Changing the neck on a Stratocaster

Changing the neck on a Stratocaster

I bought an Indonesian made Squier Deluxe Hot Rails Stratocaster some
time ago to use in situations where I don't want to carry one of my
'main' guitars (playing in dodgy pubs, rush hour on public transport
etc). Although there is nothing really wrong with the neck, I just
don't like it that much. The neck has such a thin finish, it's almost
like touching bare wood, and the radius is 9" with 22 frets. I like
vintage-style lacquer, 21 frets and, apart from a couple of guitars I
have, I prefer a 7.25" radius. The large headstock also looks a bit
cheesy as it is non-vintage style, and the fretboard is too thick with
lower quality rosewood.

Would pretty much any Fender or old Squier Strat neck (Japanese or early
Korean) fit on the body, with or without drilling? The 22nd fret is of
the style that hangs over the edge of the neck, so I know a 21-fret neck
will fit the same. Do I need to measure the width and height of the
neck to make sure I get the right one?

Fitting it won't be a problem as the luthier I normally go to won't
charge any or much extra for fitting a neck if I get a full setup. I'd
do it myself but I've never shimmed a neck before.

Re: Changing the neck on a Stratocaster

Since you are already hooked up with a guitar tech, you should really ask
him. You will likely get a mixture of BS and sarcasm here, and still not
really know the right answer.


"White Spirit" <wspirit@homechoice.co.uk> wrote in message
news:g09419$qo0$1@registered.motzarella.org...
>I bought an Indonesian made Squier Deluxe Hot Rails Stratocaster some time
>ago to use in situations where I don't want to carry one of my 'main'
>guitars (playing in dodgy pubs, rush hour on public transport etc).
>Although there is nothing really wrong with the neck, I just don't like it
>that much. The neck has such a thin finish, it's almost like touching bare
>wood, and the radius is 9" with 22 frets. I like vintage-style lacquer, 21
>frets and, apart from a couple of guitars I have, I prefer a 7.25" radius.
>The large headstock also looks a bit cheesy as it is non-vintage style, and
>the fretboard is too thick with lower quality rosewood.
>
> Would pretty much any Fender or old Squier Strat neck (Japanese or early
> Korean) fit on the body, with or without drilling? The 22nd fret is of
> the style that hangs over the edge of the neck, so I know a 21-fret neck
> will fit the same. Do I need to measure the width and height of the neck
> to make sure I get the right one?
>
> Fitting it won't be a problem as the luthier I normally go to won't charge
> any or much extra for fitting a neck if I get a full setup. I'd do it
> myself but I've never shimmed a neck before.

Re: Changing the neck on a Stratocaster

It will swap straight across. Dont ever shim a neck unless the pocket is so
deep that the bridge adjustments cant lower far enough to get a good action.
Even then only use a perfectly flat piece of shim stock thats the same size
as the pocket.
You want the top of the fingerboard to run parallel with the top of the
body.

"Steve L" <surfer@sliberty,com > wrote in message
news:Zu-dnWU68JRQu7XVnZ2dnUVZ_jOdnZ2d@comcast,com ...
> Since you are already hooked up with a guitar tech, you should really ask
> him. You will likely get a mixture of BS and sarcasm here, and still not
> really know the right answer.
>
>
> "White Spirit" <wspirit@homechoice.co.uk> wrote in message
> news:g09419$qo0$1@registered.motzarella.org...
>>I bought an Indonesian made Squier Deluxe Hot Rails Stratocaster some time
>>ago to use in situations where I don't want to carry one of my 'main'
>>guitars (playing in dodgy pubs, rush hour on public transport etc).
>>Although there is nothing really wrong with the neck, I just don't like it
>>that much. The neck has such a thin finish, it's almost like touching
>>bare wood, and the radius is 9" with 22 frets. I like vintage-style
>>lacquer, 21 frets and, apart from a couple of guitars I have, I prefer a
>>7.25" radius. The large headstock also looks a bit cheesy as it is
>>non-vintage style, and the fretboard is too thick with lower quality
>>rosewood.
>>
>> Would pretty much any Fender or old Squier Strat neck (Japanese or early
>> Korean) fit on the body, with or without drilling? The 22nd fret is of
>> the style that hangs over the edge of the neck, so I know a 21-fret neck
>> will fit the same. Do I need to measure the width and height of the neck
>> to make sure I get the right one?
>>
>> Fitting it won't be a problem as the luthier I normally go to won't
>> charge any or much extra for fitting a neck if I get a full setup. I'd
>> do it myself but I've never shimmed a neck before.
>

Re: Changing the neck on a Stratocaster

Keith Adams wrote:

> It will swap straight across. Dont ever shim a neck unless the pocket is so
> deep that the bridge adjustments cant lower far enough to get a good action.
> Even then only use a perfectly flat piece of shim stock thats the same size
> as the pocket.
> You want the top of the fingerboard to run parallel with the top of the
> body.

