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Bought a new Ibanez. Neck pocket question.

Cyborg

Cyborg

Jul 7, 2007
552
256
Lowcountry, SC
#1
I bought a new Ibanez SR705 with an interesting issue. The neck sits lower in the pocket as you move in the direction of the headstock. IS THIS A SERIOUS PROBLEM??? I've never had a bass with the neck sitting in the pocket like this. Is this a manufacturing defect? My SR505 does not sit like this. Any input?

2013-02-18_19-42-21_226640x360.jpg
 
#2
My sr755 does the same thing, it is due to the shims towards the bridge part of the heel used to achieve a proper angle. It is only noticeable because the manufacturer, who's plant i visited in japan, is to lazy to shave the "non FB" portion of the neck flush with the body.
 
#4
Max Pratt said:
My sr755 does the same thing, it is due to the shims towards the bridge part of the heel used to achieve a proper angle. It is only noticeable because the manufacturer, who's plant i visited in japan, is to lazy to shave the "non FB" portion of the neck flush with the body.
Click to expand...

That seems to make sense. I still don't like the way it looks.

dmusic148 said:
If the action suits you, it's fine. Not unusual.
Click to expand...

The action seems OK but it needs a set up to see if the action will get to where I want it. I'm trying to let the neck acclimate a little bit to the house before proceeding.
 
#5
Cyborg said:
That seems to make sense. I still don't like the way it looks.



The action seems OK but it needs a set up to see if the action will get to where I want it. I'm trying to let the neck acclimate a little bit to the house before proceeding.
Click to expand...

That's fine. If you discover the action is LOWER than you'd prefer, even after lowering the bridge, you could remove the shim. Doing so will raise action substantially.
 
#7
Hi.

Solarmist said:
That doesn't look right at all. I just went & checked my 4 Ibanez basses (3 are SR - 07' & newer), and the neck lines are parallel to the body.

Something is drastically wrong with that one.

Send it back while you can. Seriously.

I have never ever seen an Ibanez in that condition - they have some of the best quality basses there are for the money. This is indeed an anomily.

Let me know what you do, and what the problem is ... I'm curious now.
Click to expand...

Really?

You're just joking, right?

Every shimmed BO neck looks like that in relation with the top of the body.
On some instruments, the distance between the FB and the top is greater and/or the neck pocket is shorter so the effct isn't as pronounced as it is in OP's case.

Shimming is just the nature of things with mass produced BO instruments, nothing to be exited about.
THEY WERE DESIGNED THAT WAY.

Don't know about the policies over there, but if an instrument with the "condition" the OP's has would be returned with a flaw as the reason over here, there's a strong chance of a lecture and at least a bill for the return postage.
Rightfully so as well if You ask me.

The above is obviously assuming that the setup is as decent as it looks in the pic.

Regards
Sam
 
#9
T-Bird said:
Hi.

Really?

You're just joking, right?

Every shimmed BO neck looks like that in relation with the top of the body.
On some instruments, the distance between the FB and the top is greater and/or the neck pocket is shorter so the effct isn't as pronounced as it is in OP's case.

Shimming is just the nature of things with mass produced BO instruments, nothing to be exited about.
THEY WERE DESIGNED THAT WAY.

Don't know about the policies over there, but if an instrument with the "condition" the OP's has would be returned with a flaw as the reason over here, there's a strong chance of a lecture and at least a bill for the return postage.
Rightfully so as well if You ask me.

The above is obviously assuming that the setup is as decent as it looks in the pic.

Regards
Sam
Click to expand...

First off did you catch the part about it being a new bass?

Secondly did you catch the part about the neck joint looking very different from his SR505 which is a dimensionally identical bass.
 
#10
Hi.

Solarmist said:
First off did you catch the part about it being a new bass?
Click to expand...

Yes, hard to miss as it's in the title and in the first line.

Makes absolutely no difference for the shimming requirement of a mass produced BO instrument though IME.

Solarmist said:
Secondly did you catch the part about the neck joint looking very different from his SR505 which is a dimensionally identical bass. I do have 3 of them myself, and there is a clear problem showing indeed.
Click to expand...

3, :eek:, woah, that's a lot of basses ;).

Solarmist said:
Why do you think he started this thread in the first place?
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Because he has one reference to compare the new one with, and it does look somewhat different?

If he didn't have anything to compare it with, what would've happened then?

Solarmist said:
I suggest you don't know much at all about shimming if you think that looks normal on an Ibanez SR5 (or any other bass for that),
Click to expand...

:( I guess I don't then, the 25 or so years of working on and playing various instruments have been utterly in vain.


If shimming is what takes the instrument to be playable, IMHO/IME it's perfectly normal.

Solarmist said:
he can send it back & get it replaced, but I guess you don't know about American return policies either.
Click to expand...

There You are absolutely correct, I don't know about the American return policies, but somehow I don't believe that a regular BO feature like that justifies a free replacement.

Regards
Sam
 
#11
Thousands, maybe a million basses and other BO instruments have left the factory with shims in the necks since Fender began with the first mass production in the fifties. The only reason to make bolt on necks is to speed construction and lower costs over set neck design. It allows them to quickly do things like shim necks. Some need it some don't. I guess Ibanez isn't allowed to operate like all other makers in your estimation. This is caused by a lack of understanding of mass production of wooden BO guitars on your part.

If OP is not ok with that, he can try to return it. Have a nice day y'all.
 
#13
I'll agree with the others that say a shimmed neck is perfectly normal; but considering that Ibanez neck has the small "shelf" area that extends past the fingerboard, and that "shelf" looks like it should be flush with the body (and it currently is not), I can understand the concern.
 
#15
Looks like someone got overzealous with the thickness of the shim they used. To be sure why not remove it and take a look? If it's not shimmed send the sucker back. Everyone of my bolt on basses have needed to be shimmed and I ONLY play Ibanez and they all have the same look. In this case it looks like it was overdone.

If you don't know how, this would be a good time to learn how to setup your bass yourself.
 
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#17
I just had a closer look at my cheap GSR200EX and both the Ibanez guitars of my son. All necks are perfectly parallel with the bodies. I'd check the adjustment range of the action to judge whether this angle is intended or not. With the build quality of Ibanez in mind, I don't think this angle should be there. In my opinion the price of this bass justifies replacement.
 
#18
Jay2U said:
I just had a closer look at my cheap GSR200EX and both the Ibanez guitars of my son. All necks are perfectly parallel with the bodies. I'd check the adjustment range of the action to judge whether this angle is intended or not. With the build quality of Ibanez in mind, I don't think this angle should be there. In my opinion the price of this bass justifies replacement.
Click to expand...

If the playability is fine who cares? My 2000 dollar Ibanez is shimmed, works great for me.
 

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