Making Shims

kyral210 · #1 10-08-2008, 06:46 AM

Hi

I need to shim my neck, and I was wondering what the best way to make/ place to buy the shims from is? I have limited DIY equipment, so I need a really basic guide.

Oren Hudson · #2 10-08-2008, 07:43 AM

Use the search feature of this forum - there is tons of info on it.

DavePlaysBass · #3 10-08-2008, 07:58 AM

I used a trimmed up business card in the front of the neck pocket. I used a hole punch to open up where the screws needs to go thru.

slyjoe · #4 10-08-2008, 08:01 AM

Use the card trick if you don't have the equipment. You can't buy a shim that will be the right size/thickness for your needs. Shims need to be sanded to the correct taper with something like a belt sander. If you don't have experience with this (and don't want to start buying tools), use the card.

XylemBassGuitar · #5 10-08-2008, 08:20 AM

You could also use some hardwood veneer if you want something a little harder than the business card.

kyral210 · #6 10-08-2008, 09:28 AM

Quote:

You could also use some hardwood veneer if you want something a little harder than the business card

That sounds about right. I would need the following thicknesses:

1mm
0.6mm
0.3mm

Do you think using blades from a 'feeler gauge' would be appropriate, then you have the correct thickness's at your instant disposal!

mongo2 · #7 10-08-2008, 02:31 PM

For over a decade I used a tapered shim of masking tape in a "stairstep" configuration (4/3/2/1 layers to start). It works.

But lately I've favored flat shims of bass wood I get from the local hobby shop. I just got tired of messing with saddles due to the tapered shim.

kyral210 · #8 10-08-2008, 02:48 PM

Quote:

I just got tired of messing with saddles due to the tapered shim.

Why would you have to mess with sadles?

mongo2 · #9 10-08-2008, 02:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kyral210

Why would you have to mess with sadles?

I suppose it's because the geometry is different between tilting the neck and and just raising it relative to the body but it seems that with a tapered shim I have to mess with the saddles more than with a flat shim.

lonote · #10 10-08-2008, 03:07 PM

I have used business cards for longer than I care to remember and never had a problem.

kyral210 · #11 10-09-2008, 01:40 AM

Quote:

I have used business cards for longer than I care to remember and never had a problem

Doesnt it squash?

thisSNsucks · #12 10-09-2008, 06:41 AM

I've used playing cards with great success before. I like those because each one has to be a specific thickness( something like .2mm) to be regulation.

kyral210 · #13 10-09-2008, 09:25 AM

I suppose I could glue them together (laminate) to get my desired thickness. I still cant see how multiple shims cause problems with the saddles.

NorCal Dog · #14 10-10-2008, 07:57 AM

i've done the masking tape thing & the business card thing with great success, but lately, i've been using aluminum foil.

imo, the masking tape & the business card always seemed to deaden the transference of vibration between the neck & body, & yes, there is a crush factor with these methods.

the aluminum foil is very thin, you can fold it to any dimension needed, it doesn't have the crush factor as with the fibrous masking tape & paper product, & the foil just seems to transfer the vibrations, ( tone ) better between the neck & body, afterall, the fasteners that mechanically fasten the neck & body together aren't they metal ? methinks so

slyjoe · #15 10-10-2008, 08:03 AM

Actually, I think they increase the amount of vibration. The tighter the joint the less vibration. Just sayin...

I think there's an old thread on this argument somewhere, though argumentation is not my intent.

Georynn · #16 10-10-2008, 08:12 AM

I've used high quality cotton cloth sandpaper if it needs a large amount of correction, but generally I take a scrap of wood and sand it to the proper taper.

The sandpaper doesn't really crush and usually you can get a hole
through it with a drill bit...

aproud1 · #17 10-10-2008, 08:18 AM

If I just need to shim a little in one direction I use a business card. Recently I had to just raise the overall height of the neck. The business card trick was kind of ghetto so I bought a sheet of 1/16" basswood from a hobby store, cut it to shape with a razor, colored the edges to match the body color and it looks/works great. I think I could tell an audible difference with a stack of business cards but couldn't with the wood shim. I was drinking a lot of beer that night though

kyral210 · #18 10-13-2008, 12:21 PM

Ok, I have made three shims out of tin foil (16 layers, 32 layers, 64 layers) and placed them in the neck pocket at the correct intervals to give support all through the pocket. The neck is definitely shimmed, but I have no idea if it is a good method or not. Is there any way to tell if the job has been done well or not?

Pilgrim · #19 10-13-2008, 01:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kyral210

Ok, I have made three shims out of tin foil (16 layers, 32 layers, 64 layers) and placed them in the neck pocket at the correct intervals to give support all through the pocket. The neck is definitely shimmed, but I have no idea if it is a good method or not. Is there any way to tell if the job has been done well or not?

Yes. install the strings, do a setup and see how it plays.

kyral210 · #20 10-13-2008, 03:13 PM

And how do I know if the set up plays well? I know this may sound dumb but with neck angle, its hard to know what to look for in playability.