re-attaching stratocaster neck

ac88 · Post by **ac88** » Mon Mar 07, 2011 8:50 pm

Ok, so I switched the pickgaurd on my CV60's strat to a black one, and in the process I severed one of the volume pot connections . I did not realize my mistake until I had already restrung the guitar. Since I did not want to waste my new set of strings i detached the neck to gain access to the junk under the pickgaurd so I could solder the bad connection (without removing strings). I have reattached the neck and the neck is now bowed backwards to holy hell. I have diddled with the truss rod ever so slightly but I don't want to keep jamming away at it and destroy my guitar..

I rescrewed the neck on with a manual screwdriver and I definitely rushed it, I guess I figured that all 4 screws in tight = job well done. What can I do to correct this problem without bringing it to the shop?

Addam · Post by **Addam** » Mon Mar 07, 2011 9:09 pm

The back bow thing, tune the guitar as high as you dare and leave it over night.
It worked for me any way...

Actually, I read somewhere online to tune the guitar up ONE note (to F) and leave it 24 hours, check, make adjustments and leave longer if neccesary, but I'm impatient!

taylornutt · Post by **taylornutt** » Mon Mar 07, 2011 9:10 pm

Did you loose the strings before you took the neck off? The neck shouldn't bow that quickly.

othomas2 · Post by **othomas2** » Mon Mar 07, 2011 9:12 pm

You could have unstrung it and still kept the strings...

Have you gone with a higher / lighter gauge set of strings ?

Have you lost or added a neck shim perhaps ?

Bridge lifted or dropped ?

Check for truss rod:
fret a string on the first and last fret and around the 9th you should have a little gap around the thickness of a credit card.

If it's any more or less/touching then a truss rod tweak is needed... otherwise and shim or bridge adjustment may be required.

ac88 · Post by **ac88** » Mon Mar 07, 2011 9:49 pm

rescrewing it with some elbow grease and pressure applied to the neck at the seam seemed to do the trick, must have been a bit of space between the neck and body. Now the action is higher than before, I suppose I can't expect a return to the perfect setup it had before... sigh.... Now I realize the tone control on the middle pickup has lost its connection too...GREAT! I knew changing the pickgaurd was going to be a pain in the ass, but not this big of one. Rage.

Joey · Post by **Joey** » Mon Mar 07, 2011 9:50 pm

I detune the strings, put a capo on then unscrew it the neck. I don't think you messed that neck up, something else is outta whack, like thomas said.

Joey · Post by **Joey** » Mon Mar 07, 2011 9:53 pm

It happens to the best of us. Plug your guitar up before you reattach the neck, use a tuning fork, remote control... whatever, make sure the electrical is good before you reassemble.

Post by **Doog** » Mon Mar 07, 2011 9:53 pm

Sounds like either you haven't put the neck back in properly (hold it TIGHT against the pocket when screwing it back on) or you've misplaced a neck shim that was sitting in the pocket.

ac88 · Post by **ac88** » Mon Mar 07, 2011 10:14 pm

Joey wrote: remote control....

I gave it a quick once over by playing my Jag-stang close to the pickups- they all worked and the switch worked, but I guess I didn't pay enough attention to the tone of the middle pickup... A remote control would be an easy trick

.

If I don't decide to go to take it to the shop, I will need to take it apart again sometime in the next few weeks when my GFS pots + switch + new cap. comes in the mail. I've been scouring the net trying to find a nice tutorial for rewiring a strat, but since I am a noob to soldering and what not the schematics still seem somewhat confusing and I'm sure one little mishap could ruin my plans. A tutorial would be nice.... are there any nude strat wiring diagrams that aren't just drawings?

Doog wrote:Sounds like either you haven't put the neck back in properly (hold it TIGHT against the pocket when screwing it back on) or you've misplaced a neck shim that was sitting in the pocket.

This. Did the trick.

Doog you used to post over on Jag-stang.com didn't you? Is that you in yr avatar?

Joey · Post by **Joey** » Mon Mar 07, 2011 11:33 pm

Doog you used to post over on Jag-stang.com didn't you?

Yeh, he's a "political refugee's"... from the "how do U geT daz Kurdt tonz"

Bacchus · Post by **Bacchus** » Mon Mar 07, 2011 11:36 pm

Time was that most people on here were ex-JS but I suppose now we've been joined by so many great new members that this is definitely shortscale as it's own thing and not a split off from JS (which to be fair, it never really was in the first place, thanks to all the SoCalers).

Post by **Doog** » Tue Mar 08, 2011 12:29 pm

Joey wrote:
Doog you used to post over on Jag-stang.com didn't you?
Yeh, he's a "political refugee's"... from the "how do U geT daz Kurdt tonz"

Hahaha, yeah that's right. Did you have the same name over there, ac88? It rings a bell.

And yes, 'tis me in my avatar, having my hair levitated.