Shim Questions

[DavePlaysBass]

I have searched but have not found all the answers

I am going to probably need to shim my 50's P when adding a Gotoh 201. When doing so, I was wondering how deep to make the shim. I was planning to use a business card and take it from the back of the neck pocket (closeset to bridge) up to where the first set of screw holes are at. This will be fairly thin. Is that typical? I am bassing this on this picture:

Pic

Or do you take it more forward (towards the head stock)?

Also wondering how much saddle adjustment do you typically associate with a business card worth of shim? Any rules of thumb.

And last, do shims lead to ski jump / neck problems or other issues in any one's experience? It seems like there is less contact between the neck and the pocket after adding a shim.

Thanks,

Dave

[Turnaround]

That shim is OK. I prefer to make a wooden shim the full size of the neck pocket that tapers to nothing at the nut end of the pocket. But they're not easy to make. There's some debate about a partial shim causing the end of the neck to develop a bit of a hump and a further debate about a partial shim having an adverse affect on the vibration transmission. Lot's of disagreement on both issues.

So, if you are worried about either of these things you might want to consider a full-pocket tapered shim. I personally feel that the jury is still out on the hump issue, and I for one think the issue about transferring of the vibration to be a bit over-stated. You may be able to measure the resonance difference with a sensitive meter, but I doubt you will ever hear it. Especially in the mix with other instruments.

[DavePlaysBass]

Thanks for the feedback. I noticed the Fender setup instructions basically tell one to use a partial shim as needed.

I was thining about taking three business cards and making a stair step approach. Or using multiple pieces of sand paper and doing the same. But I will probably start with a partial shim to see if I like the new bridge and work from there.

It seems like someone should be making pre fabbed shims for Fender neck pockets.

[crazyguy832]

I shimmed my Yammie with a single business card and that was all it needed. I'd say start with that and see how it goes.

^_^

[Turnaround]

Originally Posted by DavePlaysBass

I was thining about taking three business cards and making a stair step approach. Or using multiple pieces of sand paper and doing the same.

I wouldn't make it more complicated than it needs to be. A full shim is ideal, but a stepped one is just complicated. It doesn't really add any value. Try a simple partial shim. I think you will find it works just find and you won't hear any difference.

[doktorfeelgood]

The shim looks fine but you need to punch a couple of holes in in the center of it and move it up to be directly under the two back neck screws. If you keep it towards the back of the neck pocket you run the risk of getting a "ski-jump" effect at the neck heel and if that happens, and it's happened to me on my Jazz bass so I know of what I speak, then the strings will buzz when you play anywhere past the 7th fret. Then you may have to have the frets leveled, like I had to, and if that happens, you'll have to re-position the shim anyway as well as shell out upwards of $60 bucks or so. Avoidable hassle.
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[DavePlaysBass]

Originally Posted by doktorfeelgood

The shim looks fine but you need to punch a couple of holes in in the center of it and move it up to be directly under the two back neck screws.
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This makes sense. When you save "back" screws you mean the screws closest to the bridge, correct?