005 Report Share Posted January 25, 2005 The overhang doesn't change the size of the heel AFAIK; at least, that's how it was for my Warmoth neck. Take some measurements of the heel, and I'll betcha they'll match the measurements of some other standard neck size-- most likely fender, which is more or less duplicated by all the aftermarket brands. Sorry to hear, though! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
daveq Posted January 25, 2005 Report Share Posted January 25, 2005 Are you saying that the necks from USACG won't give you the proper scale length? Is the bridge already installed? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LukeR Posted January 25, 2005 Report Share Posted January 25, 2005 i could be wrong, but it sounds to me like you may have a 21 fret neck, with a 22 fret 'added' where the overhang would normally be. Is this right? Luke Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dugz Ink Posted January 25, 2005 Author Report Share Posted January 25, 2005 (edited) I have a 22 fret neck, and there is NO overhang; the neck goes all the way to the end. The other 22 fret necks are basically 21 fret necks with an overhang for the 22nd fret. And, yes, the bridge is installed. (I was trying to setup the strings and pickups.) BTW: Did I mention that it's warped? (That's why it's going bye-bye.) D~s Edited January 25, 2005 by Dugz Ink Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
daveq Posted January 25, 2005 Report Share Posted January 25, 2005 I think everyone understands why it's being tossed but the question Perry and I were asking is what the issue was with the USACG necks? I was guessing that it was a scale length / intonation issue but I don't know. Is that why you are looking into getting one custom made and can't use their stock necks? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crafty Posted January 25, 2005 Report Share Posted January 25, 2005 The USACG and Warmoth necks are designed to fit in the Fender Strat/Tele neck pockets, depending on which one you specify. They feature an overhang for the 22nd fret because the pockets were originally designed by Fender for 21-fret necks. So, the real question is, how did you figure out the scale length of your guitar and how did you measure the bridge placement? If the guitar is scaled for the neck you have now, the new shorter neck may affect the scale length unless you have sufficient space between the end of the neck and the body in the neck pocket. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dugz Ink Posted January 25, 2005 Author Report Share Posted January 25, 2005 If the guitar is scaled for the neck you have now, the new shorter neck may affect the scale length unless you have sufficient space between the end of the neck and the body in the neck pocket. Exactly! And since the mounting bolts have been drilled (in the body) for the longer neck pocket, I can't use a shorter neck; one of the lower bolts (screws) will miss a shorter neck, and the other lower bolt will just hit the edge. (I did not use a "Fender" mounting bracket. I use mounting ferrules, which I offest to keep them from being lined up... and strength-related trick I learned building rifles stocks.) Is that any clearer? Is there any other style/type of neck that can be substituted/modified? D~s Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guitarfrenzy Posted January 25, 2005 Report Share Posted January 25, 2005 Yes, if you build your own you can make it to the exact specs that would work for you. That's about the only option you have right now, unless you can find a neck like that somewhere. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crafty Posted January 25, 2005 Report Share Posted January 25, 2005 Fill the old mounting holes in the neck pocket with dowels. Put the new USACG or Warmoth neck in the pocket and see how much space there is between the end of the neck and the back of the pocket. Fab a piece of wood to take up that space--it shouldn't be THAT much if it's a 25-1/2 scale guitar. Drill new mounting holes in the pocket for the new neck. String, tune, intonate, enjoy. You did use a 25-1/2 inch scale, right? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dugz Ink Posted January 25, 2005 Author Report Share Posted January 25, 2005 Fill the old mounting holes in the neck pocket with dowels. I'm using mounting ferrules... which are counter-sunk into the body. Those holes will take some pretty big dowels. That's why I was hoping that somebody knew of a 22 fret neck that had a neck/fretboard that didn't have an over hang. You did use a 25-1/2 inch scale, right? Yep. D~s Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
erikbojerik Posted January 25, 2005 Report Share Posted January 25, 2005 Fill the neck pocket completely with wood (your choice) then re-rout for the USACG neck. Probably the fretboard overhang will cover the problem area on the body. Or time to make a neck. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
silvertonessuckbutigotone Posted January 25, 2005 Report Share Posted January 25, 2005 Fill the pocket with wood like erik said. Then fill the mounting screw holes with dowells, then with bondo or putty for the recessment. Then rerout the pocket. Then re drill the holes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crafty Posted January 26, 2005 Report Share Posted January 26, 2005 I'm using mounting ferrules... which are counter-sunk into the body. Those holes will take some pretty big dowels. That's why I was hoping that somebody knew of a 22 fret neck that had a neck/fretboard that didn't have an over hang. So...use some big dowels, then? There's nothing "Fender standard" that's going to fit your neck pocket if you leave it as-is. You're either going to have to commission or build a neck yourself if you want one that'll fit the neck pocket for the strange neck you used. You could probably look up some Ibanez or ESP neck pocket dimensions and see if there's a neck that you can modify or adjust your neck pocket a little to make one fit. I really think the simplest way to go is fill the holes you made with thick dowels, redo the neck pocket a little, and buy a USACG or Warmoth neck. Sorry, bud. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
