My experiences with the much-maligned Three Bolt Tilt-Necks of the 70's and on. Fender Strat ('76), G&L Legacy ('92), Earthworks Icon Pro mic for narration,
Had my 1975 Strat since I was 18 in 1990. Never come across a better sounding guitar. It's an ash body in natural and a one-piece maple neck, just like yours. Only difference is it's got the white plastics... Great guitar!
I think the 4 bolt micro should be on all high end fenders as long as its not at the price of quality control. Also your voice is incredible, perfect narration voice. This was like ASMR.
I bought a 70’s Strat just over a year ago and I’d been trying in vain to set it up ever since. Two seperate guitar techs did small repairs early on including set ups, and after achieving only limited success they BOTH told me the neck is probably warped and the guitar will never play well as it is after all a ’70’s Fender with the dreaded 3 bolt neck’. One of these guys even offered to ‘fix’ the neck issues by adding another screw and ferrule beneath the neck plate insisting that lots of people do this with 3 bolt neck (implying that these instruments are inherently flawed and require such fixes). Suffice to say I nervously agreed and went with the concealed extra screw. The Strat then became almost unplayable beyond the 12th fret and the bridge saddles were mostly at their lowest point even though the action was too high along most of the fretboard. I tried adjusting the truss rod, fiddling with intonation, adjusting the tremolo height, adjusting saddle height, you name it, but the action and buzz was so dreadful I began to regret buying the thing. I began to believe the common view that the finish quality of these Fenders was just sloppy and the 3 bolt neck was a disaster. Then yesterday I removed the extra screw under the neck plate, played around with the micro adjust and hey presto - the guitar suddenly plays like a dream! Once the micro adjust is set up properly and everything is properly locked off, you realise it’s actually a pretty reliable system and saves a lot of fiddling around with neck shims. A great video, thanks. My 79 Strat is also very grateful.
Glad you sorted your Strat. I think it's likely that things got 'variable' at some stage in the 70's with Fender but I have seen photos of early 60's Strats and spotted gaps around the neck pocket, so? A warped neck on any guitar is a bummer, the only one I have actually seen and played was a 90's bass (not Fender) with a slim neck. I can't see anything inherently wrong with a three bolt, and my two guitars testify to that. Careful setting up, and understanding what you're doing is key, I think. I do my own (not frets etc.) and find that an adjustment here, effects a previous adjustment elswhere, so I keep going through - with time to settle and play inbetween - and gradually get closer and closer.
My father has a 70s Telecaster Custom with this, have to tighten the screws often or the neck can move up and down (towards each horn). But you say 4 bolt isn't immune, could be just thats the oldest guitar I've ever used and its worn. I don't think he wants to replace the neck or any hardware on it though.
Hi, I would imagine that a class guitar repairer could cut some shims to make the neck pocket snug all round and they could be lightly glued so they could be removed if ever the need be. If it was done well, it would scarcely be noticeable. It might be that the screws have been over-tightened over the years and are not holding as they ought, again, this could be fixed by someone who knows what they are doing by packing the worn screw holes in the neck. Again, I would get a pro to do this, as you don't want a botch job. Both my necks hold fast and I don't have to tighten.
Squire ,Music Man, G&L and Japanese Fender Strats have the same Micro- tilt design structure but the American made Strats have a more elaborate design.
I automatically believe anything a man with a monocle says.
I like anything that is clean and minimalist.
Me too.
You should record an audiobook. 😀👍🏼 Thanks for the info on the neckpockets.
As the neck never moved on a sub nano inch since 1976, dspite 3 refret, my StingRay II, MusicMan don't need to be unbolted. Nor tilted . never dare.
Had my 1975 Strat since I was 18 in 1990. Never come across a better sounding guitar. It's an ash body in natural and a one-piece maple neck, just like yours. Only difference is it's got the white plastics... Great guitar!
I have a 73 Strat that is exactly the same, white plastics and all, and it also sounds fantastic. Peace from Ireland to you and yours mo chara. 😮
I think the 4 bolt micro should be on all high end fenders as long as its not at the price of quality control. Also your voice is incredible, perfect narration voice. This was like ASMR.
Thanks for your comment, even a properly done 3 bolt seems fine to me.
I bought a 70’s Strat just over a year ago and I’d been trying in vain to set it up ever since. Two seperate guitar techs did small repairs early on including set ups, and after achieving only limited success they BOTH told me the neck is probably warped and the guitar will never play well as it is after all a ’70’s Fender with the dreaded 3 bolt neck’. One of these guys even offered to ‘fix’ the neck issues by adding another screw and ferrule beneath the neck plate insisting that lots of people do this with 3 bolt neck (implying that these instruments are inherently flawed and require such fixes).
Suffice to say I nervously agreed and went with the concealed extra screw. The Strat then became almost unplayable beyond the 12th fret and the bridge saddles were mostly at their lowest point even though the action was too high along most of the fretboard. I tried adjusting the truss rod, fiddling with intonation, adjusting the tremolo height, adjusting saddle height, you name it, but the action and buzz was so dreadful I began to regret buying the thing.
I began to believe the common view that the finish quality of these Fenders was just sloppy and the 3 bolt neck was a disaster. Then yesterday I removed the extra screw under the neck plate, played around with the micro adjust and hey presto - the guitar suddenly plays like a dream!
Once the micro adjust is set up properly and everything is properly locked off, you realise it’s actually a pretty reliable system and saves a lot of fiddling around with neck shims.
A great video, thanks. My 79 Strat is also very grateful.
Glad you sorted your Strat. I think it's likely that things got 'variable' at some stage in the 70's with Fender but I have seen photos of early 60's Strats and spotted gaps around the neck pocket, so? A warped neck on any guitar is a bummer, the only one I have actually seen and played was a 90's bass (not Fender) with a slim neck. I can't see anything inherently wrong with a three bolt, and my two guitars testify to that. Careful setting up, and understanding what you're doing is key, I think. I do my own (not frets etc.) and find that an adjustment here, effects a previous adjustment elswhere, so I keep going through - with time to settle and play inbetween - and gradually get closer and closer.
Late 70's strats had the G & L style Saddles so the height limits wasn't an issue for those model years.
I had a blue one!
In the ‘70’s I threw a Strat in anger and it stuck into the wall with the headstock stuck in and body out! No damage whatsoever!
Colonel Klink.
My father has a 70s Telecaster Custom with this, have to tighten the screws often or the neck can move up and down (towards each horn). But you say 4 bolt isn't immune, could be just thats the oldest guitar I've ever used and its worn. I don't think he wants to replace the neck or any hardware on it though.
Hi, I would imagine that a class guitar repairer could cut some shims to make the neck pocket snug all round and they could be lightly glued so they could be removed if ever the need be. If it was done well, it would scarcely be noticeable. It might be that the screws have been over-tightened over the years and are not holding as they ought, again, this could be fixed by someone who knows what they are doing by packing the worn screw holes in the neck. Again, I would get a pro to do this, as you don't want a botch job. Both my necks hold fast and I don't have to tighten.
what size allen wrench do you need for the micro tilt?
Squire ,Music Man, G&L and Japanese Fender Strats have the same Micro- tilt design structure but the American made Strats have a more elaborate design.
Micro-tilt (done well) seems okay to me.
Had no idea you played
Is this guy really wearing a monocle?
Search 'The Miracle of the Monocle' to learn why?