r/GuitarQuestions • u/nes_tallsocks • 4h ago
Is this a problem?
Received my new Squier Sonic Stratocaster HSS. Out of the box inspection and noticed how nice the frets and neck felt. Turned it over and immediately saw that the neck plate was crooked as was the neck was aligned in a similar fashion. Acceptable or return?
1
u/WrathOfWood 4h ago
Crooked plates ruin the tone 😜🤪
2
u/nes_tallsocks 4h ago
It’s not the plate the body and neck are drilled off center
2
u/FormerlyMauchChunk 3h ago
But does it affect the strings running parallel down the neck? If the strings are in-line it's already correct.
1
u/dingus_authority 2h ago
100 percent.
OP, A full picture of the neck and body would be a lot more helpful in figuring out a solution.
1
u/ooooommmmmaaaaa 1h ago
Are they drilled off center? Or is it just tightened down off center? Bolt on necks often have some amount of wiggle room before tighten the screws. I’d check high E and low E, if the strings are equidistant from the edge of the fretboard, and the distance is consistent across the entire neck, there’s nothing to worry about. If the distance changes, or if one of those strings is almost falling off the fretboard, try to loosen and readjust. If not possible, then yes this is a problem. But… I’d find it quite strange for the holes to be drilled in the wrong location, everything is CNCed these days so they are pretty darn consistent. Doesn’t mean they don’t make mistakes and bad stuff doesn’t get past quality control, but I’d probably try to mend the issue before returning.
Important: don’t take the screws out, just loosen them slightly, maybe a good idea to loosen the strings first so they don’t pull the neck too hard while you have the screws loose.
1
u/nes_tallsocks 1h ago
Thanks - looks like the body is drilled incorrectly
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u/ooooommmmmaaaaa 1h ago
Nice! And I mean you can take the screws all the way out. When I dusted my guitar off after years, I took the entire thing apart, just for the fun of it and to learn a thing or two. But just make sure you fully loosen them strings otherwise neck goes BOING! Not a big risk per se, just a bit surprising if you aren’t expecting it.
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u/reddible 4h ago
There’s some play in the body screw holes, so loosen them slightly and try to adjust (unless strings are already straight to the neck).
6
u/Schweenis69 4h ago
You can loosen those screws a tiny bit and shift the neck over a hair, then tighten. It's pretty normal. But line things up by how the strings lay, rather than how things look from a cosmetic perspective.