Neck Pocket Rerout

So I had a cheap Strat copy body lying around and I decided to paint it and finally finished it. Then I ordered a neck for it and it arrived today but it's slightly too big for the neck pocket. What should I do? Would rerouting the neck pocket throw off the guitar's alignment or something? Or do I just scrap the project? Thanks in advance for the help.

I'm not the best person to ask - waiting on Jim to chime in ;)

But I'm curious, exactly what neck did you order?

okay, got the sprout fed and ate some meatloaf myself (what a disasterous coking experience tonight and I am a trained chef! I need a vacation)so Dude, I I need more info to help you...

general advice: but if its just a tight squeeze by a mm or 2 I would freeze the body so it contracts and slam the neck in with a rubber mallet, the tight fit wlil actually improve the coupling.... tighter is better on bolt ons, really tighter is better across the board for all glued or screwed joints on a guitar

a common problem with aftermarket replacement necks with the licensed fender joint is they are a little loose, you're good if you can contract the body enough that the neck becomes and easy fit.... also, be aware that the angle of the neck pocket may not be right out of the gate and you may need a shim, particularly if you plan to set your vibrato up to float

It was an 80s Kramer Strat and I just wanted it for the neck and I could use the body later for parts or whatever. The neck is the right shape for the pocket it's just too wide and it's only barely too wide (like maybe a credit card thickness). So I'm wondering if I could be okay with widening the neck pocket and using the bridge that came with the Kramer Strat since its made for that neck.

80s USA Kramer like a baretta? or an import? if its a USA one then it should be darned close to fender spec, freeze th body for a few hours, keep your work room cold to avoid finish checking when the guitar body comes out of the freezer and then smack the neck in with a rubber mallet

do not fuck with a neck pocket that you're saying is a millimeter or 2 off, that's a tough routing job, better too tight than too loose... check your measurements and heed my above advice

if the guitar is an import just get a new body for christ's sake, 80s cheapies from the far east are often made of scraps of any wood they hd lying around

I'm sure it's an import there's no markings saying where it was made. So I just stick my guitar in the freezer and it should work?

So I just stick my guitar in the freezer and it should work?

I don't have anything productive to add to this discussion but the image of a Strat body in the freezer is making me lol

http://i.imgur.com/5hikTzQ.jpg

Gotta do what you've gotta do man! Haha that's about what mine will look like

you all laugh, I personally know luthiers who do this to make the tightest possible neck joint on their bespoke set necks

freeze the body for an hour or so and slap the neck in with a rubber mallet.... I can't promise it will be right the first shot viz-a-viz neck angle, you may need a shim, but its a starting point

that picture is dead on, the wood will contract substantially in an hour or so... you want your room COLD, like70 degrees farenheit or less to avoid finish checking on a finished strat body.... hitting warm air and humidity after an hour in the fridge will cause even poly to crack

It was the humidity and heat outside that made my guitar body swell and expand but now it's inside at about 67° and I'll have to mallet the neck in but it'll work. Thanks for all the help!

try the freezer before malleting, if it still gives you trouble you could try sanding the neck pocket with medium grit paper, routing will be too extreme... maybe an hour of careful sanding followed by a good hour in the freezer should give you a mm or 2 leeway if cold alone won't do it

report back, I wanna know how it goes for you

cheers

It worked really well the intonation and stuff worked pretty decently after the neck was on. I didn't have to freeze it, I just lightly sanded the neck pocket and used a mallet to put it in. The joint was nice and solid and everything lined up correctly. I had some electrical issues (probably a grounding issue) because I'm not very good with a soldering iron. I took it to my local music store to get the electrical problem sorted out and a professional setup done. A quick question about upgrading the guitar though. I was considering a roller but for it. If that isn't ideal what should I use? Brass, bone, or Tusq?