Thanks. I'm looking at a few nice ones, all around twenty years old, at
the moment. It might be difficult to decide which one to go for...

Re: Changing the neck on a Stratocaster


"Keith Adams" <keithadams@socal.rr,com > wrote in message
news:4828889a$0$20189$4c368faf@roadrunner,com ...
>
> You want the top of the fingerboard to run parallel with the top of the
> body.
>

What Keith said. The "standard" Strat neck is 2-3/16" wide at the heel, and
the neck pocket should be 5/8" deep. If these match the dimensions on your
Squier, you are good to go. But I've encountered some necks and neck
pockets that were non-standard, so make sure these dimensions match so you
don't end up buying something you can't use.

--Steve

Re: Changing the neck on a Stratocaster

White Spirit wrote:
> I bought an Indonesian made Squier Deluxe Hot Rails Stratocaster some
> time ago to use in situations where I don't want to carry one of my
> 'main' guitars (playing in dodgy pubs, rush hour on public transport
> etc). Although there is nothing really wrong with the neck, I just
> don't like it that much. The neck has such a thin finish, it's almost
> like touching bare wood, and the radius is 9" with 22 frets. I like
> vintage-style lacquer, 21 frets and, apart from a couple of guitars I
> have, I prefer a 7.25" radius. The large headstock also looks a bit
> cheesy as it is non-vintage style, and the fretboard is too thick with
> lower quality rosewood.
>
> Would pretty much any Fender or old Squier Strat neck (Japanese or early
> Korean) fit on the body, with or without drilling? The 22nd fret is of
> the style that hangs over the edge of the neck, so I know a 21-fret neck
> will fit the same. Do I need to measure the width and height of the
> neck to make sure I get the right one?
>
> Fitting it won't be a problem as the luthier I normally go to won't
> charge any or much extra for fitting a neck if I get a full setup. I'd
> do it myself but I've never shimmed a neck before.

The pocket dimensions are the key. Not sure of specs but measure width
and depth etc. IIRC the MIM Standard Strat necks are interchangeable
with Squier Standard necks. Affinities, Bullets and SE-100's have
narrower/shallower pockets. I'd assume the VM's were the same spec as
the Standards.

BUT

Before you rush out there is a new raft of Squier's on the way called
Vintage Vibes. They are essentially budget reissues. There is a 50's and
60's Strat, 50's Tele, Duosonic, early 50's and late 50's P bass and
finally a early J bass. VERY reminiscent of the JV's. The pics my local
Fender dealer showed me looked great. He played one and said they were
great players too, all vintage spec. Can't find squat about tehm on the
net yet, will get my dealer to email me the pre-release PDF he has and
forward it if you like?

Mark

Re: Changing the neck on a Stratocaster

Mark Bedingfield wrote:

> The pocket dimensions are the key. Not sure of specs but measure width
> and depth etc. IIRC the MIM Standard Strat necks are interchangeable
> with Squier Standard necks. Affinities, Bullets and SE-100's have
> narrower/shallower pockets. I'd assume the VM's were the same spec as
> the Standards.

Okay. The ones I'm looking for should fit, then. Having eyeballed the
neck, it looks like any of my other Strat necks would fit.

> BUT

> Before you rush out there is a new raft of Squier's on the way called
> Vintage Vibes. They are essentially budget reissues. There is a 50's and
> 60's Strat, 50's Tele, Duosonic, early 50's and late 50's P bass and
> finally a early J bass. VERY reminiscent of the JV's. The pics my local
> Fender dealer showed me looked great. He played one and said they were
> great players too, all vintage spec. Can't find squat about tehm on the
> net yet, will get my dealer to email me the pre-release PDF he has and
> forward it if you like?

That would be great, thanks. I'll have a look at the Squier website and
see what they have there. If they look good, I might hang on and just
sell the Deluxe one.

