Sell or Not to Sell

DanikDarko

DanikDarko

Jul 1, 2011
96
21
4,551
Faridabad, India
#1
Hey TBers!

I've got a 2016 MiM Fender Jazz (all stock) that has a few issues with it's neck that has been really bothering me and has brought me to this crossroad.

The issue -

Notes seem to be choking near the 11th till the 14th/15th fret depending on the string. I understand that Jazz Basses have an inherent "buzz" but I'm sure it can't be this bad. Notes played around this area feel lowered in volume and just plain weak. The bass sounds and feels fine everywhere else on the neck.

Tried solutions -

I took it to a luthier who could not solve the issue (leveled and re-crowned the frets).
Raising the action from the bridge seems to solve the problem but it goes away at a height where I'm very uncomfortable playing the bass (strings are way off the fingerboard).
Playing softer helps quite a bit at my preferred set up but it's a partial fix as Dynamics go out of the window (if I try to emphasise a part and pluck even slightly harder, the note chokes).

My options -

A) sell the bass and get a new one. Was thinking to either get a Used Japan made jazz at the very least. Old Geddy Lee Signatures are on my radar. Or even Japanese Precisions. Even open to PJ's. Not Mexican though.

B) get a new neck. Part of the reason why I bought a fender was because upgrading it is super simple and relatively cheap depending on the quality/brand of the part you purchase. I've always wanted a maple fingerboard, maybe I could get one and try it before I resort to option A?

What do you guys think?
 
#4
How are you going to sell it? If you're being honest, you're selling a loaded body and tuners. If the neck can't be fixed, buy a new one. You'd take a beating on re-selling it now anyway. That way if you still want to get rid of it, you can at least sell it as a fully-functioning bass.
 
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#6
Bass Man Dan said:
How are you going to sell it? If you're being honest, you're selling a loaded body and tuners. If the neck can't be fixed, buy a new one. You'd take a beating on re-selling it now anyway. That way if you still want to get rid of it, you can at least sell it as a fully-functioning bass.
Click to expand...

Its not completely unusable. With a good compressor, it's very hard to notice. The problem really shows itself when you dig in harder around the mentioned frets. That part being the flobbiest around the neck, it's fairly simple to get into the "plucking-too-hard" territory.

But I hear you...
 
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#11
Most likely frets are not level - if you can - bring the bass to another tech/luthier. For the best results you may want to level the frets while strings are on ant tuned to pitch (this eliminates uneven wood movement under the tension). Alternatively, you can do it by your own, as I did: DIY Fretwork with DIY tools. Pictorial.

Also it may be the ski-jump condition - this way you'll need to straighten (search youtube and google for "straighten bass neck with heat") or replace the neck.
 
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