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Post by mysticspiralx on Nov 22, 2020 0:06:49 GMT -5
So I recently purchased a Squier Bullet Telecaster with plans of customizing it by purchasing a Fender Tele neck and changing the pickups.
How would I go about finding out if a Fender neck would fit the body? And if it doesn’t fit (either too big or too small), are there any options on what I can do moving forward?
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Post by newey on Nov 22, 2020 8:01:54 GMT -5
mysticspiralx-
Hello and Welcome to G-Nutz2!
I got different answers from Googling this (no personal experience). Some folks said Fender MIM, as well as Warmoth replacement necks, fit just fine. Others said the Squier neck pocket was slightly deeper, so the Fender neck required shimming it up a bit. No one I saw suggested that the width/length of the neck pocket was different, just the depth. Someone who used a Warmoth neck noted having to redrill the screw holes (in the body) as the Warmoth holes didn't match up.
This may also depend on the age of the Squier Bullet in question, a few people mentioned that their dimensions had changed over the years.
My advice would be to measure it carefully, compare dimensions carefully, then make sure you can return the new neck if it doesn't fit properly. While a little light sanding of a neck posket or neck is fine, anything more major gets risky if one doesn't have the experience and proper tools. If a shim is all that's needed, a good guitar tech should be able to do that for you for not-too-much money.
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Post by thetragichero on Nov 22, 2020 8:45:50 GMT -5
the answer is possibly. measure the widest part of the neck heel. if it's 2 3/16 of an inch a fender neck should fit
but if you're shelling out for a fender neck, why not look into some other options without the logo (would also save you the moral dilemma of how to sell a souped up cheap squier with a gen-u-wine fender neck)? I'm seeing about $250-300 for a Mexican fender tele neck. mighty mite or even allparts would save you some clams, and i have been more than satisfied with the mighty mite necks I've had. you may even want to look into a custom neck from a luthier. i think i spent $250 on my tele neck from a luthier in Canada. made to my specs with a proper scarf joint and the headstock angled back more than fender. plus then you're supporting a small artisan rather than a guy parting out guitars (which don't get me wrong, those sellers have come in super handy)
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Post by reTrEaD on Nov 22, 2020 11:17:03 GMT -5
So I recently purchased a Squier Bullet Telecaster with plans of customizing it by purchasing a Fender Tele neck and changing the pickups. I don't understand the reasoning here. A bare Fender Telecaster neck (no tuners) will cost you more than the Bullet itself, even if you bought it new and paid sticker price. I should think it would make more sense to make improvements to the Squier neck (fret leveling and dressing) which will only cost you your own labor, then use the money to upgrade the nut, tuners, pickups, and whatever else you desire. |
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Post by frets on Nov 22, 2020 18:10:35 GMT -5
Hi Mysicspiralx,
I build necks and Retread is correct, buying a neck
for it is like throwing your money away. The fret dressing will make an improvement on the neck you already have. Just Google some YouTube videos on fret leveling and dressing. Don’t let it intimidate you. It is really quite simple and once you do a couple of frets, you get the hang of it.
If I had your guitar, I’d dress it, slap some Asian Locking Tuners on it, change out the pups for Toneriders and start rocking.
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Post by unreg on Nov 24, 2020 0:51:44 GMT -5
Hmmm... what if the fender telecaster being ~$1400 is too much? And maybe OP has had experience playing a real telecaster and loves their necks? And after a quick search, a replacement telecaster neck at innrea costs $71.93. Maybe this guitar is for the OP? This idea sounds possible to me. Please don’t make his/her dream feel uncomfortable.  |
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Post by thetragichero on Nov 24, 2020 2:10:38 GMT -5
a gen-u-ine fender neck is like 400 bucks and may not even fit properly. I'm more of a "dance with the gal that brung ya" kinda guy and that's the perfect instrument to learn on how to setup, fret dress, etc. ain't no reason it can't be made to play reasonably like a more expensive instrument
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Post by reTrEaD on Nov 24, 2020 9:58:27 GMT -5
Hmmm... what if the fender telecaster being ~$1400 is too much? And maybe OP has had experience playing a real telecaster and loves their necks? And after a quick search, a replacement telecaster neck at innrea costs $71.93. Maybe this guitar is for the OP? This idea sounds possible to me. Please don’t make his/her dream feel uncomfortable. Is that a real Fender neck? The company is in China but there's no telling which impoverished Asian country that neck came from. For sure, wherever it is, they don't give two hoots and a holler about copyright and patent laws. What's the quality of that neck? Is it better ... or perhaps a big step down from the neck mysticspiralx already has on his Squier? More importantly ... why pay $71.93 for just a neck? Our threadstarter can pay even LESS (a mere $65.36) for an WHOLE guitar from the same vendor! link That's 'Fender' Jim Adkins model Telecaster Thinline, complete with 'Seymour Duncan' P-90 pickups. WOW! At that price, our threadstarter could re-sell his Squier, buy a 'Fender' and still have plenty of money left over for a thousand yards of Flight Line and a few gallons of Prop Wash. Then he'll be ready to fly! |
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Post by unreg on Nov 24, 2020 13:15:42 GMT -5
a gen-u-ine fender neck is like 400 bucks and may not even fit properly. I'm more of a "dance with the gal that brung ya" kinda guy and that's the perfect instrument to learn on how to setup, fret dress, etc. ain't no reason it can't be made to play reasonably like a more expensive instrument Good point thetragichero reTrEaD, lol 😂 sorry, I didn’t research that company’s validity. I also didn’t know that some foreign companies don’t care about copyrights. That’s scary.  The thread starter would also have to buy wings to fly. A gallons of prop wash purchase without wings is pointless. (Though, I’m sure you’ll respond that prop wash without wings or propeller is impossible. And after much experience, I recommend to NOT use a propeller; they’re bulky, loud, heavy, and can hurt.) |
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Post by frets on Nov 24, 2020 21:11:33 GMT -5
A new neck for $70 = Crapdangle.
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