Changing scale length

[devilock76]

Forgive me if these questions have been answered, and as of right now they are merely a curiosity. I tried searching here and google and came up short.

I am wondering about changing a Fender Jazz style bass (copy) 5 string from a 34" scale length to a 35" scale length.

Obviously that would at minimum require a new neck and quite possibly repositioning the bridge (best I can figure top of my head a 35" scale length neck with say 20-22 frets setup for 35" would move the bridge back about .25". Obviously real measurements would have to happen at design time.

Am I missing something in my logic? And what?

Also is there ANYONE out there that makes a Fender Jazz 5 style neck fretted for 35" scale length. If I was to take this undertaking I would much rather have a fretted neck ready to install vs having to make a neck from scratch.

Insight appreciated, thanks.

Ken

[becker4567]

Just curious......why?

[devilock76]

Originally Posted by becker4567

Just curious......why?

The typical, more B-string tension, without having to use suspension bridge cable.

I wonder if Lakland sells their bass parts individually, as in buy a 5501 replacement neck?

Ken

[T-Bird]

Hi Ken.

If You wouldn't have asked for 35" necks availability, that would've been the something you're missing from your logic .

If You find the neck, rest is as easy as you described.

There's one other option as well if You're DIY oriented.

Replace the fretboard (or defret/refret 35") on the existing neck or preferably on a spare neck so if something goes sour, You still have a complete instrument.

Regards
Sam

[devilock76]

Originally Posted by T-Bird

Hi Ken.

If You wouldn't have asked for 35" necks availability, that would've been the something you're missing from your logic .

If You find the neck, rest is as easy as you described.

There's one other option as well if You're DIY oriented.

Replace the fretboard (or defret/refret 35") on the existing neck or preferably on a spare neck so if something goes sour, You still have a complete instrument.

Regards
Sam

Well if my only choice is to DIY it then that is probably what I will do. If that is the case I would build the neck from scratch with enough length on it that I would not have to move the bridge to achieve the desired scale length.

Ken

[202dy]

Originally Posted by devilock76

Forgive me if these questions have been answered, and as of right now they are merely a curiosity. I tried searching here and google and came up short.

I am wondering about changing a Fender Jazz style bass (copy) 5 string from a 34" scale length to a 35" scale length.

Obviously that would at minimum require a new neck and quite possibly repositioning the bridge (best I can figure top of my head a 35" scale length neck with say 20-22 frets setup for 35" would move the bridge back about .25". Obviously real measurements would have to happen at design time.

Am I missing something in my logic? And what?

Also is there ANYONE out there that makes a Fender Jazz 5 style neck fretted for 35" scale length. If I was to take this undertaking I would much rather have a fretted neck ready to install vs having to make a neck from scratch.

Insight appreciated, thanks.

Ken

The missing part of the logic: Balance.

The jazz bass is pretty well balanced and comfortable to play. The extra inch of neck coupled with the weight of the additional tuner is just enough to through the instrument out of balance. The trick will be in moving the bridge. If you can move it back far enough it might come close to balancing the guitar. If the existing clone has a traditional bridge, swapping it for a high mass (heavier) bridge will also help.

[ehque]

The jazz, having a big body, is one of the better balanced basses out there. With ultralight tuners, i really don't think he's going to have much of a problem with the neckdive.

Try and get a neck where you don't need to reposition the bridge.

Moses makes one, but as with all their necks, its a graphite, which may or may not be your thing, and is expensive (http://www.mosesgraphite.com/cgi-bin/moses/mm154.html)