Neck shims

[quarternote]

I have 69 Precision that needs the neck shimmed, cause it has the dreaded ski jump at the heel. There was a couple of business cards in there, but I would like to get and use a wood shim, Question: where can I get a thin wood shim, or must I make my own. Fender?
Thanks

[faulknersj]

I am also interested in this thread. I have always used biz cards as well but am wondering if there is a better option?

[T-Bird]

Hi.

It never cease to amaze me why the BO necks get shimmed like they do.

Lazyness?

Techs don't care?

Perhaps some folks just don't know any better?

Or

Do people actually prefer the un-even tone that is a result of minimal neck/body contact area, so it has become the norm?



When shimming a neck, I always make a full size wedge out of wood. The difference is huge compared with about 20% contact area the "usual" shimming method gives.

Whether the difference in sustain and/or tone is for the better, that's for everyone to decide themselves .

Regards
Sam

[bassbenj]

Originally Posted by T-Bird

Hi.

It never cease to amaze me why the BO necks get shimmed like they do.

Lazyness?

Techs don't care?

Perhaps some folks just don't know any better?

Or

Do people actually prefer the un-even tone that is a result of minimal neck/body contact area, so it has become the norm?



When shimming a neck, I always make a full size wedge out of wood. The difference is huge compared with about 20% contact area the "usual" shimming method gives.

Whether the difference in sustain and/or tone is for the better, that's for everyone to decide themselves .

Regards
Sam

Of course the "traditional" neck shim isn't a business card but rather a chunk of matchbook cover printed with the name of some dive bar!

But T-Bird has it right. If you want resonance you want nice complete wood contact at the neck joint not some squishy sound-absorbing paper. Some people improve things with metal shims but best is a full size tapered thin maple shim. You get thin maple wood sheets as veneers at lumberyards and places with things for cabinetmaking. It's not expensive. You make it into a wedge with sandpaper and flat blocks. Go for it.

[JLS]

Originally Posted by quarternote

I have 69 Precision that needs the neck shimmed, cause it has the dreaded ski jump at the heel. There was a couple of business cards in there, but I would like to get and use a wood shim, Question: where can I get a thin wood shim, or must I make my own. Fender?
Thanks

Shimming won't address the dreaded ski jump, sorry to tell you.

[lethargytartare]

Originally Posted by JLS

Shimming won't address the dreaded ski jump, sorry to tell you.

+1

[Jazz Ad]

Indeed, it can't be cured with a shim.
Actually the ski jump is often the result of a misplaced shim.

[conqr]

Yup, while a smaller shim at the 'headstock' end of the pocket can tilt the heel upward and in effect level the heel with the body, this also has the effect of raising the entire neck to do it. That leads to other issues to overcome. I opted to progressively reduce the height of the upper frets instead.

[palmann]

Originally Posted by conqr

That leads to other issues to overcome.

What issues?

Gruesse, Pablo

[Gort]

I've had good luck on a few ski jumps with a shim placed at the open end of the neck pocket followed by a thorough setup.

[JLS]

Um, no.

[FunkMetalBass]

Since I've never heard of the "ski jump", does it just mean that the 15th and higher frets are raised as a direct result of 40 years of wearing down the lower frets and/or bad fretwork?

If that's the case, get a fret level. Your shim isn't really doing anything.

[Gort]

Originally Posted by FunkMetalBass

Since I've never heard of the "ski jump", does it just mean that the 15th and higher frets are raised as a direct result of 40 years of wearing down the lower frets and/or bad fretwork?

Not really, the neck itself "curls" up in the neck pocket area sort of like a shallow ski jump.

[MNAirHead]

Whatever you use, try to adhere it in some manner.. about 3/4 of the shims that I've removed are crooked or in unintended places.

Tim

[alembicguy]

Ive used business cards in Fender Basses for over 25 years with great results.

[39-Bassist]

Just for your info. FORGET the shims if you know what you're doing, cause I always just take the neck off and sand down pocket to the angle of my liking....I know most peeps are afraid to or know how to but I personally do it because I like my action a certain way and more importantly the better the tone and sustain is with wood on wood.....

So you probably would be better off taking bass to the shop and have them sand the pocket..the tone itself would be worth the cost if done right.

[arginator]

Originally Posted by bassbenj

Of course the "traditional" neck shim isn't a business card but rather a chunk of matchbook cover printed with the name of some dive bar!

But T-Bird has it right. If you want resonance you want nice complete wood contact at the neck joint not some squishy sound-absorbing paper. Some people improve things with metal shims but best is a full size tapered thin maple shim. You get thin maple wood sheets as veneers at lumberyards and places with things for cabinetmaking. It's not expensive. You make it into a wedge with sandpaper and flat blocks. Go for it.

I have some cedar shingles left over from a house project, some of which get pretty thin. Would these work well?

[bleedingfingers]

If its a 69 fender pre it's worth the expense to take it to a guitar repair tech and have it fixed right .
Shims are usually what cause the ski jump problem.
Cheers B.

[Tusec]

Shims are fine. You don't need a broad area of contact to get good coupling between neck and body. That's a myth.

[JLS]

Originally Posted by bleedingfingers

If its a 69 fender pre it's worth the expense to take it to a guitar repair tech and have it fixed right .
Shims are usually what cause the ski jump problem.
Cheers B.

Wrong.