Infomaniac
New Member
- Joined
- Jul 17, 2024
- Messages
- 42
Before I tackle swapping pickups between the 2 Standards. I thought I would have a look at the 2001 Santana SE I bought new for my daughter and remains un-played (other than picking around) with original strings. Not yet a player myself, I had a local guy play it so I could hear what it sounded like.
His first observation was the neck is off. Bent inward. I was a bit discouraged for a while before educating myself. He played it although it was difficult to play like it is. The 23 year old strings held up. He has glanced at all 3 of my SE's. I noted he makes his determinations using string height visually.
Being a life long aircraft mechanic and machinist. To be clear, the neck relief adjustment is only to establish no bow in the neck? It has nothing to do with the angle of the neck to the body? Checking it with the string across the frets at each end could only accomplish straightening the neck to itself. I have not heard this explanation in anything I have read or watched on video.
Anyway. The first thing I look at is the trem. It is twice as high as it needs to be. Giving the visual illusion of the neck bowed inward. Sigh of relief for sure. New strings are going on it so I will need to remove the springs and gingerly lower the trem to the desired 1/16" spec. I'm a bit visually impaired so have to make some round wire tools to measure things.
Once reassembled, Setting the trem angle parallel to the strings, I think I will try a digital inclinometer on the strings and the trem body.


His first observation was the neck is off. Bent inward. I was a bit discouraged for a while before educating myself. He played it although it was difficult to play like it is. The 23 year old strings held up. He has glanced at all 3 of my SE's. I noted he makes his determinations using string height visually.
Being a life long aircraft mechanic and machinist. To be clear, the neck relief adjustment is only to establish no bow in the neck? It has nothing to do with the angle of the neck to the body? Checking it with the string across the frets at each end could only accomplish straightening the neck to itself. I have not heard this explanation in anything I have read or watched on video.
Anyway. The first thing I look at is the trem. It is twice as high as it needs to be. Giving the visual illusion of the neck bowed inward. Sigh of relief for sure. New strings are going on it so I will need to remove the springs and gingerly lower the trem to the desired 1/16" spec. I'm a bit visually impaired so have to make some round wire tools to measure things.
Once reassembled, Setting the trem angle parallel to the strings, I think I will try a digital inclinometer on the strings and the trem body.

