Fender 3 bolt neck history book

The stratocasters sleek, contoured body shape officially referred to by fender as the original contour body differed from the flat, squared edge design of the telecaster. Vintage 1969 fender telecaster thinline 1960 dearmond r15. The neck on my 3 bolt strat is loose enough that, if i want to, i can make it shift up or down just by applying some fairly light pressure. The best currently available neck plate for restoring 70s fender jazz basses. Bolt on neck method on bolt on guitar necks that many guitar builders use the fingerboard extension is glued to the top of hte guitar but the neck itself is only attached by bolts. The bass is distinct from the precision bass in that its tone is brighter and richer in the midrange and treble with less emphasis on the fundamental harmonic. George fullertons book guitar legends describes the history behind the threebolt neck. But these essential strat features of the 70s era are just the beginning for this beautiful reissue guitar. Billet specialties pro bolts are fender washers uniquely designed to help avoid paint distortion during assembly and add style to your engine compartment. Cbs fender probably would have waited until they had enough of these to make it worthwhile to do the additional neck runs, pushing it to the end of 1982early 1983. Dealers sending back some 198081 models that were shipped out with defective necks, necessitating extra runs of the 3 bolt neck to complete the rework. Knowing how to choose a fender or squier stratocaster can be a challenge.

Neck angle is easily adjusted on instruments with a bolt on neck, such as a fender stratocaster. Leading the sonic charge during that exciting decade was the stratocaster, which became not only an even more versatile musical tool, but also a true cultural symbol. The body is usually made of 3 pieces of either alder or ash while the necks are maple with a walnut skunk stripe on their backs and a matching plug on the face of the headstock covering the end of the truss rod. Fender switched to pearloid blocksbinding on all necks in midtolate 1973. Iconic british comedy series hancocks half hour made its debut on the wireless. Mounts to guitar body using two flat head screws fender pn 0084699049.

Billet specialties probolts are fender washers uniquely designed to help avoid paint distortion during assembly and add style to your engine compartment. The first model offered for sale was the 1954 fender stratocaster. If so it is worth trying to keep original as long as it plays good. Since the saddle on an acoustic guitar is not heightadjustable, the threebolt design allowed the neck to be tilted to set the action. Although this neck features a 3bolt design typical of 70s teles, only the bottom two neck mounting pilot holes are available, giving you the flexibility to use this neck with many different guitar bodies. Thanks to fender tones intuitive, onetouch interface you can use the app to change settings and hear the results in realtime. History of the stratocaster precbs cme gear demo duration.

Because of this, many bass players who want to be more forward in the mix including smaller bands such as power trios prefer the jazz bass. Next if the neck is a original 70s and the neck is not repairable i would just go to warmoth and get a new three bolt from them so that i could make the guitar play correctly with out doing anything to the body. Buddy holly was the most visible champion of fenders new guitar, but his career had. I have a mim 72 tele custom ri, and the 3 bolt neck joint is superb. So, it was just a matter of time before the 3 bolt neck went bye bye. They went back to the 4 bolt at the end of 1981 because most players didnt like 70s strats and there was a clamour to go back to the pre 1965 model. Id like to know empirical opinions about any difference in reliability andor sound with the 3 bolt versus 4 bolt neck joints. They went back to the 4 bolt at the end of 1981 because most players didnt like 70s strats and there was a. Since the saddle on an acoustic guitar is not heightadjustable, the three bolt design allowed the neck to be tilted to set the action. On electric guitars with a 3bolt neck attachment systemsuch as many 70s fenders or 70s reissue. Fender classic series 70s stratocaster 3bolt mount u. Fender vintage neck plate 3bolt from 1978 brass work series. The story of a jersey cops unlikely friendship with a legend. Not from the era when cbs fender was putting the 3 bolt microtilt on the jazz bass.

