New Neck or New Bass?

[Mastiff_5]

I have an Aria Pro II Detroit MK2/5 5 string that I purchased, stripped to the body and neck, then modded with all new parts. The neck has developed more relief than the truss rod can correct. It’s been suggested (in a related post here on TB) that I try having the neck steamed flat, and I may try that - though I’m a bit dubious about the chances of that working, given that it is a roasted maple neck. I don’t know if it’s going to settle into a new (flatter) shape if the oils are already distributed and settled from the roasting (I think that’s how it’s supposed to work). Anyway…
I want to know - is it worth trying to have a different neck fitted to the body? Aria says they can have me a new neck in 18-24 months, at the quickest, and that’s not gonna work. This is my backup frankenbass.
The alternative is to strip all the high end parts back off of it, and find a new body & neck, something that can take a 17.5mm string spacing or so. I REALLY don’t care about the finish. Just a light bass w/a straight neck.
THOUGHTS??

 

[Bruce Johnson]

I have an Aria Pro II Detroit MK2/5 5 string that I purchased, stripped to the body and neck, then modded with all new parts. The neck has developed more relief than the truss rod can correct. It’s been suggested (in a related post here on TB) that I try having the neck steamed flat, and I may try that - though I’m a bit dubious about the chances of that working, given that it is a roasted maple neck. I don’t know if it’s going to settle into a new (flatter) shape if the oils are already distributed and settled from the roasting (I think that’s how it’s supposed to work). Anyway…
I want to know - is it worth trying to have a different neck fitted to the body? Aria says they can have me a new neck in 18-24 months, at the quickest, and that’s not gonna work. This is my backup frankenbass.
The alternative is to strip all the high end parts back off of it, and find a new body & neck, something that can take a 17.5mm string spacing or so. I REALLY don’t care about the finish. Just a light bass w/a straight neck.
THOUGHTS??

That neck sounds like a good candidate for Heat straightening. Send it to WarpedNeck.com. Straightening warped necks is what they specialize in, and they are very good at it. And their process isn't very expensive. Probably around $100 plus postage. You can do the process yourself at home, but it's not quite as simple as it first sounds. There are dozens of threads here on TalkBass showing how folks have done heat straightening, mostly successfully.

But..but...but....I thought Roasted Maple necks were super stable and would never warp???? OMG!!!!

 

[SharpCat]

I vote both--get some body/neck that'll work for you to use, swap over the parts, and send the neck to the place @Bruce Johnson recommends. If that isn't a success, go for the new neck. Meanwhile you'll have a usable bass.