pmixon Posted May 3, 2012 Share Posted May 3, 2012 I recently bought a brand new LP Jr online & when I received it, after changing out the strings, it plays great! But I did notice one side of the neck where it bolts on is uneven and there is a gap between it and the pickguard. It almost looks as if something is wrong. I'll post a pic. Any ideas? http://i.imgur.com/HiMKi.jpg edit: I should say that the other side looks fine and is pretty much flush! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tweed2 Posted May 4, 2012 Share Posted May 4, 2012 It may be nothing, just a less than snug fit. Or it could be a sign of future trouble. Have you contacted the online seller? Send him a brief description and your photo, plus maybe a few more angles and ask him what he thinks. If you don't get a satifactory answer, drop by one of the larger music stores (they usually have an on-staff luthier) and have him take a peek. Did the seller include any kind of a guarantee? I happen to be working on a Junior project right now and one of the things I found on mine is that two of the bolts (actually screws) were somewhat stripped out from overtightening. When I pull a neck these days, I switch out to inserts and bolts, rather than screws. Can't strip them, but you can tighten down real good. You might try loosening your strings and putting a phillips screwdriver to the bolts, see if they are loose. Also, if you look from the neck end of the body, is there any gap between the back of the neck and the body? Keep us posted. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oldhippie Posted May 4, 2012 Share Posted May 4, 2012 I am not the specialist here, but I would go to the next guitar-shop and have a look to other guitars and compare it with yours. If they do not have this gap, I would send it back for another guitar. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RobinTheHood Posted May 4, 2012 Share Posted May 4, 2012 Its fine. The fretboard end shouldnt be touching the pickguard or guitar body. It looks like someone shimmed the neck to get the proper angle for better action. Typically, Epiphone necks are set up with less of an angle, almost straight, out of the body and will have less of a gap between the board and body. It is common to shim them to create an angle, usually between 2 & 3 degrees, to get better action. I do this with all of my bolt-neck guitars. If it plays good leave it alone. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pmixon Posted May 4, 2012 Author Share Posted May 4, 2012 I'll definitely go look at some others to compare when I get a chance. And unfortunately I bought this one from one of the "big" online retailers. So, I would just be requesting a return. As far as I can tell it plays fine, but I don't want to run into problems later on down the line. Here are 3 more pictures all from different angles. I can take it to a luthier I know in a few days(hes setting up my acoustic at the moment), just wanted to drop by here first! Always feel like I'm bugging the luthier with cheap guitars though, haha. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RobinTheHood Posted May 4, 2012 Share Posted May 4, 2012 It looks fine to me. Actually shimmed or planed properly out of the factory. They usually dont have that much of an angle until after i'm done readjusting the neck pocket. The thing with bolt-necks, is that you can adjust them to whatever angle you prefer. This one just happens to be at an angle that I feel is more suitable to better action than most. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pmixon Posted May 4, 2012 Author Share Posted May 4, 2012 Ok, great! It was just that one side that had me concerned - thanks for the help! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RobinTheHood Posted May 4, 2012 Share Posted May 4, 2012 Oh, I see what you are saying. The bass side is higher than the treble side. I was refering to the neck angle out of the pocket. I had to look very closely to see it in the pic. There might be a shifted shim under there. I still dont think its a big deal. As long as the neck doent feel like it shifts around when you play, it should be fine. How is the action on this guitar? Do the high strings feel like they are too far away from the fretboard? Do the low strings buzz or rattle at all? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tweed2 Posted May 4, 2012 Share Posted May 4, 2012 Ok, great! It was just that one side that had me concerned - thanks for the help! Ya, that's what I got out of the original question, the bass side was higher. Is there a gap underneath the neck, between the neck and body? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pmixon Posted May 4, 2012 Author Share Posted May 4, 2012 Ya, the fact its higher up on the bass side is what I was referring to. No, there isn't a gap underneath, between the neck and the body, its flush. And I set up the action on the guitar 2 days ago by using 2mm and 1.5mm on high and low e strings (measured at the 12th). It does feel a little high in some sittings though further up the neck. Especially on strings 4, 5, and 6. But I'm still a novice so I figure its in my head. And there is no buzzing at the first few frets. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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