• From: Sweden
  • Registered: 2008-03-10
  • Posts: 165

Topic: New Neck :D

Hey all!

Just wanted to share a "story" of what Ive done with my guitar.

An Issue troubled my guitar playing not long after i bought my Fender Classic 60's stratocaster.
The issue was when i bended. since the radious on those 60's rosewood neck is 7.25 the neck is really round and when you bend you often hit a fret wich is very annoying.

I left my guitar at a guitar tech and they "cut (?)" the frets some, but the issue was still there, but of course it was a lil bit better now.
and recently i have Started to play even more blues then i did back then, So bending is like a main thing and i just got pissed on my neck. I didnt like the fact that i have to like adjust my playing after the guitar, I want the guitar to be adjusted for my playing.
So 2 days ago I went to a guitar mess I bought a new neck big_smile

This is a japanese fender neck. Its a maple neck with a radious on 9.50".
This neck is much fater wich i like alot. and i can really play better with this neck.

BUT the thing is that i didnt know that the "gold cover" on the frets are supposed to be cut away.
So i have my strings on and i have adjusted alot but i got this sound of strings hitting frets at some spots. But i guess it will be gone after i cut away those gold stuffs and it will work properly...i hope.

Just wanted to share! and sorry for my bad english

Rock on! // Simon

2 Reply by JohnTB (edited by JohnTB 2008-10-27 07:41:09)

  • From: Lancashire
  • Registered: 2008-02-26
  • Posts: 700

Re: New Neck :D

Simon94 wrote:

Hey all!


This is a japanese fender neck. Its a maple neck with a radious on 9.50".
This neck is much fater wich i like alot. and i can really play better with this neck.

BUT the thing is that i didnt know that the "gold cover" on the frets are supposed to be cut away.
So i have my strings on and i have adjusted alot but i got this sound of strings hitting frets at some spots. But i guess it will be gone after i cut away those gold stuffs and it will work properly...i hope.

Just wanted to share! and sorry for my bad english

Rock on! // Simon

I dont fully understand? the lacquer sometimes goes up over the frets a bit but I personally wouldnt cut that off... maple necks (unlikely rosewood) need that lacquer on them, It should wear down with play..

Actually re-reading I think your on about the lacquer being applied over the frets which is done to new maple necks,  be careful not to chip the lacquer as its quite easy to do so :x

I found this which might be helpful

"Here's the truth about frets on a laquered board. The frets are fitted BEFORE the neck is laquered. The frets need to sit on wood not laquer. Check out any new maple fender neck and you will see laquer on the both sides of the frets themselves. crowning and profiling removes the laquer from the frets. The old frets on a maple board can be removed VERY carefully by using a very sharp blade run either side of the fret to score the laquer so that it doesn't chip when the fret is removed. Providing you are fitting frets of a similar profile you need to do nothing to the laquer before fitting the new ones.
I am a guitar tech and have done this many times.

Hope it helps!

Pete"

  • From: Sweden
  • Registered: 2008-03-10
  • Posts: 165

Re: New Neck :D

okay but the gold things where like disappearing when i played it. it almost looked like "tape" on the frets. and when i played a lil bit off, i could pull more off with my nails.

I think I have to put them away since now my string setting is VERY high over the pickups but to the neck its still hitting the frets at some spots...

  • From: Lancashire
  • Registered: 2008-02-26
  • Posts: 700

Re: New Neck :D

Simon94 wrote:

okay but the gold things where like disappearing when i played it. it almost looked like "tape" on the frets. and when i played a lil bit off, i could pull more off with my nails.

I think I have to put them away since now my string setting is VERY high over the pickups but to the neck its still hitting the frets at some spots...

Ye its like a gluey stuff... it will work off after playing but your neck probably needs setting up i.e truss rod etc and will prob need levelling if it hasnt already

  • From: Sweden
  • Registered: 2008-03-10
  • Posts: 165

Re: New Neck :D

cant really say its gluey...its like a thin layer thats in gold, but under it theres chrome colourd frets. just like my old neck and my bros fender maple neck...

Whats Truss rod? smile

  • Registered: 2007-09-30
  • Posts: 556

Re: New Neck :D

Your neck needs a serious set up, sounds like a combo of high frets and poor adjustments.  It has to be adjusted to your guitar.  If you take it to a decent tech he'll level and polish all of your frets, straighten the neck, and adjust the micro tilt (if you have 1) to make the neck play just the way you like it along with no annoying buzz's or dull notes.

Ben

  • From: Lancashire
  • Registered: 2008-02-26
  • Posts: 700

Re: New Neck :D

Simon94 wrote:

cant really say its gluey...its like a thin layer thats in gold, but under it theres chrome colourd frets. just like my old neck and my bros fender maple neck...

Whats Truss rod? smile

Ok ye the lacquer is gold coloured, basically they coat the whole neck when its made and the frets are in place with lacquer to protect the wood... so that does need to come off but its usually done when the guitar is set up..

The truss rod is a bar that goes thru the neck it controls the amount of relief in the neck (or bow) if its too straight ur will get fret buzz if its too bowed you will have high action. Necks are supposed to have a slight curve in them, but tbh if you dont know what this is etc you should take it to a tech and have him/her set it up... smile

BTW maple necks = the best imo @ big_smile

  • From: Sweden
  • Registered: 2008-03-10
  • Posts: 165

Re: New Neck :D

Oh yeah! My brother has set up my guitar pretty good.
He knows alot about those stuffs and he has adjusted the tross rod so its a lil bit curved.
When we first got the string on we forgot to adjust it but he did and now its Slightly bowed. smile

Yeah. Maple Necks Rocks big_smile

  • From: Lancashire
  • Registered: 2008-02-26
  • Posts: 700

Re: New Neck :D

Simon94 wrote:

Oh yeah! My brother has set up my guitar pretty good.
He knows alot about those stuffs and he has adjusted the tross rod so its a lil bit curved.
When we first got the string on we forgot to adjust it but he did and now its Slightly bowed. smile

Yeah. Maple Necks Rocks big_smile

When and if I get time this week I'll post a pick of my new aquisition smile tis a very nice maple necked strat smile

  • From: Sweden
  • Registered: 2008-03-10
  • Posts: 165

Re: New Neck :D

I'd love to see it! big_smile


Maple Necked strats is the best! smile