Quote Originally Posted by Sonic Mountain View Post
Hey, I've used feeler gauges as shims with a lot of success on a cheap Ashton bass I have. You can get them for around $10 locally (I see you are in the US) which is a bit more than the shim you've mentioned - however you get about 50 shims in very small increments with a set of feeler gauges, so you can really fine tune the angle adjustment.

In regards to setting before finishing - yes it does make it a little more awkward to work on, but not so much that it's a real hassle. There is no hard and fast rule, so do what you feel comfortable with, there are pros and cons each way.
Feeler gauges wouldn't work with a set neck would they? Only ones I have seen are metal.