How To Install A Guitar Neck Properly For A Perfect Build Project!

#addictedtogear #guitaranatomy
In the continuing series of my Guitar Anatomy Telecaster build I show you how to properly install a guitar neck so that everything else falls into place properly. If the neck installation is not correct the guitar will simply not feel or play correctly so getting it right is critical for a great guitar build. Lets get to it!
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[@maxmustardman298]

Good video. One thing I recommend everyone to get is a digital caliper to measure all the important bits. It comes in handy at all kinds of diy work even outside of guitar building.

[@kengouthro]

What a great lesson on installing a neck. Very well done. Thanks Tony!

[@BurnerBell-kd7ym]

It was my first time putting a neck on, and as a cheapskate DIYer this was something I needed to learn to build my partscaster without paying for labour. And I gotta say, this vid helped me the most of all the neck vids out there! For some reason your cool and collected voice helped me stay calm while trying not to screw up with the drill 😂 Awesome vid, thanks for the help!

[@chrisguzman7926]

Where did you buy the body? Would like to build my own but not sure where to buy it from

[@eddiejr540]

Perfect Tony…that’s exactly how I put on a neck, with 2 “throw-away” strings…lets you get a precise visual of the neck being centered…that body finish looks freakin professional….great work👍

[@CrenteCidadao]

Thanks a lot for sharing with us!

[@Stephen_M.]

Great video Tony!

[@niknotez]

i really appreciate this video. It was really helpful and detailed. Thanks!!!

[@shanewalton8888]

This is like the world's most useful video. Definitely going to do this someday.

[@Paul_Lenard_Ewing]

These things to build guitars are a need to know. The detail you show is important. Even if one just buys a guitar you have a better idea of what you are getting. Maybe more so what you are not getting. Thanx Tony To anyone reading this take out literally a second and hit the thumbs up and subscribe. Join us on Sundays. You will feel included and make friends. We don't just welcome new guys we look out for each other. Tony answers any questions you have and unlike 99% of other sites you do not have to bring your wallet.

[@addictedtogear]

Thank you for the kind words Paul!

[@robertbennett6418]

Thanks. Just what I needed to learn. Will be installing a neck soon. Great job!

[@addictedtogear]

Glad it helped!

[@BigEdWo]

good video, thanks

[@MarkJohnsonJams]

These videos are very relaxing Tony. Very zen. My wife is begging to watch a movie. I’m relaxing and watching this video instead 😂😂😂😂

[@3cardmonty602]

To get the neck “tighter” in the pocket I like to put the strings on. Tune the guitar. Release each screw just a 1/10th of a turn counter-clockwise. Tune the guitar again, then really tighten the neck screws(bolts). This will bring more sustain to the guitar.

[@maxonmendel5757]

howd you figure that out?

[@maxonmendel5757]

I tried this. i ended up breaking all six strings on the guitar and the bridge pulled all the way off the body. crazy tip. would not recommend

[@kennyburg5882]

Use tapered drill bits for maximum purchase

[@nimblybimbly4002]

Did you do a follow-up video showing the completed project? Looking through your videos it looks like the next telecaster video is the red one.

[@InGrindWeCrust2010]

Fantastic video. Did you use the "Duck Fuzz" house brand pickups that Guitar Anatomy sells?

[@jaeseokjung4386]

how did you fix the neck on the body without screwing a nolt?

[@jordanlamb1907]

Thank you for this! I successfully did this today on my Godin Session. Do you think it's possible using a hand drill instead of a drill press?

[@addictedtogear]

Yes, you just have to go slow and be careful

[@pjincho]

May I ask you a question? I took the neck from my fender and installed it on my Squier, then a mighty mite onto my fender. The fender roasted maple is a little less than an inch thick from backside of heel to fingerboard edge. The mighty mite is just about an inch. I didn’t know the e string method of aligning, so I taped a string down the middle right at the saddles and pulled it tight and eyeballed it, marked my holes… actually screwed my holes with an 1/8” bit with a hand drill. Taped the bit for depth, but didn’t tape it to prevent eating wood in the body (since I used it as a guide to help it go in straight.) I’d love to send u a couple pics, because there’s equal space on the sides of each e string…. Maybe a little less on the low end side, which I know isn’t the way it should be. The fender neck took the Squier screws immediately, and I don’t THINK I had any problems there. Did I do this wrong? Should I take them apart and redo this? How do I know that the necks are seated firmly in the pockets? Butt end (where the date stamps usually go) making contact with body?