I'm really GASing for another old Korean or Japanese Strat, though. I
should really just invest in pickups and a refret for my S-series

Re: Changing the neck on a Stratocaster

White Spirit wrote:
> Mark Bedingfield wrote:
>
>> The pocket dimensions are the key. Not sure of specs but measure width
>> and depth etc. IIRC the MIM Standard Strat necks are interchangeable
>> with Squier Standard necks. Affinities, Bullets and SE-100's have
>> narrower/shallower pockets. I'd assume the VM's were the same spec as
>> the Standards.
>
> Okay. The ones I'm looking for should fit, then. Having eyeballed the
> neck, it looks like any of my other Strat necks would fit.
>
>> BUT
>
>> Before you rush out there is a new raft of Squier's on the way called
>> Vintage Vibes. They are essentially budget reissues. There is a 50's
>> and 60's Strat, 50's Tele, Duosonic, early 50's and late 50's P bass
>> and finally a early J bass. VERY reminiscent of the JV's. The pics my
>> local Fender dealer showed me looked great. He played one and said
>> they were great players too, all vintage spec. Can't find squat about
>> tehm on the net yet, will get my dealer to email me the pre-release
>> PDF he has and forward it if you like?
>
> That would be great, thanks. I'll have a look at the Squier website and
> see what they have there. If they look good, I might hang on and just
> sell the Deluxe one.

They aren't on the website yet:-( I still like the look of this one tho;

http :// www .squierguitars,com /products/search.php?partno01200505

>
> I'm really GASing for another old Korean or Japanese Strat, though. I
> should really just invest in pickups and a refret for my S-series

Refretting a 1980's Yamaha RGX atm, hell of a challenge. So far so good.
Frets are in, now the hard work begins.

You can never have too many S9 Squier Strats;-) Mines still played even
tho I have guitars worth 4 times as much. Still the pick of the litter
for tone, regardless of what pups go into it. Voodoo man.

Mark

Re: Changing the neck on a Stratocaster

Mark Bedingfield wrote:

> You can never have too many S9 Squier Strats;-) Mines still played even
> tho I have guitars worth 4 times as much. Still the pick of the litter
> for tone, regardless of what pups go into it. Voodoo man.

My favourites are still the Japanese and Korean E-series, closely
followed by Mexican vintage reissues. Basswood sounds nice with high
output Strat-size pickups.

Re: Changing the neck on a Stratocaster

White Spirit wrote:
> Mark Bedingfield wrote:
>
>> You can never have too many S9 Squier Strats;-) Mines still played
>> even tho I have guitars worth 4 times as much. Still the pick of the
>> litter for tone, regardless of what pups go into it. Voodoo man.
>
> My favourites are still the Japanese and Korean E-series,

E Series (Korean) were immediately after the S9's right? 91-92ish?

> closely followed by Mexican vintage reissues.

My Mexi RI is good VERY good, but I reckon the S9 still has an edge,
better bridge, better tuners. Its actually better built overall then the
MIM. Not to say the MIM is bad, it isn't. Just not as good as the MIK
S9. Still love that V neck on the MIM. Did the JV's/SQ's/E's or even the
current CIJ's have a V neck? I didn't think they did. Also love the
small vintage frets and 7.25" rad.

> Basswood sounds nice with high output Strat-size pickups.

No argument there;-) I'd still love a JV. They sell for around a grand
over here.

I actually indulged and put cloth wire into my MIM. The same stuff the
Fender custom shop use. Also picked up an ashtray cover today too;-)
Hell, its all eye candy. Looks sweet. Can't palm mute tho;-) Only while
its on the stand.

Mark

Re: Changing the neck on a Stratocaster

Mark Bedingfield wrote:

> White Spirit wrote:

>> Mark Bedingfield wrote:

>>> You can never have too many S9 Squier Strats;-) Mines still played
>>> even tho I have guitars worth 4 times as much. Still the pick of the
>>> litter for tone, regardless of what pups go into it. Voodoo man.

>> My favourites are still the Japanese and Korean E-series,

> E Series (Korean) were immediately after the S9's right? 91-92ish?

Just before - probably around '89 to '90. I believe many were made from
Japanese parts but finished in Korea.

>> closely followed by Mexican vintage reissues.

> My Mexi RI is good VERY good, but I reckon the S9 still has an edge,
> better bridge, better tuners. Its actually better built overall then the
> MIM. Not to say the MIM is bad, it isn't. Just not as good as the MIK

Quality-wise, mine is a little bit better than my Korean E series, which
are better than my S-series. I just like the vibe of my Korean E series.

