Evening out neck pocket

[bonnerik]

Hey all.

Ive got a strat body with a neck pocket that has been messed with, by yours truly.
Now, the neck pocket isnt completely even, which means less surface contact area for the neck. Ive been trying to even it out, without success. Wondering if any handy would have some kind of trick to even out a neck pocket nice and easy?

[cynical1]

Well, first off, what tools did you use to mess it up...and what tools do you have to try and fix it?

This is important...

HTC1

[bonnerik]

its not very uneven, you cant see it just by looking at it, just notice it when i put the neck in, theres a very very small gap between the neck pocket floor and the neck heel.

i wanted to lower the neckpocket floor, so i just used some sand paper, and scraping with a razor.

i dont really have access to any cnc machines, if thats what you are asking. i do have access to a workshop though

[cynical1]

Trying to do this by hand takes a skill very few folks possess...myself included...

The best way to do this is to use a fixture or jig with a router using a top bearing router bit. I've probably described this process a few times, so lets cut to some pictures:


Top Bearing router bit.


Elaborate Neck Pocket Fixture


Simple Neck Pocket Jig

The key thing here is to make sure your work is SECURELY clamped in place. No one wants to make a Frisbee out of their guitar body...

Protecting the finish is important. A few layers of 3M blue masking tape are usually sufficient. If the body in question has a significant contour than using a few layers of thin cardboard usually works.

I'll also run some 3M green tape around the perimeter of the neck pocket to add some additional protection. I'll mark my depth line on this tape, as well as scribe the line with a straight edge razor against a metal rule. This will eliminate most of the finish chipping on the edges.

Go VERY slow, counterclockwise and make shallow cuts. Measure your depth regularly.

Hope this helps.

Happy Trails

Cynical One