The book is a timely reminder that after some failed efforts to counter the radical solidbodies from their californian rivals, such as the flying v and the explorer, gibson really hit the mark with the sg, one of the great electric guitars. Billet specialties probolts free shipping on orders over. The standard 70s three bolt, headstock truss rod bullet system continued to be made and offered by fender as late as 1981. I see articles claiming that fender invented the 3 bolt microtilt neck but my 1964 sears silvertone guitar has a 3 bolt microtilt neck on it. Oh, and fender launched a brand new solid body electric guitar called the stratocaster. Shimming the pocket at the very end of the heel will tilt the neck back, increasing the neck s angle over the bridge and consequently lowering the strings. On electric guitars with a 3bolt neck attachment systemsuch as many 70s fenders or 70s reissue modelsits not uncommon for the neck heel to shift laterally in the neck pocket, causing the neck to move out of alignment with the strings. The starcaster highly memorable due to the number of high profile guitarists that make public use of it on a regular basis.

Fender squier stratocaster rare sq serial 3bolt neck. Fenders micro tilt neck adjustment adjusting neck angle. This replacement neck is for a fender or squier by fender guitar. Stratocaster buying guide the hub musicians friend. Theres no better, easier way to tweak your sound to unlock your creativity. Its certainly true that the innovative electric guitars introduced by fender throughout the 1950sthe telecaster 1951 and the stratocaster 1954, plus the jazzmaster 1958 and some student modelschanged the way music was created and experienced. Aug 21, 2015 for example, i was interested to learn that gibson had considered a bolt on neck like fender for the sg.

During the period of time from the early 60s to the early 70s, fender used the letters a, b, c, and d to refer specifically to the width of our guitar and bass necks at. John levan has written five guitar repair books published by mel bay. How to buy a vintage fender bass with ray riendeau bass. Fender classic series 70s stratocaster electric guitar. Fender usa custom shop 1961 journeyman relic stratocaster neck plate strat ltd. A brief history of the stratocaster part ii reverb news. These screws can also be used for attaching a tremolo spring mounting claw. Fender forums view topic 3 bolt to 4 bolt strat neck. Updated history of the ernie ball music man stingray bass.

The dan smith strat featured a 4 bolt neck, a cavity on headstock for truss rod adjustment, and pre1966shaped headstock. Jun 20, 2017 fender vintage neck plate 3 bolt from 1978 brass work series. Fender classic series 70s stratocaster 3bolt mount u neck. Blighted with fender s allegedly unstable 3 bolt adjustable neck joint and the characteristic 1970sstyle notchless upper cutaway, the custom was also tarnished by negative perceptions surrounding the pre postcbs quality control debate. The history of the fender precision bass fender basses. This is an old stock fender brass neck plate from my inventory.

Fender musical instruments corporation fmic, or simply fender is an american manufacturer of stringed instruments and amplifiers. The l prefix was added to the serial number around 1963 to 1965. Fender guitar history, models, and how to find serial numbers. The custom shop builds fully customizable highend strat, along with closet classic, nos, and relicd aging options. Released in 1954, this fender guitar is also known simply as a strat. Classic series 70s stratocaster 3 bolt mount u neck maple fingerboard crafted at the ensenada, mexico manufacturing facility, this genuine vintagestyle 3 bolt stratocaster guitar neck features a comfortable ushaped profile and 7. I am a pretty serious fender precision bass collector. Get the down low on more than six decades of indispensable bass history. It was also incredibly hot and overdrove the input stage of every amp. Sep 19, 2017 its notable for using the fender guitar bolton neck design rather than the industry standard for semihollow body guitars.

In the case of the stingray, i told them i thought the bass was super bright. Small nickelplated steel mounting disc that fits into a cavity bored into the heel of a guitar neck. Fender felt that the most popular neck preference would be a very flat crosssection, while 50s strats had something very different. Is the fender 3 bolt neck heel inferior to the 4 bolt heel. That is why when he changed companies the 3 bolt went with him. Fender produces acoustic guitars, bass amplifiers and public address equipment, but is best known for its solidbody electric guitars and bass guitars, particularly the stratocaster, telecaster, precision bass, and the jazz bass. But at the time of the 3 bolt microtilt necks, the p bass never got one.

