looking for a Jazz bass with a thicker neck- suggestions?

[MarkJC8]

I have played Fender Precisions pretty much exclusively and I feel comfortable with their wider/thicker necks. However, I would like to add a Jazz bass to the mix, but when I try them out at stores (or play a friend's Jazz bass) the neck feels thin/small and my fretting hand gets a little (or occasionally very) uncomfortable. My fretting hand technique is fairly standard without any really bad habits.
Does anyone know of a 4-string Fender Jazz bass model with the typical 1.5 inch nut but a thicker, more substantial neck? I thought the 70s reissues would have thicker U-shaped necks, but this does not seem to be the case for many of the models.
I like/prefer Fenders... but if anyone also knows of a similar brand of Jazz bass (Sadowsky, Lull, G&L, Lakland, Nash, etc) that may have a thicker neck, please let me know!

 

[Bob_Ross]

Buy a cheap Squier Jazz Bass, throw out (or try to sell) the neck, and then buy a Warmoth Precision Bass neck.

 

[MarkJC8]

do the neck pockets match up pretty well?

 

[neo 7]

do the neck pockets match up pretty well?

I've built close to a dozen FrankenFenders with no problems

 

[2112]

I like Jazz necks because I have fingers like cans of tuna. But I prefer Precision bodies. So, swapping necks works for me. Most recently, I swapped the necks between a Fender Elite P and Elite J. This produced a Precision that I love and a Jazz that I don't play. One of these days I'll get around to unloading that Jazz LOL.

 

[59jazz]

ALLPARTS Jazz necks are typically .950” thick at the 1st fret. Great necks!

 

[musicman556]

The Mark Hoppus Jazz has a P neck, but they're usually expensive when you find them. I made my own with one of the Fender roasted maple P necks and a J body. The USA Geddy Lee is supposed to have a pretty thick (70-something style) Jazz neck. I'm going to try out a used one Monday afternoon, hopefully.

Fender neck swaps are usually pretty easy, and most folks put J necks on P bodies. Maybe you can score a cast-off from someone else on the cheap, since you are looking for the reverse! Good luck!

 

[StereoPlayer]

P neck on a J body…

 

[buldog5151bass]

I've been playing the same jazz bass with a P neck since 1984.

 

[badinage]

My one and only four string Jazz has a Precision neck on it, by very-much conscious choice. It's a 1973-ish natural ash frankenfender and weighs just a smidge under 9# on my handy-dandy digital-age fish-weighing gizmo.

 

[badinage]

...most folks put J necks on P bodies. Maybe you can score a cast-off from someone else on the cheap, since you are looking for the reverse...

I thought the same and opined just that to one of the guitar-flippers I know, asking why the world isn't armpit-deep in P necks by now. He said simply because P necks sell fast on ebay so there is not and has never been a glut of P necks at bargain prices for those of us who prefer to go the other direction with neck-swaps.

 

[Grinderman]

I'd order a made-to-order P neck made to my preferred specs from Musikraft.

At least as good as Warmoth; frankly, I think better.

 

[akukulich]

I’ve got an All Parts fretless Jazz neck, and it’s significantly chunkier than my ‘82 Jazz and my FCS ‘60 Reissue. I think the Warmoth neck has a similar profile.

 

[cataract]

Get a Nate Mendel P neck- it’s got that Precision “chunk” but with a nut width that’s between a Precision & a Jazz (1.615”)

 

[IPA]

road worn 60s jazz, standard MIM jazz from right before the player series

 

[Clark W]

I like Jazz necks because I have fingers like cans of tuna. But I prefer Precision bodies. So, swapping necks works for me. Most recently, I swapped the necks between a Fender Elite P and Elite J. This produced a Precision that I love and a Jazz that I don't play. One of these days I'll get around to unloading that Jazz LOL.

Well MarckJC8 is in the market, maybe it's fate and the time to sell your Jazz with the Precision neck is here.

 

[TrevorG]

The Ultra Jazz has a U neck and weirdly feels more dense than my Precision from the same range. Pricey though .

 

[john m]

Elrick NJS

 

[Fun Size Nick]

I'm surprised that the reissue basses that you've tried haven't had chunky necks - the Fender AO '70's Jazzes (and the AV '74s before them) that I've played in stores have had really deep necks - even chunkier than my actual '74 that I had at the time. They felt almost like a caricature of mine!

 

[BobKos]

The Ultra Jazz has a U neck and weirdly feels more dense than my Precision from the same range. Pricey though .

This is completely wrong. I own an Ultra Jazz and the neck is very slim. Slimmer than a Standard Jazz Bass.

For the OP - The above advice regarding an All-Parts neck is spot on. They are a U profile and are chunkier than a standard Jazz Bass neck.

If you can find one and can stomach the price, my Custom Shop Reggie Hamilton Jazz Bass has a chunky neck.

My understanding is that the USA Geddy Lee Jazz Bass has a chunky neck similar to the Reggie Hamilton bass.