> S9. Still love that V neck on the MIM. Did the JV's/SQ's/E's or even the
> current CIJ's have a V neck? I didn't think they did.

The '50s reissue JVs and current CIJs do. The E series have a '70s
style neck. My MIM is a soft V, so it's not so different in feel to my
maple neck E-series and my MIM '60s reverse Strat (which are incredibly
cheap - check them out if you want a bargain Strat).

> Also love the
> small vintage frets and 7.25" rad.

I prefer 7.25" radius, and for frets I like vintage up to medium jumbo.

>> Basswood sounds nice with high output Strat-size pickups.

> No argument there;-) I'd still love a JV. They sell for around a grand
> over here.

Yeah, very expensive. Ironically, the Fender-branded version of the
same guitar often don't sell for as much! The E-series Japanese Squier
I used to have was easily as good as any JV guitar (same neck), but with
crappy pickups.

> I actually indulged and put cloth wire into my MIM.

I'm sure mine had cloth wire. I only have the original middle pickup left.

> The same stuff the
> Fender custom shop use. Also picked up an ashtray cover today too;-)
> Hell, its all eye candy. Looks sweet. Can't palm mute tho;-) Only while
> its on the stand.

Heheh. Mine doesn't look all that '50s now, with black controls, trem
arm tip, pickups etc. I'll have to post a pic one of these days.

Re: Changing the neck on a Stratocaster

White Spirit wrote:
> Mark Bedingfield wrote:
>
>> White Spirit wrote:
>
>>> Mark Bedingfield wrote:
>
>>>> You can never have too many S9 Squier Strats;-) Mines still played
>>>> even tho I have guitars worth 4 times as much. Still the pick of the
>>>> litter for tone, regardless of what pups go into it. Voodoo man.
>
>>> My favourites are still the Japanese and Korean E-series,
>
>> E Series (Korean) were immediately after the S9's right? 91-92ish?
>
> Just before - probably around '89 to '90. I believe many were made from
> Japanese parts but finished in Korea.

Yeah, I'd heard that too. You know the S9's had US parts? According to
Wiki (which correlates with the Squier forum) there were E0's and E1's
too, dating from 90-91. Right at the end of the S9 run. I have seen a
few of these, they were not as good as the S9. Neck was OK, but not
great, electronics were worse and the tuners/bridges were complete
shite. Actually if I had to guess I'd say the S9's 5 way was Japanese.
Only had to replace it recently, can take a pic if you like.

>
>>> closely followed by Mexican vintage reissues.
>
>> My Mexi RI is good VERY good, but I reckon the S9 still has an edge,
>> better bridge, better tuners. Its actually better built overall then
>> the MIM. Not to say the MIM is bad, it isn't. Just not as good as the MIK
>
> Quality-wise, mine is a little bit better than my Korean E series, which
> are better than my S-series. I just like the vibe of my Korean E series.
>
>> S9. Still love that V neck on the MIM. Did the JV's/SQ's/E's or even
>> the current CIJ's have a V neck? I didn't think they did.
>
> The '50s reissue JVs and current CIJs do. The E series have a '70s
> style neck. My MIM is a soft V, so it's not so different in feel to my
> maple neck E-series and my MIM '60s reverse Strat (which are incredibly
> cheap - check them out if you want a bargain Strat).
>
>> Also love the small vintage frets and 7.25" rad.
>
> I prefer 7.25" radius, and for frets I like vintage up to medium jumbo.
>
>>> Basswood sounds nice with high output Strat-size pickups.
>
>> No argument there;-) I'd still love a JV. They sell for around a grand
>> over here.
>
> Yeah, very expensive. Ironically, the Fender-branded version of the
> same guitar often don't sell for as much! The E-series Japanese Squier
> I used to have was easily as good as any JV guitar (same neck), but with
> crappy pickups.
>
>> I actually indulged and put cloth wire into my MIM.
>
> I'm sure mine had cloth wire. I only have the original middle pickup left.
>
>> The same stuff the Fender custom shop use. Also picked up an ashtray
>> cover today too;-) Hell, its all eye candy. Looks sweet. Can't palm
>> mute tho;-) Only while its on the stand.
>
> Heheh. Mine doesn't look all that '50s now, with black controls, trem
> arm tip, pickups etc. I'll have to post a pic one of these days.