Apr 30, 2014 changes in the 70s included a 3 bolt neckplate and new bullet style truss rod adjustment system at the top of the neck. In his highly regarded book, the stratocaster hal leonard, 1994, a. Please click on our shop for more details and payment deadline. It is more common to find a strat or thinline tele of that year with a 3 bolt system, but there are a few 7273 jazz basses with a 3 bolt system. This models amp knobs, bullet trussrod nut, f tuners, and 3 bolt neck plate with microtilt recall the hallmark aesthetics of. This book is, by far, the closest thing to a fender bass bible i have read.

Once the neck is removed from the pocket, a shim is used to control the pitch of the neck. Fender guitar necks that were made during the 1970s, 1960s, or even earlier are rare, but many recent necks have been constructed in the same style as older models to achieve a classic look. Search and browse the included genrespecific presets using the fender tone app, while tone. Changes in the 70s included a 3 bolt neckplate and new bullet style truss rod adjustment system at the top of the neck. Its a great sounding guitar, and i rarely see much reason to apply light pressure to it. These allen head bolt and washer sets are available in various threads sizes and diameters in either raw stainless or matte black.

It is packed with drool inspiring pictures and the reference section which illustrates chronological changes to various parts like tuners and the serial number chart more accurate than the one on fender s website. Fender also switched to the three bolt neck microtilt adjustable neck and the bullet truss rod in midtolate 1974 before reverting to the more standard four bolt neck fixing and dotshaped fretboard markers in 1983. After leo fender sold fender to cbs he stayed on as a design consultant and created the 3 bolt neck with tilt adjustment as an improvement over the original 4 bolt neck that had no tilt adjustment. Fender 75 jazz bass reissue 3 bolt neck plate 0055259000 fender usa vintage series chrome plated 75 jazz bass long f stamped microtilt three bolt neck plate. It was first developed by fender for use on their acoustic guitars.

In respect to how tight the fasteners are holding the neck, and by default keeping the assembly from moving, i dont believe theres any appreciable difference the machine screw on the 3 bolt design probably has as much, or possibly more clamping capability than the 2 wood screws it replaces, but as walter pointed out, the actual fit of the end of the neck in the body socket as well as. Fender forums view topic 3 bolt versus 4 bolt neck joint. Crafted at our ensenada, mexico manufacturing facility, this vintagestyle 3 bolt telecaster thinline guitar neck features a comfortable ushaped profile and 7. Billet specialties probolts free shipping on orders. Nov 21, 2019 the version 1 telecaster thinline features the standard post 1967 telecaster wiring and pickups, 4 bolt neck joint, and truss rod adjustment at the heel of the neck. The pros and cons of how an instruments neck and body come together. Fender in 1979 went back to a 4 bolt for the 25th anniversary strat and it was a hit. You are looking at a very unique 1983 fender squier strat. Leo fender desinged the 3 bolt neck and it was superior to the 4 bolt design. This guitar also features its original chicklet phone book capacitor. The 3 neck attachment methods you should know fender. With flexibility to use on different guitar bodies.

No matter whether youre looking for a vintage or more modernlooking fender guitar neck, ebay has a wide assortment available. Gone are the big chevy monte carlo fender looking headstock, the bullet truss rod adjustment, and the dreaded 3 bolt neck which was actually leo fender s idea. Youll recognize the reissue fender 70s stratocaster electric guitar by its ushaped neck, large headstock, and bullet truss rod. Duchossoir wrote that an obvious difference between the original strats and their reissues was the positioning of the dot markers at the. There are also fender contemporary telecaster models with hss or hh pickup configurations and switches for selecting pickup options. Genuine fender 4 bolt chrome corona neck plate for guitarbass 0991446100 5 out of 5 stars product ratings product ratings genuine fender 4 bolt chrome corona neck plate for. The pocket is super tight, and the neck does not move.

