Neck shim question

[Simon Barden]

Well, white paper is mainly the cellulose from wood fibres without the lignin that makes wood strong. The browner the paper, the more lignin and the stronger the paper for a given thickness. You've probably got added clays as well. However, paper is denser than wood as all the hollow structure of the wood has been destroyed.

I don't know what sonic difference (if any) a brass shim would have. I can't see it doing any harm to the tone. You can but make one up and try it out. You can always record the bass with the low saddles and no shim, and then fit the shim, raise the saddles and compare the sound and sustain.

[robin]

Here you go Ralph, hope the link works.

https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/222249876823

[RalphH]

Yes it does. Many thanks.

[PeterSik]

speaking of paper shims.. I once heard the story that Leo Fender himself collected business cards to use as neck shims.. so there is your historical precedent

[robin]

I've also used playing cards. More dense/compressed than business cards.

[Paul_H]

I had to make a flat shim for my IB-5 bass. I made a maple shim which I cut from one of these: http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/3pcs-Guit.../230913889611?

It cut very well using a jigsaw with a fine-toothed blade.

[RalphH]

I've also used playing cards. More dense/compressed than business cards.

..and here's me being concerned about the sonic qualities of a metal shim..

[FrankenWashie]

Thanks Simon
I will be a full pocket shim of equal thickness. The genuine SR5's have the neck on the same plane as the body, so I'm sticking with that as I'm trying for a replica. I'm finding it hard to get veneers without importing from Australia and ending up with way more than I need, and spending close to $50 including postage; hence my question about using metal. Would there be any sonic difference if I used a shim of brass for instance? Or aluminium?

You can always try a reclaimer's yard or a demo merchant for scrap offcut pieces of hardwood. Timber Recyclers on Archers road down on "The Shore" comes to mind, but i'd daresay there'd have to be an alternative near Silverdale or the Albany industrial zone?

[RalphH]

I pretty much cut it rough size at full thickness then used a coping saw to cut a slice off at the right thickness

Well the Dedman Method® gets my nod of approval. Only took 10 minutes and cost zilch.

[Dedman]

Glad it worked for you!