Epiphone Thunderbird neck replacement

[FrankenIbanez70]

Hello, I need some help finding a direct replacement neck for an epi thunderbird, i have searched all over the forums, and haven't really found anything useful. The weight of the neck and having to support it is really tiring and is turning me off from playing the bass, so I was hoping if anyone knew of a EB-3 style neck with a 34" scale that would fit without any routing or drilling. thanks in advance everyone.

[T-Bird]

Hi.

I seriously doubt that You'll be able to find a direct replacement budget neck that dramatically improves the neck dive you're experiencing.

Since You obviously have already fought the neck dive with the traditional methods, which IME cure the alledged neck dive completely, you could always make a 2+2 headstock out of the 4 inline.

Regards
Sam

[stiles72]

Any other neck you would find isn't going to weigh that much different from the stock Epi neck. You'd be better off to move your strap buttons - that will make the bass balance much better so that you don't have to support the neck with your left hand. Here's where I put the buttons on all my birds- Gibson & Epi:

[FrankenIbanez70]

Originally Posted by T-Bird

Hi.

I seriously doubt that You'll be able to find a direct replacement budget neck that dramatically improves the neck dive you're experiencing.

Since You obviously have already fought the neck dive with the traditional methods, which IME cure the alledged neck dive completely, you could always make a 2+2 headstock out of the 4 inline.

Regards
Sam

T-bird, Its not so much the neck dive as it is having to hold up the neck while playing, I have problems with my left shoulder and while just playing is no problem, the weight of the bird's neck is just too much. I have Hipshot ultralites installed and have already moved the strap buttons.

[EdHunter]

Originally Posted by FrankenIbanez70

T-bird, Its not so much the neck dive as it is having to hold up the neck while playing, I have problems with my left shoulder and while just playing is no problem, the weight of the bird's neck is just too much. I have Hipshot ultralites installed and have already moved the strap buttons.

You may want to go along a Fenderbird route. For just a little routing that a local bloke with the right tools could do, you could install a nice, comfy J neck.

[FrankenIbanez70]

Originally Posted by EdHunter

You may want to go along a Fenderbird route. For just a little routing that a local bloke with the right tools could do, you could install a nice, comfy J neck.

I've been thinking about that, but is it possible to remove wood from the neck instead of the body so at some point the original neck could be replaced without gaps? I saw someone on here who had a fenderbird made like that.

[TBird1958]

Originally Posted by EdHunter

You may want to go along a Fenderbird route. For just a little routing that a local bloke with the right tools could do, you could install a nice, comfy J neck.

That's right Ed!

[FrankenIbanez70]

Originally Posted by TBird1958

That's right Ed!

That is pretty amazing, is it an epi body?

[TBird1958]

Yup, the neck is a mighty mite lefty J, the sides and were shaved quite a bit to fit the Epi pocket. I also potted some S. D. '51 P pickups into N.O.S. Gibson covers and replaced the Epi bridge with an Allparts - Rewired VVTT