Shimming a Hofner copy neck

[cassius987]

I have never shimmed a neck before. My dad's Ideal copy of a Hofner Macca bass is in need of a shim though, badly. I want to do it for him because it is a really great bass--I thought I hated Beatle basses but this one sounds nice and deserves to be played. The action is way too high in the upper register though. The neck is straight.

Just wondering if there's anything particular about these. My book by Dan Erlewine describes Fender and Gibson.

[rumblethump]

Does this copy have a bolt on neck?

[Diogenes]

Normally shimming a neck is done to compensate for a bridge in which the height of the saddles cannot be adjusted any lower to obtain the desired action. With floating bridges like what is used on a lot of violin basses you have the option of modifying the bridge by sanding if the height adjusting wheels are bottomed out.

Do you have a picture of the Ideal's bridge? Is it something like this?

[cassius987]

It is a bolt-on neck. The action is high in the upper register but fairly low by the nut so I figured shimming was the way to go. The bridge does in fact look like that.

[mongo2]

I'd start out with a flat shim to raise the neck without changing the neck/body geometry and see what happens.

[Pilgrim]

Me, too. Sanding a bridge is permanent - removing a shim is easy.

It takes very little material for a shim. My normal starting point is to fold a business card in half and position it at the body end of the neck pocket, then re-install the neck. If the folded-over thickness is too much, remove the neck and use a single thickness or half-card.

[Ric5]

Original Hofners have set necks if I remember correctly. For your bass try a 1mm pick placed at the back of the neck pocket. This will tilt the neck down a fraction of a degree, and you will need to raise the bridge to compensate.

Also removing a little wood from the base of the bridge is a reasonable option.

[Diogenes]

Originally Posted by cassius987

It is a bolt-on neck...

Well damn, if it's a bolt on (color me surprised) then definitely shim... it's the easiest option.

[Ric5]

Originally Posted by cassius987

I have never shimmed a neck before. My dad's Ideal copy of a Hofner Macca bass is in need of a shim though, badly. I want to do it for him because it is a really great bass--I thought I hated Beatle basses but this one sounds nice and deserves to be played. The action is way too high in the upper register though. The neck is straight.

Just wondering if there's anything particular about these. My book by Dan Erlewine describes Fender and Gibson.

After re-reading this post I still think a shim that tilts the neck back is a good option.

Since you live in Denver you can come by my basement workshop and I can talk you through the shimming.