I'm a semi-pro photographer and familiar with lens distortion. If the photo had that much noticeable lens distortion then the top edge of the neck pocket would be warped along with top edge of the neck plate almost exactly.
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Crooked neck plate?
- Thread starter Rnr..........4
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Definitely perspective, the reflection tells you the picture was not taken anywhere close to square on so you can't judge the angles from this image.
I worked in commercial photography for several years in my 20s. I'm also an industrial designer with a M.S. and over 20 years experience, which involves knowledge of production methods... Besides 1 pt., 2 pt., 3 pt., 4 pt., 5 pt. perspective, focal points, etc. for product illustrations.
Steel neck plate blanks are produced with a heavy industrial punch and die; making them consistently uniform whether they make 1 plate at a time or a run of 10,000.
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I think there is some crookedness to the plate, but it is emphasized by this photo angle / wide angle lens.
Nah, they cut the neck plates out on a metal bandsaw and the corners get radiused with big disk sander. This plate was obviously cut on a Friday and the guy who cut it was already drunk.
Why would the plate be crooked? They're blanked with an industrial punch and die.
Try loosening the screws a bit and straightening the plate and retightening.
Man, I'd be mightily cheesed off if I paid a Custom Shop price for a bass and it looked like that--whatever the reason for it looking crooked.
In terms of the other activity I enjoy, I'd feel like I had spent Sig money and got a Hi-Point...
In terms of the other activity I enjoy, I'd feel like I had spent Sig money and got a Hi-Point...
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Nah, they cut the neck plates out on a metal bandsaw and the corners get radiused with big disk sander. This plate was obviously cut on a Friday and the guy who cut it was already drunk.
This was my point, there is almost zero chance the plate is misshaped it just looks a bit funky cos of perspective. It's definitely not on straight for sure.
Once again, I'm tempted to apply for one of these production jobs in the Fender Corona factory just to see what the %$!@# is going on there.
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The plate is crooked in the way that it is attached.
Agree. The neck mounting holes through the body and thus also the neck plate positioning are crooked.
The physical shape of the steel neck plate itself is not out square or spec. The shape plate only appears to be crooked too due to optical lens distortion.
If you’re paying a premium for a janky looking bass you should rejoice in the jankiness not send it back 
Lots of folks are saying to loosen the screws and try to rotate the plate, but my eyeballs are telling me that’s just not going to work. Even if there is a lot of slop in the body screw holes the neck screw holes should be “perfect”. The plate is routed so the screws are countersunk and if they’re flush, it’s unlikely there’s any play in the neck plate because on tightening the screws, the neck plate aligns with the screws which are aligned to the neck, not the body. It looks like the neck holes may be misaligned and or the body holes are and so the screws themselves may be slightly cocked and if that’s the case it’s totally shoddy workmanship. Mighty mite body and neck tolerances are better than that.
The only way to know for sure is to take the neck off and measure both the body holes and neck holes for proper spacing and alignment. I highly doubt that it’s a simple matter of loosening the screws and rotating the plate. It’s just too far off kilter.
The only way to know for sure is to take the neck off and measure both the body holes and neck holes for proper spacing and alignment. I highly doubt that it’s a simple matter of loosening the screws and rotating the plate. It’s just too far off kilter.
If you’re paying a premium for a janky looking bass you should rejoice in the jankiness not send it back
It sure has that authentic homey hand-made feel, don't it?
Fast forward to the year 2041.
"Hey guys, I just took the neck off of a vintage custom shop Fender. And check THIS out. It looks like the holes in the body were filled and redrilled!!!!! You think Fender did that or did the schmuck who used to own it do it????"
"Hey guys, I just took the neck off of a vintage custom shop Fender. And check THIS out. It looks like the holes in the body were filled and redrilled!!!!! You think Fender did that or did the schmuck who used to own it do it????"
I suspect the alignment body holes--god only knows how--got badly botched and it ain't getting fixed just by futzing with the neck screw and plate. The only way to fix it with those parts is enlarge the existing screw holes in the body and neck, plug them with hardwood dowels, trim/level, re-drill the right way, touch up the finish on the body or refin if the plugs show, and finally reassemble.
For whatever Fender CS charges for one of those though, that should be their problem to rectify, best with a whole new and correctly made bass.
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