[@InGrindWeCrust2010]

As long as you can play it without either E string coming off the board, that's not a huge deal. As for neck pocket and neck fitment, IMO all four of sides of the neck heel should ideally fit flush. But IMO they're most important in this order: back, sides, and butt end last. The other thing you want to watch out for is if the fretboard is protruding up above the body further than the previous neck (you mentioned the Mighty Mite neck is very slightly thicker). This will affect the neck angle and action. Once you can attach the neck, assuming it has a mostly functional nut, I find the best thing to do is to string up the guitar with your working/cheap set of strings and set up the guitar (neck relief, saddle/bridge height, intonation). If you just can't get the correct spacing of the strings to the fretboard surface *and* to the guitar body (pickups and saddles), you may need to sand the back of the neck pocket slightly. Use a light grit (400 maybe), use a block to be uniform, and go slowly. If it's just a matter of the neck angle but not overall action, a neck shim can solve that for you. You may have already completed your build by now but I hope this helps.

[@oldschoolfunkster1]

Couple of newbie questions; Other than the tape hack, how do you measure how deep you need to go with the drill bit? Also, can you do a good job without a drill press and only a cordless drill?

[@addictedtogear]

I would say you can do it without a press if your have a level hand. The tape method is all I use and it works great.

[@antlou123]

Hi! I just installed an after-market 22 frets guitar neck on my strat. The issue I'm having is the tune of the strings is not on point to its note. Example, the lower E becomes an A when I tune it using the tuner. Then, the A becomes a B and so on. What could be the issue? Im thinking that maybe I bought a knock off strings at amazon or its the neck or how I installed it. I'd appreciate all the tips and help I can get. Thank you

[@addictedtogear]

Did you check the scale length of your guitar?

[@sagrsalem6340]

Hi ... Nice works ..... Q : what is the type and the Size of each Drill bit you used in this Video Thank you

[@addictedtogear]

Which bit are you referring to?

[@sagrsalem6340]

@@addictedtogear 1- The (Neck pocket)drill bit size and 2- (the Neck) drill Bit Size and 3- the (pickgaurd screws) Drill bit Size Thank you

[@mikerockshard8282]

You forgot to measure the scale length before marking the heel joint. What if it was a bit shorter or longer? Then we would have intonation problems. But otherwise cool video.

[@DougHinVA]

Calipers are very cheap (in plastic) and can measure the INSIDE of a screw... not the sharp edges outside and the bit diameter.... they should match

[@tomfoolery2082]

Is there a certain rpm ur drill is set to run at ?

[@addictedtogear]

Lowest is best if you must use a drill

[@tomfoolery2082]

Do u use stainless screws ?

[@addictedtogear]

When I can but it’s not a must.

[@mpmonzon]

how deep should i go with the drill on the neck?

[@addictedtogear]

Only as deep as the depth of the screw.

[@mpmonzon]

@@addictedtogear thanks

[@upload2352]

And by "depth of the screw," I assume he means the depth of the exposed screw, after accounting for the body and back plate thicknesses - basically, just the part that sticks out after that (my squier tele exposed 5/8" of screw end).

[@stephenviana2077]

Nice,but I have 2 guitar bodied & 2 necks...no holes for mounting anywhere

[@addictedtogear]

In that case I would use the neck plate as a guide and drill new holes into the body and the neck at the same time.

[@onlyusernameleft2]

This is starting to get me worried about the baritone neck I just ordered.

[@shanewalton8888]

Installing the neck is actually the scariest part. Alignment is so easy to get wrong.

[@addictedtogear]

Yes that is true. A crooked neck is no fun to play!

[@yoheff988]

Sorry to be a party pooper, but before you mark the locations for the neck screws YOU HAVE TO CLAMP THE NECK IN POSITION why? because even if you move the neck 0.5 mm everything will be off.

[@addictedtogear]

The neck pocket was so tight it was not necessary in this case. Cheers!

[@Richyounger-qy6sh]

THIS IS FINE IF YOUR REPLACING A NECK, BUT WHAT IF YOUR PUTTING A GUITAR TOGETHER FROM SCRATCH AND THE TREM IS NOT FITTED