Fender P-Bass Neck Alignment - Warped neck, shoddy work, or bad fit?

[Bassman1-909]

Hey guys, quick question for you. I posted about this bass before on another issue, but long story short this was my first bass and when I bought it already had a lot of mods including a new bridge, a fretless chandler neck, and a bartolini pickup (it is an old 70's fender). I decided to make my own mod, so I replaced the neck with an old '80s MIJ fretless jazz neck which I prefer because it has a much slimmer profile.

I really enjoy playing this bass, I have had a lot of fun changing around and trying every kind of string I can get my hands on. However, recently I noticed that the strings seem to be a bit off center on the fretboard, there appears to be just a little too much space to the left of the E string and not quite enough on the G. It looks like the neck was put right in the socket, and it appears quite snug. However, the spacing does look a bit off.

So I figured there are there options:

1.) The neck was not installed quite properly
2.) The beck is warped a little to one side
3.) The neck just doesn't quite fit the pocket right.

I don't notice any problems when playing, intonation seems fine and otherwise I really enjoy playing it, but visually it looks just a little off. Any thoughts?

Thanks!

 

[DigitalMan]

Option 4 - the bridge was installed out of line with the neck.

 

[Bassman1-909]

Hmm, I never thought of that but the bridge was installed on the bass at least 18 years ago (or longer, not sure it's just the bridge that was on the bass when I bought it). It's certainly possible the bridge was off with the old beck too and I never notice?

 

[Wisebass]

Option 4 - the bridge was installed out of line with the neck.

I think so.

the bridge was installed on the bass at least 18 years ago

Maybe the old neck had shifted before and the guy who put on the replacement bridge lined up the bridge with the neck who had the "bad angle". So when you changed the neck the problem became worse.
Also 70 years Fenders are known to have neckpocket problems (too big, "bad angle"...)

as long as it plays good and the intonation makes no problems I would not care about it.

may the bass be with you

Wise(b)ass

 

[Turnaround]

Though the neck may look like it's snug in the pocket, in most cases they will move a bit side to side. Slack off the strings, loosen the neck mount screws about a half turn, then pull the headstock toward the E-string side. Retighten the neck screws and retune. See if that helps. You might need to have someone else tighten the screws while you are pulling the neck to the E-string side.

 

[Bill Whitehurst]

Turnaround for the win!
Very few Fender necks fit the pocket so tight tht they can't be moved.

You might also try using the early threded type bridge saddles,
if they will fit the current bridge.
That would alow you to move the strings some,
without having to move the bridge.

 

[UNICORN BASS]

+1 on re aligning the neck, very few of my bolt on's had a perfectly aligned neck when i bought them.

 

[lowendblues]

Though the neck may look like it's snug in the pocket, in most cases they will move a bit side to side. Slack off the strings, loosen the neck mount screws about a half turn, then pull the headstock toward the E-string side. Retighten the neck screws and retune. See if that helps. You might need to have someone else tighten the screws while you are pulling the neck to the E-string side.

This! Whenever I come across this, I always put some double stick tape in the neck pocket as well.

 

[Bassman1-909]

well thanks all, i was able to shift the neck just a creak, and also turns out the e string wasn't quite on right on the bridge, so between the two it's all good now!