Re: Stewmac shims
Posted: Fri Nov 20, 2020 4:51 pm
Put a 1.0 and 0.25 in my AVRI Jag. I like the sound with the higher break angle...and the strings clear the trem screws.
Talk about the Fender Jazzmaster, Jaguar, and any other offset waist guitars with us!
https://www.offsetguitars.com/forums/
https://www.offsetguitars.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=116490
Not at all.Norrin Radd wrote: ↑Tue Nov 24, 2020 7:42 pmI’m putting together my 1st JM partscaster. Is a shim recommended for optimal setup? And if so, what is the rationale? Sorry for the n00b questions.
Hey - thanks for the info! That makes a lot of sense. As a guy who has pretty much played mostly Stratocaster‘s and telecasters, do you think it makes sense to maintain the same gauge strings as I am used to, or would you recommend an increased gauge size due to the nature of the jazzmaster? I currently use 9 - 46s on my Strats & Teles. I’m thinking a 10- 52 set for the jazzmaster might be the way to go? Plus a shim? FWIW, I’m used to having to install shims. One of my Strats, the one that actually plays the best, has a StewMac .25 in it.Larry Mal wrote: ↑Tue Nov 24, 2020 8:25 pmNot at all.Norrin Radd wrote: ↑Tue Nov 24, 2020 7:42 pmI’m putting together my 1st JM partscaster. Is a shim recommended for optimal setup? And if so, what is the rationale? Sorry for the n00b questions.
So, Jazzmasters were kind of designed around the concept of heavy strings, jazz players tend to use those and when the Jazzmaster was released there weren't any lighter sets as we understand them today.
The bridge tends to want more pressure on it than what today's light string gauges provide. Adding a shim gets you there.
Now, you might use a different bridge like a Mustang or a Mastery, which don't need as much pressure to keep the saddles in place like a traditional Jazzmaster bridge.
However, some Fenders are made with shallower neck pockets, and so you might not be able to get the action low as you might like it. You'll know because the bridge hits the top of the guitar, and you still wish you had lower action. This is when you need a shim, also.
Me, I took a cue from Gibson and other set neck guitar makers, who absolutely have to put an angle on those necks otherwise the entire guitar might not work and you can't really fix it. So over the years I came to conclude that a neck angle is best on all guitars, so I just put shims on my Fenders anyway.
No, you might read in places that you have to use different gauges with Jazzmasters but that's bad and outdated advice.Norrin Radd wrote: ↑Wed Nov 25, 2020 7:27 am
Hey - thanks for the info! That makes a lot of sense. As a guy who has pretty much played mostly Stratocaster‘s and telecasters, do you think it makes sense to maintain the same gauge strings as I am used to, or would you recommend an increased gauge size due to the nature of the jazzmaster? I currently use 9 - 46s on my Strats & Teles. I’m thinking a 10- 52 set for the jazzmaster might be the way to go? Plus a shim? FWIW, I’m used to having to install shims. One of my Strats, the one that actually plays the best, has a StewMac .25 in it.
Thanks for any advice! I’m actually really excited to get this thing together once all the parts arrive!
To get a nicely dialed-in setup that works as designed, a shim is basically required unless you get a body with a pre-angled neck pocket or get extremely lucky with pocket/neck depth and it just sits in a good place. So basically just get one, odds are you'll need it - a set of the 0.5deg ones is pretty good (you can stack them if you need to), or one set of 0.5 and one of 0.25deg will give you the most flexibility.Norrin Radd wrote: ↑Wed Nov 25, 2020 7:27 amHey - thanks for the info! That makes a lot of sense. As a guy who has pretty much played mostly Stratocaster‘s and telecasters, do you think it makes sense to maintain the same gauge strings as I am used to, or would you recommend an increased gauge size due to the nature of the jazzmaster? I currently use 9 - 46s on my Strats & Teles. I’m thinking a 10- 52 set for the jazzmaster might be the way to go? Plus a shim? FWIW, I’m used to having to install shims. One of my Strats, the one that actually plays the best, has a StewMac .25 in it.
Thanks for any advice! I’m actually really excited to get this thing together once all the parts arrive!
Will do! I suppose I should start my own thread over in the projects forum. I'll report there as the pieces come in and she gets herself together!
First question ... you're planning on using the rocking bridge, right ? The setup requirements for a fixed bridge like Fender's AOMs or Mastery are somewhat different.Norrin Radd wrote: ↑Tue Nov 24, 2020 7:42 pmI’m putting together my 1st JM partscaster. Is a shim recommended for optimal setup? And if so, what is the rationale? Sorry for the n00b questions.
From what parts?Norrin Radd wrote: ↑Tue Nov 24, 2020 7:42 pmI’m putting together my 1st JM partscaster. Is a shim recommended for optimal setup? And if so, what is the rationale? Sorry for the n00b questions.
Update: I got today my order from Stewmac, shim installation was flawless, it fitted out of the box into the neck pocket without any mods or reshaping. I still have to fine tune a bit neck curvature, but so far, I'm super happy how the guitar is setup now. The string action is a lot more balanced on the the whole neck.gila_crisis wrote: ↑Thu Nov 19, 2020 7:01 amI've ordered a 0.5 shim from Stewmac, shall be here next week.
