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I have a '97 American Standard Strat that needs a new neck and bridge. I ordered a new bridge from Fender, and I got a used neck from a 2000 Am. Standard Strat. I have 2 questions for all you gurus: 1. Does the bridge just bolt into the body, or is there something special that has to be done that will require a guitar tech (it's a tremolo bridge by the way)? 2. The neck is pre-drilled with holes, so can I just bolt the neck into the body, or should that task be handled by a professional also? (as far as angle adjustment or straightness or whatever) Does any glue go between the body and the neck? Will a 2000 neck even work with my '97 body?? I want my guitar to be in good playing condition when I'm done so if you suggest taking it to a tech I won't mind. Thanks in advance for all your advice!

1. the mounting should be the same as your old one - Am. Std. bridges have 2 mounting studs, right?

2. yes, the neck just bolts on. you may need to adjust the relief, as you would for part of a regular setup, which you'll need to do once the new parts are together

Well, neck and Bridge swaps on strats are generally easy, a matter of turming a ferw screws.

But If you磛e never done ti before (the Impression I get), you磍l want to take it to a tech or at least buy a good reference work such as the Guitar Player磗 Repair Guide

Thanks for the replies so far. Yes, the bridge has 2 mounting studs. Does any glue hold the neck on, or is it just the 4 neck screws? So I shouldn't try to do this on my own? Thanks again!


Originally Posted by 97StratThanks for the replies so far. Yes, the bridge has 2 mounting studs. Does any glue hold the neck on, or is it just the 4 neck screws? So I shouldn't try to do this on my own? Thanks again!

No glue in the neck pocket sir.... The reason for bolt ons is just that... they bolt on and can be removed easily when damaged or replaced like you want to do.... I'd get the Guitar Player repair book and read it well on the points you have problems with....

When i bolt a neck onto a guitar i use a light clamp to hold the neck in the pocket so the screws don't push the neck out of place when i screw them in... You have to be extremely carefull not to use a lot of pressure and or a clamp that will mark the frets.. I just use a trigger type clamp with rubber prtectors on the clamp.....

The American Standard bridge is universal between 97 and now.... you can buy a new American Standard bridge and install it.... Does your body still have the metal insterts in the body for the trem posts? There should be threaded trem post metal inserts glued in the holes from the factory.. If they are still there the new posts will just screw in like a Nut and Bolt kind of idea.... machine thread screws....

Once you get the neck and bridge on you will have to set the guitar up and intonate it... If you can't set up and intonate a guitar i'd just take everything to a tech and let them do everything for you..... If you want to learn how get the GP Repair book and study it.

Good Luck


Originally Posted by WhoFanOnce you get the neck and bridge on you will have to set the guitar up and intonate it... If you can't set up and intonate a guitar i'd just take everything to a tech and let them do everything for you..... If you want to learn how get the GP Repair book and study it.

On the flip side, a tech probably wouldn't charge too much to attach a neck, bridge and do a full set-up on a Strat. At best it's another 1/2 hour of work unless there's some kind of problem with the body. What happened to the original neck amp; bridge?

I bought the body from a friend of a friend. He cracked the neck and couldn't afford to buy a new one (it wasn't repairable). He decided to part the rest of it out on eBay to get some cash for a down payment on another guitar. I snagged the body from him at a good price before he sold it. It is absolutely nothing but wood. No electronics, no nothin' but wood an' holes. I have sodlering experience so I went to my local Guitar Center and bought all Fender American-made parts (pickguard, pots, switch, wires, jack, tuners, etc). I wired the pickguard up with a Hot Rails in the bridge, a DiMarzio Blue Velvet in the mid, and a Duncan ssl-1 in the neck.
I have no guitar fixin' experience, but I know the bridge and neck are important so that's why I asked about them.
OK, one last question.... ballpark, how much should it be to install the bridge, the neck, and to do all the setup? I don't want to get robbed on the highway here... thanks for all your help!


Originally Posted by 97StratI bought the body from a friend of a friend. He cracked the neck and couldn't afford to buy a new one (it wasn't repairable). He decided to part the rest of it out on eBay to get some cash for a down payment on another guitar. I snagged the body from him at a good price before he sold it. It is absolutely nothing but wood. No electronics, no nothin' but wood an' holes. I have sodlering experience so I went to my local Guitar Center and bought all Fender American-made parts (pickguard, pots, switch, wires, jack, tuners, etc). I wired the pickguard up with a Hot Rails in the bridge, a DiMarzio Blue Velvet in the mid, and a Duncan ssl-1 in the neck.
I have no guitar fixin' experience, but I know the bridge and neck are important so that's why I asked about them.
OK, one last question.... ballpark, how much should it be to install the bridge, the neck, and to do all the setup? I don't want to get robbed on the highway here... thanks for all your help!

In American money i could guess somewhere around $200-$250 total.... But i'm just guessing....


Originally Posted by WhoFanIn American money i could guess somewhere around $200-$250 total.... But i'm just guessing....

a job like that in my workshop would cost as follows

Basic set up ?28
strings?5
fitting the neck and bridge (Assuming the neck fits perfectly!)?20
fitting tuners from old neck ?15
knowing the job's been done properly -priceless

(works out at around $117 US)

A basic setup runs anywhere from $40-75 and attaching a neck amp; bridge shouldn't take more then another hour or so unless there's a more serious problem that needs to be addressed. I'd guess around $150, give or take depending on how much the shop charges. Still man...get the Guitar Player repair book and do it yourself, it's just a couple of screws and if you can solder pickups then the neck is cake!

Ok. upon closer inspection, my body DOES have metal inserts in the 2 bridge attachment holes. So all I have to do is drop the bridge in there and tighten down the 2 studs? There are no adjustments that need to be made in that area? Thanks again for all the replies...I hope to have this thing finished by the end of the week and I'll let you all know how it turns out...


Originally Posted by 97StratOk. upon closer inspection, my body DOES have metal inserts in the 2 bridge attachment holes. So all I have to do is drop the bridge in there and tighten down the 2 studs? There are no adjustments that need to be made in that area? Thanks again for all the replies...I hope to have this thing finished by the end of the week and I'll let you all know how it turns out...Cool! Have fun! As far as the 2 trem posts they are your strigh heigth adjustment on the American standard and your saddles are for setting radius mostly.... The American Standard makes setting up the strings to right heigth and radius a breeze....