Neck Joint Routing Template For Fender

Have purchased a wide variety of high quality Stewmac products, but this neck template disappoints. It is deliberately cut oversized in order to accommodate variances in individual neck widths. In theory, a good idea, but in practice can create problems. Directions say to build up inside edges of template with tape until a tight fit with neck is achieved. I did so, but while routing a test pocket, the heat of the router bit bearing melted the tape adhesive which caused it to come loose, and the bit jumped, cutting into the acrylic, ruining the template. I ended up just tracing and cutting my own MDF template which worked well.

Wish I bought this template sooner. Follow the new instructions and you will be good to go.

This template is sold as a "FENDER" neck template. Yet it is over-sized to accommodate over-sized Fender "type" necks. To actually use it for a Fender neck requires padding the template or router bit with tape. Seems like a "FENDER" template should fit Fender products. Very disappointing and unprofessional.

To be fair, these aren't unusable as they come, but to have a nicely fitting neck joint you're going to need to either tape the edges to reduce how oversized these have been cut, or use bearing guided bits on your router to counteract it. A shame really as the rest of the templates have been great! :(

I bought this template to aid in a bass build I was doing for a pal. The neck is from Allparts, the heel is a tad smaller than the temp. I used masking tape to down size the template and it worked great!

The template is the perfect shape of Fender neck heels, as you would expect. I wish it were a little thicker, though, because using a 1/2 inch high bit, and starting with 1/8 inch deep route, causes the bearing to be above the template. I know the instructions say to put some shims under the template to give it extra height, but it it were just 1/8 inch thicker this would not be needed.
Having to stop and remove the shims introduces the possibility that you won't align it exactly the same when you do the deeper passes, causing a bit of ledging on the sides of the pocket.

This is a nicely made accurate template with one huge flaw. It is way too oversized. The instructions say to use masking tape to increase the bearing size. This does not work well. If the bearing catches at all it simply melts off the tape increasing the route size and ruining your project. They should offer a template in the correct size and also an oversized version.

Most variations are about .005 to .010 not .040 it's just too much. I have purchased one elsewhere that is the correct size and it's far less hassle. I should have returned this one as soon as I measured it!!

While it is true that this template is finely cut, and the center line and holes are most useful, what would REALLY be nice is if they did NOT cut the thing .040 over. Following the instructions, I put .020 worth of heavy duty masking tape over the bearing. The tape came off, in the process ruining the template AND destroying the body. Cost me $103 bucks and that is money I could use elsewhere. Needless to say I am rather angry.

I used this to build my custom guitar and it worked excellent. I am very pleased with the results

This is an incredibly useful tool, but it would be even better it were twice as thick, then you wouldn't have to raise it up on various contraptions.
Also, would be good if there was one for a Telecaster, and another one that gives you the 4-5 degree angle needed for a tune-o-matic bridge...