Shim questions

kidwaJstang

I know that the topic of shims has been talked about in this forum, but I wanted to see if I could get a bit more detail as to how all of you guys that have performed this mod and what noticable difference it has made.

I currently have an all stock reissue JS w/ the trem tube tightened all the way (for better tuning stability). I use .10 gauge strings. If I were to use business cards, how many layers would be recommended? Would filing the nut also be recommended, or should I keep it stock? If any of you luthiers could provide detailed measurements of string height at the various frets for the LOWEST action possible, I would be most appreciative.

jacksonjackass

I need to know about neck shimming too

But yea, file the nut and fill it with graphite

Fran

The smallest thickness of card will change things dramatically, its quite surprising. Just sit the card evenly in the pocket on the body side, so it kicks up the end of the neck. Trial and error is how i found the right thickness to begin with, but now i know just by looking at the action.

This video is usefull..

http://www.expertvillage.com/video/107113_how-make-guitar-neck-shim.htm

Im surprised you cant get your action low on the JS? I've never heard of anyone shimming the neck for this reason on this model. You can usually get it very low by lowering the bridge and a truss rod adjustment.

But.. if you fret your low E string on the last fret and first fret, the distance between the string and fretboard around the 8th fret is how high your action is.

I got mine down to 2mm on my Jaguar, but because of the neck profile (on old Fender design necks) you can end up with 'fret-choke' on string bends with the action too low. This is why companies like Ibanez make flat fretboards to aid low action and speed playing.

jacksonjackass

I shimmed my neck with a dollar bill

Mad-Mike

I usually shim mine with cut up light and medium (and in rare extreme cases of cheap guitars heavy) guitar picks. I also use paper products of whatever thickness when I can find them, and have even used change before on cheaper guitars (Harmony H-802's and such).

My Jag-Stang presently has a light guitar pick broken in half and doubled onto itself for a neck shim.

jacksonjackass

Fran said: Im surprised you cant get your action low on the JS? I've never heard of anyone shimming the neck for this reason on this model. You can usually get it very low by lowering the bridge and a truss rod adjustment.

For people like me who use the whammy, the thing goes out of tune if you have the bridge set too low because there is no pivoting going on. So what I hae done is raise the neck by about 4mm form the neck pocket ( 😲 - I know! Crazy!) but this means I can have the bridge pivot nicely and hae really low action all along the fretboard with little buzz all the time!

Fran

Fran said: Im surprised you cant get your action low on the JS? I've never heard of anyone shimming the neck for this reason on this model. You can usually get it very low by lowering the bridge and a truss rod adjustment.

Whatever works dude. This is the beauty of Fenders, you can personalize your guitar down to minor fractions. 😎