Neck ideas for a franken PJ

[carlosjrf]

Looking to frankenstine this one a bit. Only builds ive ever done where a tele neck to a strat body, nothing crazy.
Bought it mostly because of the body; original color conserved by the pickguard and the rest of the body faded. Had to get it. I may be throwing more money at it than its worth but i had fun building the strats so want to do this one.
Will try to somehow get a clear pickguard with the cavities covered. Wanna go for black hardware although it’s been hard to find ones aged a bit.
Other than an obvious fender neck, would love something different similar to a jazz profile. Anybody has fitted a different neck onto a fender body?

 

[Matt Liebenau]

A Fender spec neck that simply has a Jazz nut width instead of a wider Precision width should nominally bolt right up and is a mod going back to the days before there was an aftermarket industry. In theory any 34” scale 20 fret neck with the same width heel will work and Fender necks have been made to the same spec for a looong time. The main difference was the square heel Telecaster base necks. Having said that, a specific neck may require some fitting to work with a specific body and we can help you with that. Also, since this is the builders area why not build the exact neck you want?

Beyond Fender parts any neck can be made to work with almost any body with enough time and patience or, if you’re paying someone for the work, enough money. Did you have something specific in mind?

 

[carlosjrf]

A Fender spec neck that simply has a Jazz nut width instead of a wider Precision width should nominally bolt right up and is a mod going back to the days before there was an aftermarket industry. In theory any 34” scale 20 fret neck with the same width heel will work and Fender necks have been made to the same spec for a looong time. The main difference was the square heel Telecaster base necks. Having said that, a specific neck may require some fitting to work with a specific body and we can help you with that. Also, since this is the builders area why not build the exact neck you want?

Beyond Fender parts any neck can be made to work with almost any body with enough time and patience or, if you’re paying someone for the work, enough money. Did you have something specific in mind?

Sorry if i posted in the wrong area.

Ive seen some funky builds. Probably people doing it themselves. Something i just thought of maybe like putting a sterling stingray classic (the slimmer one) on this body. Pretty sure it’s impossible, but something like that. Maybe something more realistic is a neck with a jazz profile and a tele headstock.

In the end it may be too much of a headache to do what i want, but want to explore what would it take.

 

[Matt Liebenau]

Sorry if i posted in the wrong area.

Ive seen some funky builds. Probably people doing it themselves. Something i just thought of maybe like putting a sterling stingray classic (the slimmer one) on this body. Pretty sure it’s impossible, but something like that. Maybe something more realistic is a neck with a jazz profile and a tele headstock.

In the end it may be too much of a headache to do what i want, but want to explore what would it take.

Not the wrong area necessarily, I was just trying to get some specifics on what you want to do. I’m not familiar with the specs of a Sterling neck. I’m sure it could be made to work on a a fender spec body. It won’t be as bolt on as switching Fender spec necks so it comes down to how much time do you want to invest and what tools do you have?

A Jazz width neck with a Tele headstock could be as simple as ordering one from Warmoth, if they make such a thing, or getting a Jazz neck and reshaping and refinishing the headstock.

Are you looking more to order and assemble parts or DIY it?

 

[BGroovy]

Jazz neck with a blank ebony board

 

[carlosjrf]

Not the wrong area necessarily, I was just trying to get some specifics on what you want to do. I’m not familiar with the specs of a Sterling neck. I’m sure it could be made to work on a a fender spec body. It won’t be as bolt on as switching Fender spec necks so it comes down to how much time do you want to invest and what tools do you have?

A Jazz width neck with a Tele headstock could be as simple as ordering one from Warmoth, if they make such a thing, or getting a Jazz neck and reshaping and refinishing the headstock.

Are you looking more to order and assemble parts or DIY it?

If it was done already even better. I dont have access to bench tools so cutting the headstock properly is not an option at the moment. Since the bass is used was looking to fit a used neck on it, but will look at warmoth and see how it goes.
Maybe will give it some time and see if i find a neck that i like and give it a go at shaping it to fit.

 

[Matt Liebenau]

There’s a few necks in the classifieds. I wasn’t looking for necks specifically so I didn’t pay too much attention to the details.

