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I would like to raise my telecaster bridge by about 2mm by putting a maple / mahogany shim under it. Reverse shimming the neck / deepening the neck pocket is not really an option for me.
Such wood shims on available quite easily (usually headstock veneers).
The holes for the screws and the strings are relatively straightforward to drill. But how would I cut the ‘hole’ for the bridge pickup?
Expert opinions deeply appreciated...
[Imgur](https://i.imgur.com/feHwFQ0.png?1)
Kind regards
Jay
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Comments
but I don’t understand why you are considering doing this. It’s certainly a lot more difficult than a reverse shim.... but there are better solutions than either of those. Firstly, why does it need doing in the first place?
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price up the full cost of tools and materials to do this, then ask a local luthier how much it will be to route the neck pocket 2mm deeper
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At the moment the saddles are at the highest point possible (and that’s with 10mm grub screws). So the intonation screws are at really quite a steep angle.
I’m hoping that if I can raise the bridge by 2mm I can drop the saddles and make the whole thing look a little bit more ‘physiological’...
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I know the Gotoh modern bridge is much thicker than the vintage style fender bridge.
I think @gavin_axecaster sells Gotoh parts? He might be able to help. I think so anyways, I swear I bought Gotoh saddles from axecaster on eBay. If not sorry Gavin..
Hopefully somebody can help you.
If you want the vintage style though I'm sure somebody will know what's suitable.
This is the correct solution ... for several reasons.
Raising the overall height of the bridge will require a corresponding change of neck pitch angle to achieve a playable string action.
Have you ever tried selling-on a Warmoth self-build guitar or bass?
You have very little to lose by having the floor of the neck pocket lowered slightly. A Charvel-esque back angle might help with alignments.
This.
I have never yet seen Warmoth parts that did not fit together properly UNLESS they had been obtained secondhand and been abused at some time by a previous owner.
I recall one neck that aped the old CBS/Fender Micro Tilt system. I cannot recall whether I fastened the circular metal plate all the way into the neck or removed it.
It would help to see photographs of the offending neck joint. There is probably a simple explanation for the misalignment issue that is being overlooked.
But I agree with Funkfingers - this doesn’t sound normal for Warmoth, and I would check the neck pocket for an ‘accidental shim’ before going any further. If the neck screw holes have been drilled quite tight you can get a raised ridge of wood around them which can stop the neck sitting tight down in the pocket.
"Take these three items, some WD-40, a vise grip, and a roll of duct tape. Any man worth his salt can fix almost any problem with this stuff alone." - Walt Kowalski
"Only two things are infinite - the universe, and human stupidity. And I'm not sure about the universe." - Albert Einstein
The holes in the body are not tight (i.e. the screw threads don’t grip them) so there is no gap between the neck and the neck pocket.
When set up, I have to raise the saddles to the highest point - arc relief is fine, with the slightest gap between the string and 7th fret (when fretted simultaneously at 1st and 13th frets). I suppose if I were to loosen the truss rod a little it would raise the action and I could lower the saddles.
I placed a 0.5° StewMac whole pocket shim reversely - and it has pretty much resolved the problem - although I do wish it were a perfect fit.
(bridge is a Gotoh).
Have you checked in matches the dimensions specified by Warmoth?
I would be surprised if it didn't and they sell gotoh bridges so I would expect them to know if there was an incompatibility. It really is worth asking them
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Not really, because that will probably make it choke at the top of the neck. The right height for the saddles is essentially independent of the relief - it's the lowest height at which there is no choking when you bend strings.
"Take these three items, some WD-40, a vise grip, and a roll of duct tape. Any man worth his salt can fix almost any problem with this stuff alone." - Walt Kowalski
"Only two things are infinite - the universe, and human stupidity. And I'm not sure about the universe." - Albert Einstein
Now the neck is sitting a little better. The saddles are still at the top position of their travel, but the guitar plays well.
[Imgur](https://i.imgur.com/cQ7Z7fg.jpg)
[Imgur](https://i.imgur.com/d44YUtT.jpg)
Thanks guys...
not meaning to sound sarcastic, and i prefer the bridge saddles to be on the high side, helps to lose the feeling of protruding adjustment screws.
I'd also be confirming the measurements are to spec with Warmoth, they are not cheap parts
cheers
andy k