Shim.. or No shim..

For help with setups and other technical issues.
User avatar
tiredguy
PAT. # 2.972.923
PAT. # 2.972.923
Posts: 98
Joined: Wed Nov 02, 2011 11:32 pm

Re: Shim.. or No shim..

Post by tiredguy » Tue Sep 26, 2017 10:01 pm

I make my own shims using the same material that Fender used on vintage Fenders. Its the same thickness as my vintage shim that I bought for reference. I either copy the original shape (looser fit) or form fit it to the neck pocket just ahead of the screws. Its solid and sounds great; certainly better than the thin strip of cardboard it had...

I bought the red vulcanized fiber board in 2 different thicknesses in case the regular thin wasn't enough. I used the thinner one and its just fine on mine. I have it sit just in front of the screws. If the shim doesn't run even left to right, theres the danger of resting on one edge of the shim and not making contact evenly across the shim = less desirable. Sometimes the vintage ones have been roughed up the by the screws and the neck likely rides there instead. I have good even contact and its probably also why the Stew Mac ones sound and feel so right.

Image

User avatar
TeenageShutdown!
PAT. # 2.972.923
PAT. # 2.972.923
Posts: 449
Joined: Sun Dec 14, 2014 10:06 am

Re: Shim.. or No shim..

Post by TeenageShutdown! » Thu Sep 28, 2017 3:03 am

Benjammin wrote:for those who have the Stew Mac shims, which size/degree do you use? is it worth getting a 3 pack to experiment?
I bought the 3 pack as I was unsure which size to get. I used the .5 first & it worked perfectly. An expensive lesson I suppose.

Previously the bridge was so low it was almost touching the pickguard. I had some teflon tape wrapped around the bridge posts for the rattles. Got rid of the tape, reset everything, & the tremolo is dramatically better. Definitely worth it to me. No post rattles either with .012 flatwounds.

Singlebladepickup
PAT. # 2.972.923
PAT. # 2.972.923
Posts: 2831
Joined: Tue Oct 21, 2014 4:12 am
Location: U.S. of fuckin' A.

Re: Shim.. or No shim..

Post by Singlebladepickup » Thu Oct 12, 2017 6:39 am

I've got a stewmac 0.5 shim that I'm gonna try on my jag, but I'm scared that when i take the neck off and then put it back on something about the setup will be "wrong" (besides bridge height) or I'll mess something else up. Also, do i need to unstring it or can i just loosen them?

User avatar
Axolotl
PAT. # 2.972.923
PAT. # 2.972.923
Posts: 1267
Joined: Sun Mar 10, 2013 9:06 am

Re: Shim.. or No shim..

Post by Axolotl » Wed Oct 18, 2017 8:41 am

^^^ You can loosen the strings (use a capo in the middle frets while doing this, so reassembling the guitar will be easier). Nothing can really go out of place, make sure you screw back the neck firmly but not over tighten the screws. Let us know how it went!

User avatar
daemon
PAT. # 2.972.923
PAT. # 2.972.923
Posts: 832
Joined: Tue Jan 03, 2012 6:44 pm
Location: Cincinnati, Ohia

Re: Shim.. or No shim..

Post by daemon » Fri Oct 20, 2017 6:30 am

Axolotl wrote:
Wed Oct 18, 2017 8:41 am
^^^ You can loosen the strings (use a capo in the middle frets while doing this, so reassembling the guitar will be easier). Nothing can really go out of place, make sure you screw back the neck firmly but not over tighten the screws. Let us know how it went!
I found out about that trick about a year ago and wish I'd known about it before. Makes adjustment 100 times easier.

BamaSurf
PAT PEND
PAT PEND
Posts: 11
Joined: Sat Oct 28, 2017 2:59 pm

Re: Shim.. or No shim..

Post by BamaSurf » Wed Nov 15, 2017 12:58 am

Never knew the concept of shimming until I read this article. Shimmed my VM Jaguar and wow did it make a difference. Gonna get a full shim from Stewmac even though they're a bit pricey, actually the shim ain't so bad but the shipping is crazy high.

User avatar
timtam
PAT. # 2.972.923
PAT. # 2.972.923
Posts: 2729
Joined: Sun Oct 22, 2017 2:42 am
Location: Melbourne

Re: Shim.. or No shim..

Post by timtam » Wed Nov 15, 2017 3:49 am

How to make a full-size shim (from Crimson Guitars) ...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FlmSeVMLr_w
"I just knew I wanted to make a sound that was the complete opposite of a Les Paul, and that’s pretty much a Jaguar." Rowland S. Howard.

Singlebladepickup
PAT. # 2.972.923
PAT. # 2.972.923
Posts: 2831
Joined: Tue Oct 21, 2014 4:12 am
Location: U.S. of fuckin' A.

Re: Shim.. or No shim..

Post by Singlebladepickup » Wed Nov 15, 2017 7:56 am

I used the Stewmac 0.5 shim. I took out all of the pieces of cardboard that I guess was put in at the factory. I don't know that it lowered the action much, I still have the bridge virtually all the way down and I adjusted the saddles somewhat. I can say it seems to be more level down the neck of the guitar, maybe it's because it covers the full pocket. I'm no expert, maybe it needs another smaller shim. I'm happy enough with the shim and the action.

User avatar
Rob
PAT. # 2.972.923
PAT. # 2.972.923
Posts: 301
Joined: Mon Nov 20, 2017 1:31 am
Location: Lexington, KY, US

Re: Shim.. or No shim..

Post by Rob » Tue Nov 21, 2017 12:11 am

My AVRI '62 JM was shimmed in the factory with three tabs of card stock paperboard in the back of the neck pocket. I struggled with that neck for the better part of 10 years before a bandmate finally made a wood shim for it.

User avatar
Kaganovich
PAT PEND
PAT PEND
Posts: 16
Joined: Wed Nov 29, 2017 9:24 am

Re: Shim.. or No shim..

Post by Kaganovich » Fri Dec 01, 2017 6:31 am

Am I right in thinking you have to shim if you want the Jaguar mute to work? And again would the Stewmac 0.5 be good for this?
Thanks!

Post Reply