The cbs block letter logo was still applied to the smaller. The 3bolt neck plate was introduced on the telecaster bass in 1972 and then on the jazz bass in 1974. Remove the metal disc in the neck, drill 2 holes through the body careful with that paint finish. It is packed with drool inspiring pictures and the reference section which illustrates chronological changes to various parts like tuners and the serial number chart more accurate than the one on fenders website. Vintage 1960 fender stratocaster tech bench youtube. The stratocasters double cutaways allowed players easier access to higher positions on the neck. A prototype of the strat pictured on the right is in a private collection, with the following features that vary somewhat from. Not sure if it really makes much of a difference 3 bolt or 4 bolt. Fender classic series 60s stratocaster musicians friend. Most people in a crowd cant hear the difference between a 3 bolt or a 4 bolt when the back of the guitar is not visible i have a 197475 ish fender neck and body guitar that was converted to a 4 bolt and its just a mental tick that in reality i have to keep telling. A bolton maple neck provides strength and stability, while being easily. Fender vintage neck plate 3 bolt from 1978 brass work series.

Fender only introduced the 3 bolt in 1971 after 17 years of the 4 bolt, and actually claimed this would be an improvement with neck angle adjustment. Chrome vintage style synchronized vibrato, standard diecast. Fits american vintage series 70s us and 70sstyle classic and road worn mexico instruments using a 3 bolt neck plate. When setup correctly it becomes a purely aesthetic issue. But in the case of the fender stratocaster, history and reputation have often. Get the best deals on fender stratocaster 1975 when you shop the largest online selection at. Guitar necks, replacement guitar neck, fender, strat, tele. From 1965 to 1976 the l was discontinued and the large f logo was stamped on the center of the neck plate. Other stratocaster innovations included singlecoil alnico 3 pickups with. For a guitar to play well, its strings must line up straight along the fretboard, all the way from the nut to the bridge. They did a micortilt with a 4 bolt neck later, and i think some of the post fmic stuff has the microtilt.

Jun 03, 2019 around 1955 to 1963 it was moved to the neck plate. May 12, 2014 fender opened its custom shop in the late80s as a way to build guitars and basses to rival the legendary vintage instruments of leo fender s time at the helm. The last day to take advantage of the low price on this item is today. Well if you have a 3 bolt neck is it a real 70s strat. The decade opened with fender still under the ownership of cbs. Master volume, tone 1 neck pickup, tone 2 middle pickup hardware. On electric guitars with a 3 bolt neck attachment systemsuch as many 70s fenders or 70s reissue modelsits not uncommon for the neck heel to shift laterally in the neck pocket, causing the neck to move out of alignment with the strings. The problems that led to its unpopularity were due to fender s poor workmanship in the 70s. During its sixdecade history, the stratocaster has consistently been one of the. Although this neck features a 3 bolt design typical of 70s teles, only the bottom two neck mounting pilot holes are available, giving you the flexibility to use this neck with many different guitar bodies. The strat stayed largely the same in the late 70s though a black pickguard was introduced and eventually made standard on most finishes. Only our vintage modern construction necks with top adjusting truss rod are compatible with this set. With a singlecoil tele bridge pickup and a fender wide range humbucking neck pickup, this model offers enough bark, snarl, and bite to hang in any setting. George fullertons book guitar legends describes the history behind the three bolt neck.

Installing steel inserts and stainless steel machine screws into a usa fender stratocaster neck. There is often confusion between the use of the letters v, c, and u used to describe neck shapes, and the use of the letters a, b, c and d in describing fender neck widths. The telecaster custom was introduced just around the time that fender began to lose its reputation as a quality instrument company. The jazz bass or j bass is the second model of electric bass created by leo fender. When cbs sold fender to its current owners in 1984 there was a transitional period from 1984 to 1987 with limited fender usa production resulting in mostly fender japan and leftover stock being sold.