Crooked neck plate?

[bolophonic]

Have you tried loosening the screws, twisting the plate to the left, and holding it there while you re-tighten the screws? Often, there's enough clearance in the holes in the body that the neck plate can be shifted out of position like that if you aren't paying attention when you tighten the screws. Sloppy assembly technique, but not necessarily sloppy machining of the holes.

If necessary, you can slightly enlarge the holes in the body to get the neck to seat on there straight.

I’m curious as to whether or not there is enough play in there to loosen the plate and straighten that out, but I wouldn’t be thrilled about having to do that on a brand new custom instrument. Just looking at that photo made me wince.

 

[rpt50]

I'm curious about two things:
1. For the plate to be that crooked the holes must be mis-alinged. How does that even happen with today's manufacturing techniques? Even "hand built" could not be that far off even with someone like me doing it.
2. Besides official "Quality Control", how many other folks saw that instrument and let it move on?

 

[Ulf Buck]

I love fender basses but that is pathetic and shameful on a Squier much less a CS

 

[roller]

What Clark said.

Roger Sadowsky's crew, Mike Lull's Crew, Nino Valenti and many more would never let something so ridiculous leave their shops.

Wow... whatcha thinking, Fender?

Now you can see why Lull, & Sadowsky “boutique clone” instruments exist.
.

 

[Liam Wald]

I wonder if that was done on purpose to add to the road worn charm of it all?
I would just hit it with a rock until it's straight.

 

[swink]

I wonder if that was done on purpose to add to the road worn charm of it all?
I would just hit it with a rock until it's straight.

Until the rock is straight, you mean?

 

[BAG]

Have you tried loosening the screws, twisting the plate to the left, and holding it there while you re-tighten the screws? Often, there's enough clearance in the holes in the body that the neck plate can be shifted out of position like that if you aren't paying attention when you tighten the screws. Sloppy assembly technique, but not necessarily sloppy machining of the holes.

That's possible..... but at the prices they charge for CS stuff you shouldn't have to.

If necessary, you can slightly enlarge the holes in the body to get the neck to seat on there straight.

I'd attempt this on a Squier or second hand Fender I got at a good price..... but not on a multi-thousand-dollar instrument.

I was just looking at some CS guitars for sale here in New Zealand and can't for the life of me understand how a Telecaster could cost over $7000. They were designed by Leo to be easily made by low-skilled line workers. I understand the relicing work takes time, but that's stupid money for a slab guitar.

 

[bassman10096]

The holes in the body are drilled off center from where they belong - very noticeable. No excuse for that. It’s just as wrong as a crooked pickup rout. Return it. It greatly diminishes the bass’s value. Fender will not push back.

 

[AboutSweetSue]

Yeah, I don’t think unscrewing and realigning is going to work with this one. Nor should altering the body be something you should have to do.

This is why I just piece together my basses. Costs about $800 for top of the line parts and plays extremely well.

 

[AboutSweetSue]

It lines up with the long side of the pocket. Back in the day they were cut out with a bandsaw table freehand. That led to a lot of anomalies in shaping.

Your bass is faking that original “charm”.

Woah now, that isn’t my bass.

You may have a point. I feel that your latter statement would have been more useful than the former in that it conveys a completely different point.

I think these CS basses have a lot of those little nuances that throw us off. Take the screws looking more tarnished than the back plate comment. Isn’t it true that Fender mixed nickel with chrome, and that chrome is more durable than nickel, hence the discrepancy?

 

[mongo2]

Even in an original old instruments that represents both a manufacturing and QC error and as such I find it unacceptable. I wouldn't have bought a new original back in the '60s with a crooked neck plate.

 

[96tbird]

Woah now, that isn’t my bass.

You may have a point. I feel that your latter statement would have been more useful than the former in that it conveys a completely different point.

I think these CS basses have a lot of those little nuances that throw us off. Take the screws looking more tarnished than the back plate comment. Isn’t it true that Fender mixed nickel with chrome, and that chrome is more durable than nickel, hence the discrepancy?

Ok it’s not yours. Minor point. I just added some info in my last post that is relevant

CS road worn are made to be ersatz versions of old hand made Fenders.

Old fenders are full of flaws. It’s no secret.

 

[MonetBass]

Even my 2021 Fender Player Jazz neck plate is on straight. I hope this works out for you, OP.

 

[fretno]

It's ergonomically situated so the thumb has the least drag up on the twiddle notes .

 

[JRA]

Would this be a deal breaker for you all and return it or would you keep it?

if playing the thing 'knocked my socks off' i would never consider returning it! so, if you'd consider returning a relic job for a crooked neck plate then i'm assuming it plays "ok" but not "superbly."

 

[Bass Viking]

It lines up with the long side of the pocket. Back in the day they were cut out with a bandsaw table freehand. That led to a lot of anomalies in shaping.

Your bass is faking that original “charm”.

I’m looking at the plate on my 1962 Jazz right now and it isn’t straight. I don’t have enough light to get a good pic, but the long side is lined up with the side of the pocket and the top of the pocket and plate is out of alignment.

Let’s not mention the rounded off edges of the body obviously done by hand.

Your bass is faking being vintage.

I once played a 64 CS Jazz with a noticeable neck pocket gap and I wondered if that was done deliberately. But is a Monday Morning Special more authentic than one done properly?

 

[HardNHeavy]

in order to fix that from OCD meltdown......you'd have to use a 60's era drillbit/wood epoxy of the time, and redrill and fill.

otherwise leave it.....

 

[bobalu]

I think that's pathetic for a so called "Custom Shop" instrument. No excuse for that leaving the shop the way it did.

 

[707GK]

I’m reading a lot about poor Fender CS experiences these days. It’s something I’ve considered, so thank you TalkBass for steering me away from a money pit.

 

[Lackey]

Return it and make sure they don't charge you any BS restock fees, and get a Yamaha.

It's laughable how pathetic qc at Fender is. Maybe not for you (yet), but it will be once you rid yourself of it.