On my MIJ JM I already have a Mastery installed, but after reading a bit of comment on the net I thought adding a shim will make the setup better.
I did almost order also a .25, but after reading a bit what people are using on JM, I see that most people install a o.5.
I'll let you know my experience as soon I've installed it.
A lot of the newer offsets have a 1% angled neck pocket, starting with the AV '65 models, but also some of the Mexican models, the American Professional series, and the Elite series.jorri wrote: ↑Mon Nov 30, 2020 5:06 amFrom what parts?Norrin Radd wrote: ↑Tue Nov 24, 2020 7:42 pmI’m putting together my 1st JM partscaster. Is a shim recommended for optimal setup? And if so, what is the rationale? Sorry for the n00b questions.
I think I asked guitarmill once if they would make a shallower neck pocket and seemed ok.
I asked Warmoth and they say no nothing, absolutely nothing can be changed, use our unusually deep neck pockets and slightly wrong placements of everything. Thats right they seem to need shims even more than stock fenders.
Cant really get things too high very easily. I think with expected builds you could easily get away with having the body built 2mm higher pocket. Even an angle if they can (?). If 95% need a shim for steepness, and literally no one asks for one to make a shallower angle that is reasonably safe solution (the 5% wouldnt hurt either). Shims were meant for margins of errors but if nearly ever guitar needs one it should be done in the machining process.
Think a newer Fender model does this but been out the loop with those for a bit.
cheers i don't keep track of whichadamrobertt wrote: ↑Mon Nov 30, 2020 7:09 amA lot of the newer offsets have a 1% angled neck pocket, starting with the AV '65 models, but also some of the Mexican models, the American Professional series, and the Elite series.jorri wrote: ↑Mon Nov 30, 2020 5:06 amFrom what parts?Norrin Radd wrote: ↑Tue Nov 24, 2020 7:42 pmI’m putting together my 1st JM partscaster. Is a shim recommended for optimal setup? And if so, what is the rationale? Sorry for the n00b questions.
I think I asked guitarmill once if they would make a shallower neck pocket and seemed ok.
I asked Warmoth and they say no nothing, absolutely nothing can be changed, use our unusually deep neck pockets and slightly wrong placements of everything. Thats right they seem to need shims even more than stock fenders.
Cant really get things too high very easily. I think with expected builds you could easily get away with having the body built 2mm higher pocket. Even an angle if they can (?). If 95% need a shim for steepness, and literally no one asks for one to make a shallower angle that is reasonably safe solution (the 5% wouldnt hurt either). Shims were meant for margins of errors but if nearly ever guitar needs one it should be done in the machining process.
Think a newer Fender model does this but been out the loop with those for a bit.
It’s an MJT body and a Musikraft neck. This is my 1st time so I’m expecting to make lots of mistakes and fuck up a couple things before I get it right! Probably bought all the wrong hardware.jorri wrote: ↑Mon Nov 30, 2020 5:06 amFrom what parts?Norrin Radd wrote: ↑Tue Nov 24, 2020 7:42 pmI’m putting together my 1st JM partscaster. Is a shim recommended for optimal setup? And if so, what is the rationale? Sorry for the n00b questions.
I think I asked guitarmill once if they would make a shallower neck pocket and seemed ok.
I asked Warmoth and they say no nothing, absolutely nothing can be changed, use our unusually deep neck pockets and slightly wrong placements of everything. Thats right they seem to need shims even more than stock fenders.
Cant really get things too high very easily. I think with expected builds you could easily get away with having the body built 2mm higher pocket. Even an angle if they can (?). If 95% need a shim for steepness, and literally no one asks for one to make a shallower angle that is reasonably safe solution (the 5% wouldnt hurt either). Shims were meant for margins of errors but if nearly ever guitar needs one it should be done in the machining process.
Think a newer Fender model does this but been out the loop with those for a bit.
Definately take slow and search most of the steps....overestimate the budget.Norrin Radd wrote: ↑Mon Nov 30, 2020 8:23 pmIt’s an MJT body and a Musikraft neck. This is my 1st time so I’m expecting to make lots of mistakes and fuck up a couple things before I get it right! Probably bought all the wrong hardware.jorri wrote: ↑Mon Nov 30, 2020 5:06 amFrom what parts?Norrin Radd wrote: ↑Tue Nov 24, 2020 7:42 pmI’m putting together my 1st JM partscaster. Is a shim recommended for optimal setup? And if so, what is the rationale? Sorry for the n00b questions.
I think I asked guitarmill once if they would make a shallower neck pocket and seemed ok.
I asked Warmoth and they say no nothing, absolutely nothing can be changed, use our unusually deep neck pockets and slightly wrong placements of everything. Thats right they seem to need shims even more than stock fenders.
Cant really get things too high very easily. I think with expected builds you could easily get away with having the body built 2mm higher pocket. Even an angle if they can (?). If 95% need a shim for steepness, and literally no one asks for one to make a shallower angle that is reasonably safe solution (the 5% wouldnt hurt either). Shims were meant for margins of errors but if nearly ever guitar needs one it should be done in the machining process.
Think a newer Fender model does this but been out the loop with those for a bit.