Best materials to 'Shim' a neck?

[thebigyin]

Need to lower the action on my Bass, the saddles won't go no lower. Wondering if I remove the neck and 'Shim' it a tad and what would be the best material? It's only a project bass. Any info gladly excepted. Cheers Bob.

[Big_Stu]

See if you have a good woodyard or joiners near you that has some wood veneer offcuts. Though I had a Tele once that had been shimmed with the strip off sandpaper off a matchbox.

[thebigyin]

Thanks needs about 2mm, then the action will be perfect. I will have a scout around....was thinking of a thin piece of card. Cheers.

[TimR]

Credit card or similar plastic card?

[machinehead]

There's some very useful information here.

http://basschat.co.uk/topic/49897-how-to-shim-a-neck/

Frank.

[yorks5stringer]

1960's fag packet card seems to work the best....

[bigjohn]

Ring up someone who does plastic business cards and ask for sample pack. They'll send you various suitable thicknesses measured down to the nearest micron.

[Billy Apple]

Business card. Draw round the neck heel for the shape

[thebigyin]

Thanks guyz appreciated.

[Bassistclem]

Try some iron-on wood veneer strip. Can be glued in place and removed with heat later if required.

[Bassassin]

I wouldn't mess around too much - cardboard's a perfectly suitable material, just cut it to shape using the heel-end as a template.

Jon.

[Martin E]

I doubt if you would notice any difference with whatever material you used but the tiny bit of engineer in me would say use anything but cardboard.
With a hardwood body and neck ideally you'd want to use a shim of wood from the same make of tree as one or the other. Otherwise something more solid than compressed paper surely, I just couldn't live with that even if it made no discernible difference mechanically or sonically. .
I've used aluminium beer cans to make shims before now - harder than cardboard and I can justify having a drink.

[Muppet]

The thin plastic binders that you put A4 paper in - the flimsy ones with a clear front and a coloured back, not a hard binder - the backs make excellent shims if you cut out the right shape.

[Jazzneck]

[quote name='yorks5stringer' timestamp='1427640959' post='2732569']
1960's fag packet card seems to work the best....
[/quote]

This, particularly No6 Tipped or Rizla packet card.

[BILL POSTERS]

[quote name='Jazzneck' timestamp='1427658401' post='2732790']
This, particularly No6 Tipped or Rizla packet card.
[/quote]

This.. Red Rizla packets definitely sound better though. Something to do with the density of the red ink probably...

[funky8884]

You could use shim steel ( brass , stainless or mild ) evil bay will have some and you can get it as thin as a couple of thou .

[MoonBassAlpha]

Use anything you like, it really doesn't make any difference IME

[thebigyin]

Cheers for the reply's.

[Norm]

When the Somerset & Dorset Bass Bashers went to Crimson Guitars for set up day, those guys used plastic credit card type blanks. Easy to trim & shape. Not sure where they got them from though?

[jonnythenotes]

Fold cooking foil....you can get it to an exact size and thickness, will not mute the sound, and it will mould to the contour of the wood.

[yorks5stringer]

[quote name='jonnythenotes' timestamp='1429292215' post='2750176']
Fold cooking foil....you can get it to an exact size and thickness, will not mute the sound, and it will mould to the contour of the wood.
[/quote]

And handy for chasing those dragons...

[Maude]

[quote name='Martin E' timestamp='1427656257' post='2732762']

I've used aluminium beer cans to make shims before now - harder than cardboard and I can justify having a drink.
[/quote]


Ah what the hell, someone has to ask.

Is this type of shim best for metal?

[Skybone]

The only time I shimmed a neck, I used an off-cut from the plastic packet that the new strings came in. It worked a treat!

[discreet]

[quote name='Billy Apple' timestamp='1427641549' post='2732579']
Business card. Draw round the neck heel for the shape
[/quote]

Yes, this. A business card is as good as anything. Take time over cutting it and get the shape snug in the neck pocket.

[ras52]

[quote name='discreet' timestamp='1429536937' post='2752359']
Yes, this. A business card is as good as anything. Take time over cutting it and get the shape snug in the neck pocket.
[/quote]

+1, I did it last week (my first shimming). I used one of my own cards!