Post by heem6 on Apr 18, 2009 13:33:14 GMT -5
Here's some words about the Fender Micro-Tilt Neck Adjustment option. All HM Strats have these, they're a really cool feature and adjusting them can help get your action to the lowest possible height.
A fair indicator that the neck angle may be incorrect is an inability to adjust the action to the ideal height before reaching the saddles maximum adjustment. Before jumping to this conclusion be sure that the necks relief and tremolo/bridge is set correctly. An example would be a guitar who's saddles have been adjusted as high as possible yet the strings sit far too close to the frets rendering the action too low. If all else is as it should be, that instruments neck angle may be slightly overset (the heel end is higher than the peghead). And of course the reverse can also happen... the saddles may be completely bottomed out yet the action is far too high. While I have found various items placed in a neck joint to alter the necks angle ( match book covers, credit cards, paper clips), I prefer to make a well fitting, tapered hardwood shim that does not leave any large gaps between the neck and the body. The better coupling and surface to surface mating you have on your instrument the less likely you are to loose valuable sustain and tone. Of course sometimes the adjustment required is so small a paper strip may be all that is needed.
Fender's Micro Tilt™ Adjustable Neck
Fenders Micro Tilt Neck Adjustment - If you look at the picture above you will see a tiny hole in the neck plate just between the 2 lower neck mounting screws. In that hole is an Allen head screw. After loosening the string tension and the necks mounting bolts, this screw can be tightened to press against a metal plate mounted on the base of the neck. If the screw is tightened without loosening the neck mounting screws, it places a great deal of pressure on the screws in the neck making it possible to strip or weaken those screw holes. Tightening the screw against the plate effectively "tilt's" or rises the end of the fingerboard and changes the necks angle. While this makes neck angle adjustments seem even easier to do it yourselfer, I still prefer to place a hardwood shim in the pocket instead of creating a gap.
The plate on the neck simply prevents the screw from "drilling" itself into the neck.
A fair indicator that the neck angle may be incorrect is an inability to adjust the action to the ideal height before reaching the saddles maximum adjustment. Before jumping to this conclusion be sure that the necks relief and tremolo/bridge is set correctly. An example would be a guitar who's saddles have been adjusted as high as possible yet the strings sit far too close to the frets rendering the action too low. If all else is as it should be, that instruments neck angle may be slightly overset (the heel end is higher than the peghead). And of course the reverse can also happen... the saddles may be completely bottomed out yet the action is far too high. While I have found various items placed in a neck joint to alter the necks angle ( match book covers, credit cards, paper clips), I prefer to make a well fitting, tapered hardwood shim that does not leave any large gaps between the neck and the body. The better coupling and surface to surface mating you have on your instrument the less likely you are to loose valuable sustain and tone. Of course sometimes the adjustment required is so small a paper strip may be all that is needed.
Fender's Micro Tilt™ Adjustable Neck
Fenders Micro Tilt Neck Adjustment - If you look at the picture above you will see a tiny hole in the neck plate just between the 2 lower neck mounting screws. In that hole is an Allen head screw. After loosening the string tension and the necks mounting bolts, this screw can be tightened to press against a metal plate mounted on the base of the neck. If the screw is tightened without loosening the neck mounting screws, it places a great deal of pressure on the screws in the neck making it possible to strip or weaken those screw holes. Tightening the screw against the plate effectively "tilt's" or rises the end of the fingerboard and changes the necks angle. While this makes neck angle adjustments seem even easier to do it yourselfer, I still prefer to place a hardwood shim in the pocket instead of creating a gap.
The plate on the neck simply prevents the screw from "drilling" itself into the neck.