Warmoth is going to be top line with necks and priced accordingly. Mighty Mite and Allparts are good sources although I don’t know if they have ones with a smaller Tele headstock.

Keep us posted and we’re here to help if you need it.

 

[carlosjrf]

There’s a few necks in the classifieds. I wasn’t looking for necks specifically so I didn’t pay too much attention to the details.

Warmoth is going to be top line with necks and priced accordingly. Mighty Mite and Allparts are good sources although I don’t know if they have ones with a smaller Tele headstock.

Keep us posted and we’re here to help if you need it.

Thanks so much.

 

[C Stone]

Heya, congrats on the bass grab, that looks like an early Standard P-Bass Special with a Jazz profile neck already, or do my eyes deceive me? How's the current neck feel? Does the truss rod work?

 

[carlosjrf]

Heya, congrats on the bass grab, that looks like an early Standard P-Bass Special with a Jazz profile neck already, or do my eyes deceive me? How's the current neck feel? Does the truss rod work?

Not sure of the year, but it is an earlier version with rosewood fretboard. The neck is good, no real issues with the bass as it is. I bought it mostly as a project because of the look of the body. It really is one to have some fun frankensteining/hot rodding or whatever fun term is appropriate. The more i think about it i want to do maple fretboard. Maybe pickups, but that’s probably down the road. I’m really being a bit stubborn on having an odd neck on it, but again seems like it’s going to be more a headache.

 

[C Stone]

Right on, not sure of your depth understanding about basses but in general, most standard Fender/Squier neck heels will fit that body and most Fender/Squier parts are interchangeable
they are all really essentially "parts basses" with the caveat that the "P Bass Special" is a bit quirky IIRC (narrower routes for pick-ups replacement and the OG guards are hard to find). You can measure the string nut that separates the strings on the fretboard if that measures 38mm it is already jazz width, if the neck is comfortable you could consider a J neck maple replacement.

Here is a link to a Parts bass thread, I have a few that I posted, lots of us "mod"or "hotrod" basses, most all of my bases I assembled from different years/parts from excess in my bin, it's fun making them your own! Don't hesitate to ask questions or PM me, I am happy to answer questions if I can.

https://www.talkbass.com/threads/show-us-your-parts-basses.1545948/

Here is my '99 Standard P Bass Special that I painted the headstock and PG and added a Fretless Mighty Mite ebonol neck, great bass!

 

[carlosjrf]

Right on, not sure of your depth understanding about basses but in general, most standard Fender/Squier neck heels will fit that body and most Fender/Squier parts are interchangeable
they are all really essentially "parts basses" with the caveat that the "P Bass Special" is a bit quirky IIRC (narrower routes for pick-ups replacement and the OG guards are hard to find). You can measure the string nut that separates the strings on the fretboard if that measures 38mm it is already jazz width, if the neck is comfortable you could consider a J neck maple replacement.

Here is a link to a Parts bass thread, I have a few that I posted, lots of us "mod"or "hotrod" basses, most all of my bases I assembled from different years/parts from excess in my bin, it's fun making them your own! Don't hesitate to ask questions or PM me, I am happy to answer questions if I can.

https://www.talkbass.com/threads/show-us-your-parts-basses.1545948/

Here is my '99 Standard P Bass Special that I painted the headstock and PG and added a Fretless Mighty Mite ebonol neck, great bass!
View attachment 7085509

That looks cool. Thanks for the info. I’m no expert but i put together a couple of strats a few years ago so im familiar with the work. The thing is that ive seen a few builds with non-fender/squier necks on and kind of got my head spinning. When i saw this body i just had to have it and make it a project. Because i dont have bench tools to cut/route/drill properly I dont want to complicate things. If its just sanding and effort then im good. But, i may end up just getting a fender (or equivalent) neck.
The pickguard is the one thing im sticking to my wish of it being clear but covering the cavities. Want to have the original purple come thru.

 

[ctmullins]

Warmoth, with their in-house 2x2 tiltback headstock. So you don’t have to suffer with that atrocious Fender-style headstock.