TRIPLEPLAY TUTORIALS
MODULE #10: ADJUSTING NECK ANGLE
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Question:
I am trying to install TriplePlay on my guitar, but
there is not enough room for the pickup, without
it touching my strings, or raising the action higher
than I prefer.
Answer:
Generally, this would be more of an issue with a
guitar that has a removeable neck, as the geometry
created by these designs allows for less space
between the strings and the pickguard or face of
your guitar. The neck is held to the body with screws
or bolts (often called a “bolt-on-neck” ). These
guitars can be adjusted, by changing the angle of
the neck, to allow your preferred action height, with
the necessary space beneath the strings to fit your
new TriplePlay pickup. The tutorial below will walk
you through the process of “shimming” your neck.
Read Me First!
If your guitar needs this adjustment, and you’re not
comfortable doing it yourself, we strongly suggest
bringing the guitar to a professional instrument
repair technician.
Step 2: Loosen Your Strings
Place a capo on the first fret of your guitar (optional).
This will secure the strings and keep them from com-
ing off of your guitar when the strings are loosened.
Loosen your strings until they are nearly detuned.
Step 3: Tilt Adjustment?
Requirements
• Bolt-on-Neck Guitar
• Screwdriver (matching the screws or bolts holding
your neck on the guitar)
• Shim material (commonly a playing or business
card, or a pre-made shim available from your
instrument manufacturer)
• Capo (optional)
Step 1: Measure
With your guitar tuned to pitch, determine how
much extra clearance (in 32nds of an inch) you need
to properly fit your pickup. You should feel
comfortable over-estimating slightly, rather than
under-estimating.
Some necks have built in tilt adjustments, so you can
change the neck angle without shims. This makes
for a straightforward job. Look for a screw adjustment hole in your neck plate, on the side closest
to the end of the neck pocket (rather than the side
closest to the headstock). If your guitar does not
have a tilt adjustment, please proceed to Step 4.
If your guitar has a neck tilt adjustment, determine
the proper size tool (usually a hex wrench) by consulting your instrument manufacturer. One popular
guitar brand uses a
tion, for example. Loosen the two neck screws to
the sides of the neck tilt adjustment. Turn the neck
tilt adustment screw clockwise to change the angle
of your neck. ¼ of a clockwise turn should allow you
to create about 1/32” of clearance for your TriplePlay
pickup. Re-tighten the neck screws when the adjust-
ment is complete. PROCEED TO STEP 7.
1
/8” hex wrench for this applica-
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Step 4: Remove Your Neck
Step 6: Reattach Your Neck
With your strings loosened, and a capo over the
strings at the first fret, remove the neck to access
the neck pocket. Loosen the bolts holding the neck
to the body, while holding the neck to the body
with your other hand. This will keep the neck from
lurching forward, even under partial string tension.
Step 5: Shimming
←
If your guitar does not have a tilt adjustment, you
will need to shim the neck to change the angle. You
will lay a shim in the end of the neck pocket beneath
the butt end of your neck. A proper shim should
be 1 ¾ by ¾” by .010” thick, to raise the strings
from the guitar face by 1/32”. Increase the thickness
by .010” of your shim, incrementally, to increase the
space for your pickup in 1/32” increments. Use the
thickness to achieve the difference specified in your
measurement in Step 1.
Insert the neck into the pocket, but end first, over
your shims, with the neck angle forward and
the strings loose and far above the face of the
instrument. Holding the neck butt in the pocket
with one hand, push the neck angle back until
the bottom of the neck is flush with the bottom of
the pocket. Holding the neck in place with one
hand, screw the first of your bolts through the neck
plate into the end of the neck pocket closest to
the headstock. Once this screw is tight, you can
remove your hand, flip the guitar over, and complete
the insertion of screws into the neck with the neck
partially secured to the body.
Step 7: Adjust Your Action
Your action height can now be raised until it is
comfortable for your playing style. Traditional action
height for bolt-on-neck guitars is 5/
(High E), measured from the top of your 12th fret
to the bottom of the string. The heights are incrementally closer to the fretboard for the strings in
between. Consider using these settings, if you don’t
have a known preference for action height settings
on your instrument. Now that your action is
comfortably set, with the new neck angle, you
should have plenty of room to fit your new TriplePlay
pickup to the face of your guitar or pickguard. If you
need more room, add another shim!
(Low E) to 3/
32
32
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