Drilling Holes in Neck

Posted on

Tim the Enchanter
Member Since: Feb 17, 2008

I'm thinking about getting a new neck for my USA custom Ibanez. It has one of those tension-free necks on it, which is okay, but I really prefer the profile and slenderness of the Wizard necks. I've been looking on ebay at some used ones, but most of them I've seen are either the wrong color headstock (looking for a black one as I don't think I'll find one with quilted maple and a transparent red finish), or they have a few scratches or blemishes on them. I did find a couple of brand new wizard II necks that look really nice, but they don't have holes drilled in them to mount it to the body. So how would I go about drilling holes in it? Would I need a drill press or could I use a cordless drill? I really don't think I want to buy a new neck and screw it up by drilling crooked holes or not getting it aligned properly. Should I just keep looking for a good used one?

[ Back to Top ]


http://www.reverbnation.com/2ndg
Member
Since: Nov 27, 2007


Dec 21, 2009 10:45 pm

just use a cordless and make sure its straight. use a white marker to mark the depth on the drillbit.

thing with necks are, the width of the part that you screw into. gotta make sure it will slide into the body. not all necks have the same width around that area where the screws are.

The Czar of BS
Member
Since: Dec 31, 2007


Dec 21, 2009 11:41 pm

I had to do something very similar at my shop.

A rental customer broke a neck on one of our Fender guitars. And the new neck came in with no holes drilled in (For some reason. Fender didn't even know why it was sent to us that way.)

What we did, was to put finishing nails that were roughly the same size as the holes on the body. With the tips sticking out a touch.

We then took the new neck, and lined it up with the body.

Using a rubber mallet, we lightly tapped the new neck down in place.

When we removed the neck, we had marks to help guide us for where to drill.

Using a drill press, We drilled the new holes. And it lined up the way it should be.

It's not all that difficult. And you can do this with just a little effort.

Just make sure that the hole you are drilling is the correct size. Otherwise, the neck can shift while your playing it.

http://www.reverbnation.com/2ndg
Member
Since: Nov 27, 2007


Dec 22, 2009 02:18 am

being wood too, dont drill too close to the screw size or she'll thread when you screw the screws in.

If you really wanna get anal with the straightness of the holes then set up a jig, unless you do have a drill press then of course go with that.
they cant deviate too far because they go thru the body holes first.

the nails for marking is a good idea.
i would mark one first, drill it, screw the on neck so its just firm, and then use the dill bit to mark the other holes so they are dead on. then take the neck off and drill the other three.

ive mucked around with guitars and done all sorts of weird stuff to em, they are pretty bloody forgiving which is good.

remember though, once the holes are drilled, sand off the burrs, so the neck sits flat in the notch.


I am not a crook's head
Member
Since: Mar 14, 2003


Dec 22, 2009 02:36 pm

I would imagine that Ibanez could provide you with a scale template for the screw positions if you ask them. I can't imagine that their machine shops freehand the holes. They must have a template of some sort that they can give/sell to you. Even if it's just a .pdf document or some trace paper with the outline of the neck heel and the relative position of the screw holes. It'd be worth a try just calling them and asking. At very least, they might have some advice for drilling.

Also, you'll have to make sure that the scale length of your new neck matches EXACTLY the scale length of your existing neck. Otherwise you'll never get it intonated correctly and it'll be impossible to keep in tune. Find the specs for neck pocket width and scale length and match them exactly. Otherwise the guitar will be a nightmare to play and tune.

Tim the Enchanter
Member
Since: Feb 17, 2008


Dec 22, 2009 09:40 pm

Great advice, I appreciate it. I checked around and I do have access to a drill press so I may give this thing a go.

Related Forum Topics:



If you would like to participate in the forum discussions, feel free to register for your free membership.