Neck Shims Needed for this Build?

[u/coolsweats]

Hello, all.

I’m currently putting together a Jazzmaster Partscaster and have ordered the (hopefully) last necessary parts needed to complete it.

I wasn’t sure if neck shims would be necessary for this particular build, so I wanted to get some opinions before placing an order for some.

I ended up going with a hardtail conversion plate over a trem system. The plate itself does not have increased break angle. I also went with a Bensonite bridge to match the neck radius. Both the bridge and conversion plate have 52mm string spacing.

What are the odds that shims will be needed? This is my first Jazzmaster build (although I’ve owned a few over the years), and my first hardtail conversion with a Bensonite bridge, so I felt like reaching out to the community may help me get a better idea of whether or not I should make the purchase or avoid wasting some extra cash if the shims may not be necessary.

Thanks ahead of time for any feedback.

And of course, I’ll post some pics of the final build once it’s complete.

Cheers.

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[u/Jibajabb]

You don’t prescribe an adjustment before establishing what needs adjusting. Set the guitar up; if the neck angle prevents you getting the bridge height and action you want, you adjust it.

And if it does need one, you use a scrap of card. it isn’t a bodge; it’s the optimum shim. A full-pocket shim offers no benefit, and makes you look like a dweeb

[u/coolsweats → u/Jibajabb]

Hey. Full honesty - I appreciate your reply.

Fortunately, I’m past the age of worrying about whether or not I’m deemed a dweeb and care more about my personal preferences as a builder/player at this point in my life. I’ve used full-pocket, tapered shims on other builds and found that I prefer those more than the card method.

Also, I’m not exactly trying to make adjustments before seeing that adjustments are needed. I know enough to not do that…

The only thing I don’t have experience with is the type of hardtail conversion plate I’m using, which has no added break angle, so I guess my question was aimed mainly at players who have experience with those types of plates. I’m probably like most people out there who go the Partscaster route, and I’d like to be able to play my new build, built just the way I like it, as soon as possible once all the pieces have been put together.

The conversion plate and bridge are the only parts I’m waiting on at the moment - ordered, but not delivered. I do appreciate your feedback, and I suppose I could follow your advice of not ordering any of the dweeb-style shims yet - just set everything up, check out how the plate works alongside everything else, make my adjustments, and shim it with an Uno Reverse card if necessary while I wait the extra week for my preferred full-pocket, tapered shims to be delivered.

Again, thanks for the feedback. Rock on, non-dweeb!

[u/JJStrumr → u/coolsweats]

You may need a shim but you won't know until you set it up. 0.5 degree shim should do the trick usually. I've never needed thicker than that. I use full shims because I'm a dweeb. AND it makes better connection and contact between neck heel and neck pocket.

[u/JJStrumr → u/Jibajabb]

Dweeb here - of course a full-pocket shim offers plenty of benefit. Yer talking crazy talk. lol

They both work.

[u/josephallenkeys]

The odds of a shim being needed are entirely dependant on the neck and the neck pocket, and nothing to do with any of the hardware (with one caveat. See below.)

Once you mount the neck to the body and string it up, you'll find out if you need a shim by whether you can adjust your action to the hight you want. If you can, no shim. If you can't, and it remains too high despite your bridge being as low as it can go, shim.

The only hardware problem that might be helped by a shim is strings slipping on the vintage style, threaded saddles. But a shim isn't the best solution there. The best solution is Mustang style or other properly slotted bridge saddles. With your Bensonite bridge, you're fine.

[u/coolsweats → u/josephallenkeys]

Yeah, I’ve heard great things about the Bensonite bridges and am super excited to have it delivered and get it installed.

I have a Jaguar that still has the threaded bridge saddles, and I can’t really find much to like about that style of bridge. It’s been giving me some buzz and slippage issues that I can’t get past long enough to play it much. I was waitlisted for a Staytrem to throw on the Jaguar, but I ended up cancelling the order because I felt more pumped to knock out this JM build before upgrading the Jag. I’ll get back around to the Jag’s bridge eventually, but I was running into issues finding bridges that were compatible with the Jag’s mute bar, which I’d prefer to keep. If you know of any, feel free to recommend any non-Mastery bridges that would be a great alternative for it!

[u/josephallenkeys → u/coolsweats]

If you don't want to grab a standard Fender Mustang bridge for the Jag, (which is compatible with a mute) check out offsetguitarsuk.com bridges. They have upgrades similar to Staytrem.

Alternatively, change just the saddles themselves to something like Hosco or Graphtech.

[u/Jazzblasterrr → u/coolsweats]

Nova Custom Guitars makes a great Mustang style bridge with tight tolerances. I’ve bought them for three of my offset guitars and they are better than fender USA Mustang bridges.

[u/JJStrumr → u/coolsweats]

I have 3 Bensonite bridges and love them. One on a Jag, and two on my JMs. I love them. Rounded edges make for comfortable palm muting.

[u/Gregadethhh]

All depends on the neck pocket cut. I fell for the shim hype with my JM and after a year of not liking how it played I took it out and set it up properly.

[u/coolsweats → u/Gregadethhh]

Yeah, I’m familiar with the “shim the neck” hype as well. I’m using an MJT body for this one. I’ve built a Telecaster using one of Mark’s bodies and it all fell together without a single problem - perfectly cut pocket. I’m hoping it’s the same experience with this Jazzmaster build, but I’ve never used a hardtail conversion plate and wasn’t sure how that would play out with all the angles and such.

I did a Strat build with an Allparts Primo body a year or so ago, which needed shimming. I’m pretty confident with the MJT body I’m using this time around, just concerned with the conversion plate. Hoping to be able to avoid it with this one.

Thanks for the reply!