Gap in Neck Heel and Pocket Bolt on

[jellyfishfuzz]

SO i bought a all parts neck for my jazzmaster and the bolts lined up find and tight between sides of pocket but there is a 2-3 mm gap between neck and pocket. Its also as strait as can be. Should this be shimmed? Does it effect anything? Sustain? Tone? Streghth of guitar?

[Gone Fission]

I'm not sure I understand where the gap is. Is it at the end of the neck towards the pickups, or between the bolted surfaces? If the former, you can try the old string-up/loosen bolts slightly/let neck shift/retighten trick and see if it closes things up.

There are a couple of schools of thought on this stuff for bolt-ons, anyway. One holds that solid coupling is essential for optimal tone. The other says that affirmatively decoupling body and neck is essential for optimal tone. Bottom line is that if it sounds good and the new neck feels and plays good, just go with it.