cello neck on an electric bass body???

gnarlyopossum · #1 08-29-2008, 07:05 PM

I have a Fender Jazz Bass, with a defretted neck. I would like to replace the neck and a friend of mine said, "Hey. Why don't you put a cello neck on that thing?" I have no idea if that's possible or effective, but I think it's an awesome idea. If there is anybody out there who has experience in this, has seen it, or could offer suggestions about this, please post. I think it would be a great DIY project.

Help.

SBassman · #2 08-29-2008, 07:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gnarlyopossum

I have a Fender Jazz Bass, with a defretted neck. I would like to replace the neck and a friend of mine said, "Hey. Why don't you put a cello neck on that thing?" I have no idea if that's possible or effective, but I think it's an awesome idea. If there is anybody out there who has experience in this, has seen it, or could offer suggestions about this, please post. I think it would be a great DIY project.

Help.

What are you going to use as a bridge to match the profile of the neck?

rockwarnick · #3 08-29-2008, 07:28 PM

+1 to the comment above. it will be interesting to figure out how to do this. but man it would be awesome and of course you would have to post pics. and i believe it should open up the opportunity to effectively use a bow on an electric bass.

Parabolic Box · #4 08-29-2008, 07:31 PM

Cello necks aren't long enough and are shaped too differently to somehow hack onto a J Bass. Most of the fingerboard floats above the body, and it has a set-neck heel.

Of course, you could make a J neck with a scroll headstock.

SBassman · #5 08-29-2008, 07:32 PM

Where does one get a cello neck?

My two cents:

If you have cello neck, and you want to go electric, maybe the best best is to mount the bridge Right on the neck. In the form of bridges that are really those separate saddles for each string.
Then you'll match the profile of the neck perfectly.

Then there's just the little detail of figuring out a pickup scheme.

gnarlyopossum · #6 08-29-2008, 09:14 PM

What about using a cello bridge with a tailpiece? You're right, SBassman. The pickups should be interesting. Aside from custom making a pup with a curve to match the curve of the strings, what are the other options?

Would it work to do a single string pickup under each string? Maybe it would be possible to adjust and hotwire the pickups individually???

funkifiedsoul · #7 08-29-2008, 09:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Parabolic Box

Cello necks aren't long enough and are shaped too differently to somehow hack onto a J Bass. Most of the fingerboard floats above the body, and it has a set-neck heel.

Of course, you could make a J neck with a scroll headstock.

What he said.

gnarlyopossum · #8 08-30-2008, 09:42 AM

What about an upright bass neck? 1/2 scale or 3/4 scale? As far as putting it on, wouldn't it be possible to get an unshaped one with the full block on the back instead of the already done attachment you see on done instruments? (Does that question make sense?)

ehque · #9 08-30-2008, 10:02 AM

Probably easier to spec out a new bass rather than trying to splice two rather different instruments together...

Rebop · #10 08-30-2008, 10:07 AM

Give up.

bongomania · #11 08-30-2008, 10:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gnarlyopossum

What about an upright bass neck? 1/2 scale or 3/4 scale? As far as putting it on, wouldn't it be possible to get an unshaped one with the full block on the back instead of the already done attachment you see on done instruments? (Does that question make sense?)

The upright neck would be a better length, but you'd have to saw off about 8" of the fingerboard that overhangs the body, or else it would cover the pickups completely. And the heel of the neck is pretty big, especially front-to-back, so getting it to fit in the Fender neck pocket would require major surgery on both parts.

SBassman · #12 08-30-2008, 10:15 AM

The other - hack - thought I had was to attach a cello/ubass fretboard to an electric neck.

ZachB · #13 09-01-2008, 04:43 AM

First time posting, I'm more of a 'lurker' than a poster, and I'm a bit of a 'noob' so sorry if this is 'noobish'.

Anyway have any of you seen a movie called 'hackers' with Angelina Jolie in it? Not my most favourite of movies but in one of the scenes they're in this underground club thingy and there's this band playing. But the bass player is playing a bass with an upright bass neck on it. So it has been done, not sure if it was practical but I knew I'd seen it. Thought I'd add that just in case it was helpful, sorry if it wasn't.

Parabolic Box · #14 09-01-2008, 11:08 AM

You mean like an Abe Rivera? There are basses with scroll headstocks.