Neck Plate Gaskets- what are they good for?

[maxboost]

Putting a neck on a Kelly body i got off EBay. I don't really want to put plastic between the plate and the body for acoustic reasons(tho i probably wouldn't hear a difference) but think that the gasket might save me cracking the finish. Its just a regular finish Kelly bolt-on(KE3?) body.

Should I use a gasket or not??

[skorb]

they protect the finish and don't affect the tone.

[RobRR]

Id use one, the metal plate would dig into the finish pretty good without it.

[Bengal65]

Id use one, the metal plate would dig into the finish pretty good without it.

+1 I use them all the time. Really saves the finish from being "crushed and blistered".

[Sunbane]

I don't care all that much about how my guitars look, but I don't mistreat them either. I can't see what practical difference the gasket would make, and I woudn't worry about it.

[delt]

One or two layers of electric tape would do fine, if you don't like having the plastic "framing" around the neck plate.

[fett]

Watch out for the screw length. That gasket could make a difference.

[JACKSONFREAK]

I was gonna say the same thing but fett beat me to it.
Gil

[bibz]

They're especially good when you've just plonked down some cash on a fresh paint job too!

[maxboost]

Thanks for the replies.

I suppose, as long as the back of the neck is tight against the body! and the screws are tight, it should resonate well,

I do have 3 other cheaper guitars around the house with no gaskets, and I have tightened the neck screws and no cracks in the finish so far. However the Charvel neck plate is shaped on the back and contacts the body around the outer edge and around the screw holes and the cheapo's are flat..

Anyhoo, I should be wire up some pickups and stringing, and intonating it tonight and cranking it up. and if everything works out I'll take it apart, in a while, and paint the neck, touch up the body finish, hardware etc. Its a Charvel Fusion neck and hardware on a Kelly body. Yes, i routed out the neck pocket so it would intonate. Also, routed it for a middle pickup and a mid boost control.(EMG89, sa,sa)