Okay, so I'm looking for a premade neck for a project but I'm on a bit of a budget. Who has a decent 34" scale tiltback paddle neck? Just looking for suggestions.
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4 string tiltback paddle neck
- Thread starter Smashsquatch
- Start date
- Jul 1, 2005
- 4,278
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- Disclosures
- CataldoBasses: Designer/Builder ThunderBuckerPickups:Consultant
In addition to Warmoth, Carvin also sells them IIRC. Plan on spending in the low $200s to start for either depending on wood.
The Carvin/Keisel neck blanks are well reviewed. They have bolt on or neck through.
Custom Shop USA Instrument Necks | KieselGuitars.com
Custom Shop USA Instrument Necks | KieselGuitars.com
Guitar Fetish has them for $38, they are predrilled four in a row on the left for a 1/2" tuner, and the "paddle" part is only on the right side (see pics in the below linked thread).
I've built basses with three of them so far and they were all good necks, straight and required little truss rod adjustment to be perfect. There is typically a fret or two that need to be leveled but nothing serious (so far) and a few scratches that need to be sanded out.
I'm building a four string with one right now. The neck I'm using for this one has pre-drilled holes for the bolt on, but they are off center, I am filling them in, I would have done that anyway since I'm making a body and it's easier to not have to line up screws with holes. Certainly a Warmouth or Carvin/Keisel neck is better quality, but these seem to be good (so far).
I've built basses with three of them so far and they were all good necks, straight and required little truss rod adjustment to be perfect. There is typically a fret or two that need to be leveled but nothing serious (so far) and a few scratches that need to be sanded out.
I'm building a four string with one right now. The neck I'm using for this one has pre-drilled holes for the bolt on, but they are off center, I am filling them in, I would have done that anyway since I'm making a body and it's easier to not have to line up screws with holes. Certainly a Warmouth or Carvin/Keisel neck is better quality, but these seem to be good (so far).
There was another thread going on this here:
"Paddle" style headstock, Who sells them?
They have a couple photos of the Guitarfetish necks. I'm wary of the Chinese made stuff, kind of a crapshoot, but you may get lucky. If you have the desire/skills to do some fretwork, it might work out for you, can't really expect a fully finished neck at that pricerange. There are a few listed on Ebay under the "Eden" brand name, presumably Chinese manufacture too, no idea on the quality. I know it seems tempting, but a bass neck is not the place to scrimp IMHO, lots of cheap bodies out there that will look fine and have zero effect on playability/long term reliability, but a bad neck will haunt you.
paddle headstock bass neck | eBay
"Paddle" style headstock, Who sells them?
They have a couple photos of the Guitarfetish necks. I'm wary of the Chinese made stuff, kind of a crapshoot, but you may get lucky. If you have the desire/skills to do some fretwork, it might work out for you, can't really expect a fully finished neck at that pricerange. There are a few listed on Ebay under the "Eden" brand name, presumably Chinese manufacture too, no idea on the quality. I know it seems tempting, but a bass neck is not the place to scrimp IMHO, lots of cheap bodies out there that will look fine and have zero effect on playability/long term reliability, but a bad neck will haunt you.
paddle headstock bass neck | eBay
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Thanks guys. I am working with an iceman body I've routed for p pickups. I was going to use a thunderbird bolt on neck i had laying around but I'm not keen on how narrow it is in comparison to the bridge. I need something a bit wider so I'll check these out.
Yeah, I'm just trying to weigh my options before I buy. I'm looking at a purchase in the September timeframe. Unfortunately I live in an apartment and my woodworking tools are 2 states away or I'd try building my first neck on my own. My fiancee wants this finished by October so that's what I'm working with lol.