Four Bolt Neck on Three Bolt Body.

[Ace McCannon]

Hello everyone. If this is the wrong thread, please let me know. For the longest time I've been interested in the second generation (muducker) telecasters. Someday I'd love to own an original from the 70s, but today I saw one of the recent telecaster reissue bodies for sale on eBay and I thought maybe it'd be fun to make my own.

I think it should be okay, but I see the body is intended for a three bolt neck, and I wonder if a four bolt neck can be made to work. Thanks in advance everyone.

 

[Bruce Johnson]

Hello everyone. If this is the wrong thread, please let me know. For the longest time I've been interested in the second generation (muducker) telecasters. Someday I'd love to own an original from the 70s, but today I saw one of the recent telecaster reissue bodies for sale on eBay and I thought maybe it'd be fun to make my own.

I think it should be okay, but I see the body is intended for a three bolt neck, and I wonder if a four bolt neck can be made to work. Thanks in advance everyone.

Well, of course it can be done! That's the kind of thing we Luthiers do for entertainment. Come on in to Luthier's Corner and we'll answer your questions and talk you through it.

 

[Matt Liebenau]

Pretty easy. Either drill the body for 2 holes and use a 4 screw neck plate or drill the neck for one additional screw. I’d probably drill the neck. If you want to use the micro-tilt that’s a little more involved but not insurmountable.

There’s a number of folks here who can talk you through it. Let us know what tools you have available.

 

[T_Bone_TL]

Seems like a matter of drilling two holes in the right spots, optionally (or as you decide you want to or don't) plugging 1, or plugging 3 and drilling 4 if the two forward bolt holes don't line up between the two styles. In that case plugging the forward holes becomes non-optional to make the new holes stable. The centered 3rd hole should not be too close to the inner two holes, or you could even go to a 5-hole setup by adding two to the body & one to the neck to match it.

Or, y'know, plug them all and do something radically different. https://www.talkbass.com/threads/si...luthiery-in-fillmore-ca.1518445/post-26717417