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Can you take a look at this neck pocket gap?

MicG

MicG

Gold Supporting Member
Jan 2, 2006
1,100
279
41
Garden City, Michigan
#1
Squier Affinity 4 Jazz body

Squier (2013) Vintage Modified Maple Neck


The purpose of this build is for a fairly cheap backup bass. I understand that the workmanship of some of these components might be "questionable" (no disrespect towards Squier instruments).

What I have is a gap on one side of the heel approx 8 standard white copy papers thick according to my extremely scientific methodology:hiding:



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The other side is flush against the neck. The neck itself does not move but has yet to have string installed.
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20131230_151958.gif


I've searched around- am I in over my head here? Is this within an acceptable range of measurement for a neck pocket? Any "symptoms" I should be aware of? General consensus seems to suggest that it'd work fine but I'm unsure.

Thanks
 
#2
Just checked my 2009 Am. Std. P-bass.

On the lower side (as you hold the bass), there is absolutely no gap.

On the upper side, there is enough gap for three light/thin A4 sheets (80 gr/m2).

Perhaps you could email Fender and ask what they consider to be an acceptable tolerance between neck and body...
 
#5
It's a Squier Affinity which is Fender's cheapest line. No offense but you get what you pay for. Still a nice bass for the money. Much better than any inexpensive basses available when I started playing in the 1970s.
 
#6
String it up before making any decisions. There is no way to know that the neck is correctly aligned with the bridge until this procedure is complete.

Post your findings. Someone will help.
 
#9
Kmonk said:
It's a Squier Affinity which is Fender's cheapest line. No offense but you get what you pay for. Still a nice bass for the money. Much better than any inexpensive basses available when I started playing in the 1970s.
Click to expand...

Not true. I have an Affinity Jazz 5 that has a tighter neck pocket than some of my Fenders. Every single one is an individual and none of the variations makes any difference to the playability or sound.
 
#13
pfox14 said:
What did you expect from a Squier.
Click to expand...

I own 3 Musicman basses, an MIM Fender and a CV Squier P bass. My Squier is an awesome bass, not an awesome bass for a Squier, just an awesome bass on its own. It was built very well, far better than my MIM Fender and many USA Fenders I've played. I will proudly and confidently take my CV Squier to any gig.

As for the neck pocket, if the neck is stable and doesn't shift around I wouldn't worry about it. I had an Ibanez SR800 with a huge gap but the bass played well and had great sustain etc. It's not pretty but I just decided to not look at it an it was fine. :smug:
 
#15
A gap that size is not a problem other than the psychological thought that it is asymmetrical. The tension is not side to side and doesn't rely in the bottom or top of the pocket for neck tightness.

In fact you will find that, with a bit of a gap, when you bolt the neck on you can make small lateral adjustments to properly align the strings over the pup poles and line up the E and G strings to your liking.
 
#16
neckdive said:
A gap that size is not a problem other than the psychological thought that it is asymmetrical. The tension is not side to side and doesn't rely in the bottom or top of the pocket for neck tightness.

In fact you will find that, with a bit of a gap, when you bolt the neck on you can make small lateral adjustments to properly align the strings over the pup poles and line up the E and G strings to your liking.
Click to expand...

Speaking of pup poles and alignment, I'm now trying to figure out if this thing takes two of same sized neck pups or if the bridge is slightly longer as is standard with most J basses.

Still need to string it up but I'll keep updating.
 
#18
its a cosmetic issue dont worry about it unless your one of these guys that disects every build detail down to how many threads the tuner mounting screws have,Ive seen MIA Fenders with neck gap and those are pricey so if Fender isnt concerned about it why should anyone...
 
#20
landau roof said:
Relax, folks. The following:



may be a jab a Squier, but they don't always conform to Fender specs, particularly Affinities.

That said, the gap is unsightly, but I've seen far worse. Hit the sides of the pocket with a black paint pen and you'll be fine.
Click to expand...

I was gonna say run a bead of bathtub caulk.

Just trying to use up a bunch of crap I found in my workshop over the weekend.

Riis
 

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