Look forward to it;-) I was considering putting the EMG DG20 into the
50's... go Gilmour;-) But decided they should go where they were
intended, here;

http :// members.optusnet,com .au/~startreks/gitar/Bluey.JPG

must get around to updating those pics, there's been a few changes of
late;-)

Mark

Re: Changing the neck on a Stratocaster

Mark Bedingfield wrote:

>>> E Series (Korean) were immediately after the S9's right? 91-92ish?

>> Just before - probably around '89 to '90. I believe many were made
>> from Japanese parts but finished in Korea.

> Yeah, I'd heard that too. You know the S9's had US parts? According to
> Wiki (which correlates with the Squier forum) there were E0's and E1's
> too, dating from 90-91. Right at the end of the S9 run. I have seen a
> few of these, they were not as good as the S9. Neck was OK, but not
> great, electronics were worse and the tuners/bridges were complete
> shite. Actually if I had to guess I'd say the S9's 5 way was Japanese.

I don't remember which number my S-series starts with, but it definitely
has a US bridge. The tuners are excellent quality - they're not marked
Fender, but I think they're US ones. Pickups seem decent, but they're
going to go anyway. The only thing is the body - I don't mind plywood
so much but this one weighs as much as a Les Paul.

>> Heheh. Mine doesn't look all that '50s now, with black controls, trem
>> arm tip, pickups etc. I'll have to post a pic one of these days.

> Look forward to it;-) I was considering putting the EMG DG20 into the
> 50's... go Gilmour;-) But decided they should go where they were
> intended, here;

> http :// members.optusnet,com .au/~startreks/gitar/Bluey.JPG

Is that a US standard?

Re: Changing the neck on a Stratocaster

White Spirit wrote:
> Mark Bedingfield wrote:
>
>>>> E Series (Korean) were immediately after the S9's right? 91-92ish?
>
>>> Just before - probably around '89 to '90. I believe many were made
>>> from Japanese parts but finished in Korea.
>
>> Yeah, I'd heard that too. You know the S9's had US parts? According to
>> Wiki (which correlates with the Squier forum) there were E0's and E1's
>> too, dating from 90-91. Right at the end of the S9 run. I have seen a
>> few of these, they were not as good as the S9. Neck was OK, but not
>> great, electronics were worse and the tuners/bridges were complete
>> shite. Actually if I had to guess I'd say the S9's 5 way was Japanese.
>
> I don't remember which number my S-series starts with, but it definitely
> has a US bridge. The tuners are excellent quality - they're not marked
> Fender, but I think they're US ones. Pickups seem decent, but they're
> going to go anyway. The only thing is the body - I don't mind plywood
> so much but this one weighs as much as a Les Paul.

Its a little heavy but the TONE;-)...... Mines not LP heavy tho, but its
noticeable over an Alder body. Pickups were OK, but mine went in favour
of SD's. No competition there. Really the only deficiency imo is the
electronics. 500k pots, mine sports CTS 250k's and CRL switch.
>
>>> Heheh. Mine doesn't look all that '50s now, with black controls,
>>> trem arm tip, pickups etc. I'll have to post a pic one of these days.
>
>> Look forward to it;-) I was considering putting the EMG DG20 into the
>> 50's... go Gilmour;-) But decided they should go where they were
>> intended, here;
>
>> http :// members.optusnet,com .au/~startreks/gitar/Bluey.JPG
>
> Is that a US standard?

Custom from the ground up. Built for me, by me;-) MIJ neck (22 fret 12"
rad, D profile) and body (Alder, vintage spec). Gotoh 14:1 Kluson
tuners, GFS bridge (better than the MIM RI bridge IMO) with Fender
saddles, US stamped Vintage reissue neck plate and in the next week an
EMG DG20;-) One of a kind. The idea is that this will be my gigging axe,
so I don't have to tote 5 of the buggers around. I'll be taking Bluey
and the Squier as a back up.

Mark

Re: Changing the neck on a Stratocaster

White Spirit wrote:
>
> Fitting it won't be a problem as the luthier I normally go to won't
> charge any or much extra for fitting a neck if I get a full setup. I'd
> do it myself but I've never shimmed a neck before.

It's a easy DIY task. IMO: One really needs to learn the whole
aspect of your trade. Setup, intonation. takes 15 minutes.
no magic to it.