silverface wrote:
If I would take out the shim, the neck would sit lower in the pocket at the headstock side. That would lower the action even more and make things worse ..
If the neck is lower in the pocket, it is further from the strings. The action will be higher, not lower.
Look at it this way: if you raise the neck in the pocket on one side (headstock side) only. You'll get an angle and raise the strings. That's what the shim does in this case. Taking it out will take away the angle and thus lower the action.
Same thing when placing a shim at the bridge side of the pocket. That would angle the neck upwards towards the bridge and lower the action.
You would be correct if the shim would fill the entire neckpocket, removing it would then lower the entire neck.
Doh, another thing has occurred to me - it could be that the action on the bottom strings, due to thickness, are the main problem and you might find a solution in shimming just one side of the neck pocket rather than one end or the other. I know this is generally the point of the adjustable saddle heights so it may be a moot point but again if nothing else is working it's worth a shot especially if the saddles aren't working properly. I've been through these processes of elimination so many times now I've learnt not to assume too much with a new job. Best of luck dude.
By the way I was drawing a diagram almost precisely like that one even down to the red shims on MS PAint!
iCEByTes wrote:5 Most Jizz face maker Solo�s , classic Rock music i ever listened.
iCEByTes wrote:Blunt a joint , Take the Touch , Listen this.
Maybe the neck did not belong with the body and just doesn't work well, sitting too high in the pocket.
The neck says 'Musicmaster', but the body has 2 pickups like a DuoSonic. It was not aditionally routed or anything, came from the factory that way. I refinished it so I took it apart entirely. The body has the original routes, shielding plates etc. Also two dowels in the right places.
Stangely enough both pickups are grey bottoms dated '74. If it was an original musicmaster with one pickup, where did they get the second identical one from.. Maybe it's just some kind of 'Parts-o-Sonic"
Well, it seems like that was the pertinent piece of information.
If it has 2 pickups that appear stock and the routes all look kosher, then it's probably a Duo-Sonic body and guts with a Musicmaster neck. They could be from different eras - what is the Musicmaster decal like?
I'm not sure about the decal, I'll make some pictures tonight. I think it's like this one: Headstock pic
If I remember correctly, both pickups had the same color wires. Originally they would have had different colors, one being rw/rp. So I'm not sure if it was an original duosonic. I never quite figured this guitar out.
Up until when did MM/DS bodies have the same routings?
I don't know about the routings I'm afraid but you might be able to find some stamps on the body. What type of pickguard and control does it have? Sliders or Toggle?
Does the body have cavities for the sliders if the pickguard doesn't?
The decal looks to be the same period as the pickups (early 70s)
Wait I remember: one of the previous owners had made cutouts in the pickguard for a second pickup and switches. The slider switches where not original. I renewed all electronics. New aftermarktet pickguard, switches, pots etc. The pickups themselves though are real old Fenders. Somebody must have thought it was easy to add a second pickup since the body was ready for it.
So it could have been an original musicmaster that was changed to duosonic specs. Sorry it's been a while since I bothered with this guitar. It played ok for a while but that bridge issue was never resolved. Just want to sort it out and get it up and running
Edit: it has the mustang type pickguard with seperate metal control plate. The body was factory routed for 2 pickups and sliders.
Might be worth sanding down the pocket or neck heel then if it's a case of marrying two disparate part types. Or going with a higher bridge if you don't want to do that.
iCEByTes wrote:5 Most Jizz face maker Solo�s , classic Rock music i ever listened.
iCEByTes wrote:Blunt a joint , Take the Touch , Listen this.
Well one sure solution would be to shim the bridge to gain height that way. I did so on a project (Duo-Sonic as it goes) guitar I have which has a Mustang neck. I'm using a Toronado Bridge which is obviously way lower profile than a mustang bridge, and the neck pocket can't be dropped too much through routing as the pickups then interfere or look stupid too low in the pickguard. So my Dad and I made a couple of shims for the bridge out of CD-Rs. It works great and is fairly invisible.
What about my first question, the telecaster saddles? Will those fit as replacements?
I've seen people use tele compensated saddles in a duo bridge before so assume it works...possibly at worst you'd have to enlarge the pin holes but I doubt it - take a look at this:
EDIT: If you want compensated then well regarded but cheap ones are available made by Wilkinson. Other brands exists but vary ever upwards in cost. Standard tele ones will be dirt cheap and there's always those grooved ones too I guess from your first post.
iCEByTes wrote:5 Most Jizz face maker Solo�s , classic Rock music i ever listened.
iCEByTes wrote:Blunt a joint , Take the Touch , Listen this.
Thanks, guess I'll just have to try. The compensated ones are nice, had those on a tele some time ago.
But the grooved ones probably look best on my musicmaster, those thread-end style things is what's on there now. The intonation might be slightly off but that's no biggie.
FWIW, my Musicmaster is routed for 2 pups. It was common until the later 70s. For most people it is an easy jump to change the guard and add a pickup. I like mine just the way it is.
I've taken some pictures of the guitar and especially of the bridge saddles. Notice they are way up. The action is ok this way, but I'd like the saddles a bit lower.
taylornutt wrote:Some pics of a used Musicmaster I saw last night at Guitar Center
Neck was smooth. Worth $600?
I've been watching them on eBay recently. those 76-81 MMs tend to go for around $400. From what I've read on this forum the + / - for this era are nice chunky neck (I think filtercap(?) said it's his favorite neck), body can be heavy (I remember someone mentioning theirs being heavier than a LP Custom), neck pocket can be spacious. But if it's in a shop you have the advantage of being able to check all these things out. $600 seems like a little on the high side but it's still pretty good for GC. You could try offering 5 and see what they say.
