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Looking for some advice guys.

I purchased a CNC'd replacement body for my old Ibanez USA custom just to freshen it up and have some fun.
First problem. I had to open up the neck pocket a fair bit to accept my neck. Ok, no biggie, done.
Next problem. When the neck is fitted to the body, the fingerboard intrudes on the neck pickup route.

What I found here was the measurement from the neck pocket to the neck pickup route is shorter on the new body when compared to the original body.


One suggestion was to back the neck out of the pocket to the difference in the two dimensions.
To me that doesnt sound like a good plan. My thoughts wander to a weak joint, increased scale length, etc.
Shy of trying to enlarge the neck pickup route, im inclined to forgo the neck pickup altogether and use a pickguard to cover up the hole.... its not what i wanted though.

Any thoughts or suggestions?
thx
gregor

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Wake up and smell the rosewood!

Does the new body have the bridge holes drilled or routeing done for the bridge? I that case you need to locate the neck so the scale is correct. If the bridge has not been located and drilled then you can put the neck where you need it to be and then locate the bridge accordingly. Its also probably a good time to check the neck angle and overstand to make sure the geometry is correct.

It is possible that you new body is designed or a neck with less frets (say 22 instead of 24) or it might be a different scale guitar. You can not simply "back the neck out of the pocket..."

Thanks very much for the response Freeman.
unfortunately the body is completely routed, bridge, cavities, pickups, jack, etc.
Its a great body, but i don't see how i get around this issue apart from not installing the neck pickup.
All the proper information was passed along for the replacement body, but it seems that we have an error here.

thanks again
gregor

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Wake up and smell the rosewood!

According to the Ibanez website, there were 39 different models in the "USA custom" category, some made in the US, some in Japan. My guess is that your neck and body are from different models and may not be compatible.

You did not answer my question from above. When you put the neck in the pocket and measure the scale is the bridge at the correct location? If so then thats where it needs to be, if not, shift it. Once you get the neck in the right place relative to the bridge you need to determine what is going on at the neck pocket. If the neck extends too far into the pocket then there are a couple of options - shorten the neck if you can give up a couple of frets, fill and reroute the neck pickup cavity or just cover it as you suggest.

Pictures of the neck in the pocket would help

^^^ DING, DING, DING! What he said. ^^^

Pix are worth a thousand words, you know.

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"Act your age, not your shoe size" - Prince

Yes, if i remember correctly there were parts made in japan then drilled and fitted in the US.
My guitar is completely original (minus me sanding off the custom paint ages ago).

Sorry, thought i was being clear.
The new body is completely routed, bridge and all.
Scale length is correct when neck is positioned in the pocket correctly of the new body.
Fingerboard interferes with the neck pickup when positioned in the pocket correctly of the new body.
Lower images show original body for reference.



I thought I was doing good Chris by including a picture in the first post without being asked.

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Wake up and smell the rosewood!

In that case your new body was designed for a neck with less frets.

(fwiw, pictures and lots of accurate measurements are always helpful)

NOPE.... No pickup rings. The pickups should be direct mounted to the body. Problem solved.

_________________
"Act your age, not your shoe size" - Prince

Thanks again guys.

I had that thought too Chris when I was mocking it up.
Would need to purchase the necessary hardware to do it.
Maybe I will mock it up again this weekend and see.
Must admit though....my eye is just drawn to the fingerboard and it looks weird to me.
Not sure I can convince myself if I like or not, but I'll try!!

_________________
Wake up and smell the rosewood!

It's not hard at all, but be careful to not drill through the body. I think F-U products makes a kit? I do it on some of my stuff, and for clients. Since the pickup routing is flat on the bottom, without the deep holes for long legged pickups, it should be easier to set the proper height. Put foam under the pickups. Good luck.

_________________
"Act your age, not your shoe size" - Prince

This was probably made for a Fender neck heel without an extension on the fretboard.

I’d return the body for a new one.


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