Metropoulos Forum

Why can't Fender get thier neck pockets right? Every time I go to the music store, I check out some fenders and it's always like 30%-40% of them have loose neck pockets with necks that will shift if pressure is put on them. Theses are the top of the line fenders too.

Then I go to check out the cheap Ibanez guitars in the $300 range and the pockets are perfect???

I love my Warmoth neck pockets. They are perfect.!!

Sorry just had to rant. I really want to get a Malmsteen strat and none of the local shops have one. So the only way to buy one would be online like musicians friend, and I KNOW I'm gonna get sent the one with a loose neck pocket.

planetjimi wrote:Why can't Fender get thier neck pockets right? Every time I go to the music store, I check out some fenders and it's always like 30%-40% of them have loose neck pockets with necks that will shift if pressure is put on them. Theses are the top of the line fenders too.

Mega-volume production, and not so good quality control. Check out any company that wants to make an impression (Godin, Hamer, etc). The attention to detail shows. Godin guitars makes one of the sweetest neck to neckpocket fits around. Nice deep pocket, and a tight fit. I Love 'em.

Haven't looked at many Fenders of late, I'd hate to think we're full circle back to the mid-70's.........

My high school had a seventies Jazz Bass and the pocket on that thing was so sloppy that you could jack the neck so far to one side, the strings were almost off the neck edge.

I just looked at the Sam Ash website the guitar pictured has a gap on the bass side between the neck and the body.



I guess I can take a chance, and take an advantage of the return policy if need be.

Warmoth...

Flames1950 wrote:Haven't looked at many Fenders of late, I'd hate to think we're full circle back to the mid-70's.........

My high school had a seventies Jazz Bass and the pocket on that thing was so sloppy that you could jack the neck so far to one side, the strings were almost off the neck edge.

I find that hard to believe!! How could your high school have a 70's fender when you went there in the 60's!!!! JUST KIDDING!!!

Good God, I'm thirty-seven man, not one-hundred-and-seven.........

planetjimi wrote:Why can't Fender get thier neck pockets right? Every time I go to the music store, I check out some fenders and it's always like 30%-40% of them have loose neck pockets with necks that will shift if pressure is put on them. Theses are the top of the line fenders too.

Then I go to check out the cheap Ibanez guitars in the $300 range and the pockets are perfect???

I think Japanese companies just take more pride in their work than American companies today. It's sad really the big American guitar companies are starting to slack. My $250 Ibanez plays better than most of the Gibsons/Fenders I played. I might have gotten lucky with it but for the price you can't beat it.

Flames1950 wrote:Good God, I'm thirty-seven man, not one-hundred-and-seven.........

Wow, your almost as old as me!!! Good answer BTW!!

WilliamTheSwan wrote:

planetjimi wrote:Why can't Fender get thier neck pockets right? Every time I go to the music store, I check out some fenders and it's always like 30%-40% of them have loose neck pockets with necks that will shift if pressure is put on them. Theses are the top of the line fenders too.

Then I go to check out the cheap Ibanez guitars in the $300 range and the pockets are perfect???

I think Japanese companies just take more pride in their work than American companies today. It's sad really the big American guitar companies are starting to slack. My $250 Ibanez plays better than most of the Gibsons/Fenders I played. I might have gotten lucky with it but for the price you can't beat it.

Japanese companies don't pay their employee's an American wage. That's why they can be picky about what goes out.

So you guys got me curious. So I went and pulled out this 1997 68 RI strat I just bought made in Japan. I took out a piece of receipt paper (cause it is the thinnest paper I know of) and tried to slide it in between the neck and body in the neck pockets sides. No go. It is tight as a drum. Not even the thinnest paper could be shoved in the crack. Japan quality kicks major azz. I will always buy made in Japan guitars for anything made past 1980. An many before 1980 kick azz also. Yep, the electronics suck. But with a set a Fralins and some old wire and old Ceramic caps and Alpha potentiometers your back in bizness.

Bluesgeetar wrote:So you guys got me curious. So I went and pulled out this 1997 68 RI strat I just bought made in Japan. I took out a piece of receipt paper (cause it is the thinnest paper I know of) and tried to slide it in between the neck and body in the neck pockets sides. No go. It is tight as a drum. Not even the thinnest paper could be shoved in the crack. Japan quality kicks major azz. I will always buy made in Japan guitars for anything made past 1980. An many before 1980 kick azz also. Yep, the electronics suck. But with a set a Fralins and some old wire and old Ceramic caps and Alpha potentiometers your back in bizness.

That's the crazy thing. Those $159.00 squiers made in Korea or whatever have perfect neck pockets. Go the the store and pick up an Amercian Standard Strat (the $1000.00 model), and one out of three will have a loose shifty pocket.

My 1984 Tokai '56 reisse is Japanese made. It has a slight gap in the pocket. It was black but I stripped it. It is two piece alder and one piece was very close to a knot, which I can tell by the grain. The best sounding strat I've ever played. And one bad thing about a 'perfectly' tight neck pocket is, that there is no give if you drop your guitar. This can crack the wings of the pocket and split the wood. A slight gap in the neck pocket doesnt affect things much, cause I bear down alot on mine, and it doesnt shift. Those 4 bolts are very stable.

I bought one of those woodstock strats with the left handed headstock. Almost sent it back because the hi E kept sliding off the neck. Then I realized the neck was loose. I put it proper position and tightened the screws and it's been fine since....

My '05 Malmsteen, the neck pocket is tight and right, can't slide a gnat's dick in there .
You will never find a Malmsteen in the store,or if you do they are used but unplayed as someone orders it, but can't get to grips with the scallops.
Go on take a chance, the reports I read in the Malmsteen community is that the 2007 models are right.
yngwie308