Neck Pocket Creak

[USA Fusion]

Keep in mind, we are taking off thousandths of an inch ... if you got a little dust, youve took enuff off ... you may have to repeat a time or two ... as well, apply a little lube there too before attaching neck, that way, if it is just trying to set in where it needs to be .. then the lube will allow it to slide all the way back moreso just with screwdriver/neck screw pressure ....

~kevin

[Bengal]

Kevin,
Thanks for the info but I don't think there is much to rub up against there. If I'm not mistaken, and I've had the neck off twice today, there is no wood to rub up against. The neck extends all the way to the pickup pocket. But that's good advice for this type of thing...

I have not adjusted the neck since I got it. I'll give the truss rod a spin...

[USA Fusion]

you are right, my bad ... thinking with my head in my rear ... it was right on the sides, right around the corner there where i was tight as heck .. i remember now, because my jem chipped the paint when i removed the neck (with no issues because the pickguard covered it .....

[USA Fusion]

here ya go .....

~kevin

[Bengal]

Kevin,
I'm pretty sure that is what is happening. Last time it creaked, it seemed like it came from the treble side of the neck pocket. I bet the neck is too damn tight in the pocket and it's slipping little by litte. Now I assume that sooner or later it will slip as much as it will, then I will re-tighten the screws and leave it alone. Let's hope anyway...

The Jackson I had that did that was a bit different. Every time you depressed the trem, it poped from the neck joint. That was a screw problem but even re-drilling the holes didn't fix it. But that was the only guitar I've ever owned that had that problem. It looked like it had been dropped as well. This Ibanez is pretty clean...

Thanks for the help Kevin!

[fett]

This is obviously making you crazy. This may sound crazy, but why not use a light coat of wood glue to fill in the gaps? It sounds to me that either the neck of the pocket is not square, flush or whatever. Coat the pocket with a very thin layer of glue and bolt it down. If you have to remove the neck later, it will just need a "Pop" just like a glued nut. If I am way off on this, kindly disregard this message.

[S-man]

I have a few Ibanez guitars and in post #8, I said to sand that tight neck pocket. I didn't even know it was an Ibanez you were talking about at the time.

I bet that is it.

[S-man]

Additionally, if it is a bolt thru neck mounted nut. Do NOT overtighten the nut. It can crack the neck at those mounting points.

[USA Fusion]

I dont think you are way off at all, fett .... the thought had crossed my mind, but, due to the populus here at the JCF not knowing me from Adam, I didnt want to give the wrong impression that I was only trying to hack someones gear up. Whereas you have a well regarded position in the pecking order and people know what your intentions are.....

~kevin

[USA Fusion]

Good point on mentioning not to overtighten the nut if its a bolt thru S-Man ....

Didnt I just see you on my MySpace???

~kevin

[S-man]

Personally, I wouldn't glue it. I don't care what the pecking order is.

Gluing it and clamping it down with the neck mounting screws is going to create a glued wood joint.

In my expieriance a glued wood joint is stronger than the surrounding wood .

Not trying to step on any toes, just trying to be helpfull.

I apologize in advance.

[S-man]

Good point on mentioning not to overtighten the nut if its a bolt thru S-Man ....

Didnt I just see you on my MySpace???

~kevin

Yes sir, you did.

Thanks for the add.

[dg]

I'm with S-man about gluing. Don't do it unless you want some of the neck to stay with the body & some of the body to stay with the neck when you "pop" it off.
A good glue joint really is stronger than the internal structure holding the wood together.

[Bengal]

Although the glue suggestion by Fett is a good one, I want to try to fix this situation without doing that. Like I said, I've owned oodles of Ibanez's AANJ's and Non-AANJ's. This is the first time I've had this happen. But like I said, it wasn't doing it before I took the neck off so I'm gonna go with S-Man and give it a sand if it doesn't settle down on it's own. I'm thinking it may get settled but if not, some light sanding should do the trick...

[fett]

Try 2 sided tape. As in carpet tape.