javacody Posted January 26, 2005 Report Share Posted January 26, 2005 (edited) Have you tried contacting the person you bought the neck from on ebay? Perhaps they'll exchange it for a good neck. If they won't exchange it, please post the auction/sellers name so we can all avoid this person. Edited January 26, 2005 by javacody Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dugz Ink Posted January 26, 2005 Author Report Share Posted January 26, 2005 It's been three months since I bought the neck, so I think all bets are off. Besides, he was hard enough to deal with when I bought the neck. (He threatened to leave negative feedback if I didn't pay... after he cashed my check. When I proved that he had cashed my check, it took him another 5 days to ship it.) He didn't leave any feedback for me (butt-munch!) so I can't find him in my eBay profile information. I guess I'll look through the checkbook, find his real name, then see if I can find his eBay screen name. If I find it, I'll post it. (Thanks for that suggestion!) As for filling the body... it's not going to happen. I'll make a new body (or guitar, in this case) before I have huge plugs in the back of this body. If I can't find a different model of neck that will work (ie: neck as long as a 22 fret 18¾" fretboard) then I'll will have one made. I'm checking with two possible sources right now. You have to understand, the guitar tech, the manager, and two sales-geeks at Guitar Center flipped over this guitar body... which made me realise that it wasn't my own personal bias that made me think that this was a great looking body. When the the guitar tech said my guitar could sell for over $1000 (with a decent neck on it) my wife said that she would pay for a new neck if he could find one for under $250. (That came as a complete shock to me.) So this puppy isn't getting filled with dowels and putty. D~s Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RGGR Posted January 26, 2005 Report Share Posted January 26, 2005 My bet would be to contact Warmoth or USA Customs......bet they can help you out with proper neck. Can't imagine they don't have ablitilty to leave wood in places they normally would take wood away. 22 fret 25.5" scale necks shouldn't be rocket science. Good luck. Ann any chance of posting pic of body wood???? Would like to see what all the fuzz is about. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dugz Ink Posted January 26, 2005 Author Report Share Posted January 26, 2005 any chance of posting pic of body wood???? Would like to see what all the fuzz is about. I don't have a digital camera, but I'll have to borrow one; one of the people I'm talking to wants to see a pic, too. The funny part is, I made it out of some Poplar that I found on the floor at Home Depot. It had been thrown to the side because it had a lot of mineral streaking and everybody thought it was "bad" wood. I honestly didn't think anybody would take this project seriously... until I went to GC. D~s Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dugz Ink Posted January 26, 2005 Author Report Share Posted January 26, 2005 Just got a reply from USA Guitars... It's a bit of a problem but I can do it for an extra $125.00 as we would have to program the new style of neck. If that is worth it to you I believe I can help you out! Thanks again! Tommy. Oh well... that made THAT decision easier. I was thinking about going with a small custom shop (they contacted me through PG), but the folks at USA have been so helpful in the past that I didn't want to cut them out of this project... but I can't justify paying 55% more just for the neck. D~s Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guitarfrenzy Posted January 26, 2005 Report Share Posted January 26, 2005 Again, why not try to build one yourself? Building a neck isn't as hard as you might think, although it does take alot of patience and planning. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
selmac Posted January 26, 2005 Report Share Posted January 26, 2005 try looking around at a few pawn shops I've gotten parts guitars for as little as $35 cnd with SD pickups. if u look enough im sure you'll find a 22 fret neck with no overhang Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crafty Posted January 26, 2005 Report Share Posted January 26, 2005 Keep in mind, with going with USACG you'll probably get the neck faster and it will be good enough for an investment grade instrument. The $125 fee to take the machine offline and reprogram it to the specs of your current neck is alone worth the money if you're looking to sell the instrument for $1000. What did the other shop quote you for a total? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dugz Ink Posted January 26, 2005 Author Report Share Posted January 26, 2005 Again, why not try to build one yourself? In a word: Tools. My shop shop is already so crowded that we moved my radial-arm saw to a friend's house. Even now, I'm having to move stuff so I have room to work on stuff, then I have to move stuff, again. What did the other shop quote you for a total? About $200. (He doesn't use a CNC, so he doesn't have to re-program anything.) D~s Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VanKirk Posted January 27, 2005 Report Share Posted January 27, 2005 Would it be possible to move your bridge instead of the neck? I don't know what kinda set-up you have on the body. It may be more of a pain depending on your bridge style and pick-up routes. I'm trying to think of options for ya. Just a thought (not a very good one, hehe). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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