An Urge

[apl]

OK, I've been sooooo crushin' on my faux strat (Squier Bullet, hot rodded) tone. I've been reaching past my Carvin to play it. It's got a good setup, but nowhere near the Carvin for playability.

So I'm thinking of a neck upgrade so I can have the sound and improved playability.

I found these which seem to be a very good value.

However, I'm thinking the guy sprays the light poly onto the ebony fingerboard.

That's a no-no, right?

[Big Kenny]

I thought it was your new stage name... The Urge..... I like it!

[Anfontan]

Originally Posted by apl

OK, I've been sooooo crushin' on my faux strat (Squier Bullet, hot rodded) tone. I've been reaching past my Carvin to play it. It's got a good setup, but nowhere near the Carvin for playability.

So I'm thinking of a neck upgrade so I can have the sound and improved playability.

I found these which seem to be a very good value.

However, I'm thinking the guy sprays the light poly onto the ebony fingerboard.

That's a no-no, right?

Those look pretty sweet, hopefully the poly finish is refering to the maple neck itself and not the fretboard. I've never had a rosewood or ebony fingerboard with a finish on the fretboard itself, and I regularly lemon oil the fretboard to avoid cracking.

[eyema_believer]

Originally Posted by apl

OK, I've been sooooo crushin' on my faux strat (Squier Bullet, hot rodded) tone. I've been reaching past my Carvin to play it. It's got a good setup, but nowhere near the Carvin for playability.

So I'm thinking of a neck upgrade so I can have the sound and improved playability.

I found these which seem to be a very good value.

However, I'm thinking the guy sprays the light poly onto the ebony fingerboard.

That's a no-no, right?

I'd be really surprised if the guys puts paint on the fretboard, but if he does, I don't think it will hurt anything.
I've been looking at those mighty mite necks. If I ever see one with the compound radius and jumbo frets, I'll get it. If you really want to increase the playability of any strat, put some big frets on it. You'll love it, if you bend a lot. It's incredible, especially with the compound radus.

Peace!

~Shawn

[Light]

Just spend the money to get a USA Custom neck. That way, you get a great neck and know that is what it will be beforehand. Yes, they are a little more money, and they don't exactly have the strat headstock, but they are the best replacement strat necks being made right now. There is more to a great neck than just a good fret job.


Light

"Cowards can never be moral."
M.K. Gandhi

[famous beagle]

Originally Posted by Light

Just spend the money to get a USA Custom neck. That way, you get a great neck and know that is what it will be beforehand. Yes, they are a little more money, and they don't exactly have the strat headstock, but they are the best replacement strat necks being made right now. There is more to a great neck than just a good fret job.


Light

"Cowards can never be moral."
M.K. Gandhi

What about Warmoth? I've really enjoyed every one of those I've played, and they won't run him too much more (maybe $50 or $60) than the one's he's looking at.

[apl]

Got back an email from the guy and there is no poly on the ebony fingerboard. Woot!

Light, this is a Squier Bullet we're talking about.

[Light]

Originally Posted by famous beagle

What about Warmoth? I've really enjoyed every one of those I've played, and they won't run him too much more (maybe $50 or $60) than the one's he's looking at.

Warmoth is fine too, but I think USA Custom is doing better work these days.

Originally Posted by apl

Got back an email from the guy and there is no poly on the ebony fingerboard. Woot!

Light, this is a Squier Bullet we're talking about.

Sounds like only the body will be a Squire by the time your done. I can't really see the point to spending money on something your not sure about when you can buy something which is right from a reputable source. Besides, if the neck you buy sucks, your gonna end up turning around and buying a Warmoth or USA Custom neck anyway. Do it right the first time, is what I always say.

Hell, he's charging less for that neck than I charge for a fret dress. That's got to be a warning sign.



Light

"Cowards can never be moral."
M.K. Gandhi

[apl]

Originally Posted by Light

Warmoth is fine too, but I think USA Custom is doing better work these days.

I'm not spending that much.

[eyema_believer]

I got me a USACG neck on a Tele body. 10-16 compound radius, 6100 jumbo stainless steel frets. Ebony fret board. It's the sweetest guitar, playing-wise, I've ever touched in my life. Plays like butter. To me, that's priceless.

[apl]

Originally Posted by eyema_believer

I got me a USACG neck on a Tele body. 10-16 compound radius, 6100 jumbo stainless steel frets. Ebony fret board. It's the sweetest guitar, playing-wise, I've ever touched in my life. Plays like butter. To me, that's priceless.

That sounds sweet.

[apl]

Originally Posted by Light

Sounds like only the body will be a Squire by the time your done.

LOL, I'm watching for bodies on eBay, too.

[apl]

OK, pulled the trigger on a neck and a cool set of nut files. I've been thinking about doing setups on the side anyway.

I conquered an unstringed Floyd for a friend who wanted to go from 9s to 11s and drop C tuning. I feel confident.

And Light, I use a strobe to set intonation.

[eyema_believer]

Originally Posted by apl

OK, pulled the trigger on a neck and a cool set of nut files. I've been thinking about doing setups on the side anyway.

I conquered an unstringed Floyd for a friend who wanted to go from 9s to 11s and drop C tuning. I feel confident.

And Light, I use a strobe to set intonation.

Sounds great! You might as well go ahead and get some files for fret leveling, if ya don't have 'em already... after all.. a setup isn't really a setup without a proper leveling, IMO.

[apl]

Originally Posted by eyema_believer

Sounds great! You might as well go ahead and get some files for fret leveling, if ya don't have 'em already... after all.. a setup isn't really a setup without a proper leveling, IMO.

