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Need your opinion about shims

M

mike87

Member
Joined
May 4, 2011
Messages
21
Hi there!!!! I have a littlte question about shimming and I need your opinions..

I've recently tried to setup my EBMM steve morse with the floyd rose..I adjusted the truss rod first,I set the tremolo flush to the body (like the axis) and then adjusted the spring tension. When I lowered the floyd rose to sit flush to the body, the string action went too low(the strings sit on the frets). So, I couldn't adjust the string height..I disassembled my guitar and I found a small plastic shim on the back side of the neck pocket (at the bass side). Then I placed it on the front side of the neck pocket (bass side again), so that I can raise the neck angle and have higher action.Is this correct? Is the position right?

I assembled my guitar and everything seems ok..except the fact that there is this small shim between the neck and the body.is this a problem? I get a little nervous with the fact that the neck doesn't fit the body firmly, because of the shim.....
tell me your opinions...
thanks
 
M

mike87

Member
Joined
May 4, 2011
Messages
21
Now my string height is:
2/32'' bass side
3/64'' treble side

what's the correct string height for the steve morse model?
 
Mark-NL

Mark-NL

Well-known member
Joined
Oct 25, 2007
Messages
352
Location
The Netherlands
The height you like is the right height.

Sorry for the lame answer, but it's true. I think most models come with about .06" inch on the bass side (Sorry, I'm used to metric, so I don't understand the 4/84th stuff ;) )
 
DrKev

DrKev

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Jul 8, 2006
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7,583
Location
Somewhere between Paris, Dublin, and Buffalo
Welcome to the forum, Mike!

There was a recent thread about shims, maybe a month or two back, so do use the search engine and see what you can find. Shims are often a normal part of things with bolt-on necks and particularly with some Floyd systems. They do not effect stability of the neck joint and you should think of them as your friends!

Do call customer service (you'll find their number over at music-man.com). They'll give you all the advice you need and are the best in the business. A good guitar tech can get things straight in a short time too. If you are happy with it and it plays well, then you're good to go.

Here are some setup specs, but remember, they are only guide, not a goal.
 
M

mike87

Member
Joined
May 4, 2011
Messages
21
Thanks mates!!! The guitar plays perfect..the fact that I placed the shim at the front side of the neck pocket concerned a little..A friend of mine has exactly the same guitar.We have the same string height on our instrument,but the shim on his guitar is placed at the back side of the neck pocket...But I think it's ok...
 
M

mike87

Member
Joined
May 4, 2011
Messages
21
Another queston guys...how can I learn the date of my steve morse model?
The serial number is G20835....
 
Spudmurphy

Spudmurphy

Well-known member
Joined
Aug 23, 2005
Messages
12,037
Location
Cardiff, United Kingdom
Yup you got it (the s/n) in the right place - you'll prolly get an answer pretty soon.

.. and yer right - this forum is a great place to be - well run/administered and we get to here the latest news before anybody else. There's even been guitars made that were offered via the forum. Search on Dargie Delight .. and you'll see what I mean.
Spud
 
beej

beej

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Joined
Aug 16, 2004
Messages
12,423
Location
Toronto, Canada
Don't worry about the shim. No two guitars - like no two pieces of wood - are the same. It's there to account for minute variances in size. With the Floyd, that's the only way you really have to fine tune the string height.

Bottom line: if it plays well then you're good. That's all there is too it.
 
M

mike87

Member
Joined
May 4, 2011
Messages
21
Finally finished my setup...I completelly removed the shim from the neck pocket and now I believe I have the perfect action..Almost 2/32'' at bass and treble side...(slighly lower)
I've done this another time before but I didn't have the same results..(It had lower action)..
STRANGE.....
:)
 
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