That's what caught my attention on this auction is that on these necks the guy levels, crowns, and polishes the frets.

Probably not as good a job as Light would do, but probably better than the current neck.

[eyema_believer]

Originally Posted by apl

That's what caught my attention on this auction is that on these necks the guy levels, crowns, and polishes the frets.

Probably not as good a job as Light would do, but probably better than the current neck.

Right on. I always wondered how they can do a fret level without looking at it with string tension.
Light? How does one accomplish such a feat? Or, is tension not needed?

[Light]

Originally Posted by eyema_believer

Right on. I always wondered how they can do a fret level without looking at it with string tension.
Light? How does one accomplish such a feat? Or, is tension not needed?

Whatever Dan says, string tension doesn't matter when you are leveling the frets. It's one of the disagreements I (and a lot of others) have with Dan. His whole neck jig thing might be nice for amateurs, but for professionals it's just a way to spend time on a job that could be better spent on another job.

Think of it this way, you want the frets to all be the same height, right? (Well, it's more complicated than that, but it will work). You set the neck as straight as it will go (I DO like Stew-Mac's notched straight edge for this, though I'm pretty sure I'm the only guy in the shop who uses it), and you use a flat file to get the tops of the frets level. Then you recrown them, polish them up, and your done with the frets. (It's simple in concept, but the level of precision required is high, so it's tricky in practice) If you've got a truss rod, THAT is where string tension comes into the equation.

Now, there are times when you need to file a bit of a bow into the neck, if the truss rod isn't working, or if the guitar doesn't have one (Martin didn't start using an adjustable truss rod until the 1980s). But that's a whole other kettle of fish, and though you can do minor adjustments with a fret dress, if you need anything major you are looking at a refret.


Light

"Cowards can never be moral."
M.K. Gandhi

[eyema_believer]

Originally Posted by Light

Whatever Dan says, string tension doesn't matter when you are leveling the frets. It's one of the disagreements I (and a lot of others) have with Dan. His whole neck jig thing might be nice for amateurs, but for professionals it's just a way to spend time on a job that could be better spent on another job.

Think of it this way, you want the frets to all be the same height, right? (Well, it's more complicated than that, but it will work). You set the neck as straight as it will go (I DO like Stew-Mac's notched straight edge for this, though I'm pretty sure I'm the only guy in the shop who uses it), and you use a flat file to get the tops of the frets level. Then you recrown them, polish them up, and your done with the frets. (It's simple in concept, but the level of precision required is high, so it's tricky in practice) If you've got a truss rod, THAT is where string tension comes into the equation.

Now, there are times when you need to file a bit of a bow into the neck, if the truss rod isn't working, or if the guitar doesn't have one (Martin didn't start using an adjustable truss rod until the 1980s). But that's a whole other kettle of fish, and though you can do minor adjustments with a fret dress, if you need anything major you are looking at a refret.


Light

"Cowards can never be moral."
M.K. Gandhi

Thanks for the insight Mr Light.
The way you talk, you work with a whole passel of guitar-techs. I've never seen such a shop! Or, do you guys build them or what?
Don't ferget, I'm the noob... so I have a stupid question or two grace period

[Light]

Originally Posted by eyema_believer

Thanks for the insight Mr Light.
The way you talk, you work with a whole passel of guitar-techs. I've never seen such a shop! Or, do you guys build them or what?
Don't ferget, I'm the noob... so I have a stupid question or two grace period

Dad and I mostly build, but we have one of the largest stand alone repair shops around, with three full time and one part time repair people.


Light

"Cowards can never be moral."
M.K. Gandhi

[eyema_believer]

Originally Posted by Light

Dad and I mostly build, but we have one of the largest stand alone repair shops around, with three full time and one part time repair people.


Light

"Cowards can never be moral."
M.K. Gandhi

Sweet... where y'all located?

[Light]

Originally Posted by eyema_believer

Sweet... where y'all located?

I don't talk about it here.


Light

"Cowards can never be moral."
M.K. Gandhi

[eyema_believer]

Originally Posted by Light

I don't talk about it here.


Light

"Cowards can never be moral."
M.K. Gandhi

OK... but if you just happen to be in Michigan, PM me if that's not taboo.

Peace!

~Shawn

[apl]

Hey, Light, I support your position on straightening the fingerboad before leveling the frets.

Behold, the birth of apl CUSTOM Gutairs!

[muttley600]

Originally Posted by Light

Whatever Dan says, string tension doesn't matter when you are leveling the frets. It's one of the disagreements I (and a lot of others) have with Dan. His whole neck jig thing might be nice for amateurs, but for professionals it's just a way to spend time on a job that could be better spent on another job.

Ditto. I have bench tension jigs but rarely use them. There are some occasions but they mainly involve fingerboard removal or twisted necks that don't need or aren't wanted to be straightened. The only other time you may want string tension on the neck is when your doing some local fret dressing.

Get the neck straight, stone the tops, I use a very fine very flat diamond stone that gets used solely for that. Re-crown and polish.

As for the cost of those necks, If you add up the parts alone on a decent neck they'd be more than that. If they are any good buy the lot.

[apl]

Originally Posted by muttley600

Ditto. I have bench tension jigs but rarely use them. There are some occasions but they mainly involve fingerboard removal or twisted necks that don't need or aren't wanted to be straightened. The only other time you may want string tension on the neck is when your doing some local fret dressing.

Get the neck straight, stone the tops, I use a very fine very flat diamond stone that gets used solely for that. Re-crown and polish.

As for the cost of those necks, If you add up the parts alone on a decent neck they'd be more than that. If they are any good buy the lot.

What's Mighty Mite charge for those wholesale?