how hard is it to fix a "shifted" neck

DaRK_CaRNiVaL · #1 12-24-2006, 09:28 PM

Hey all,

there is a chance I will be getting a bass with a crooked neck pocket in the near future (well I am assuming its just routed crooked) and I was wondering how hard it was to fix.

Here is a close up where you can see the E string gap is bigger than the G string gap:

And a more general view:

Im assuming it will require the pocket to be trimmed on the E string side to straighten it out. Then the whole neck shifted, maybe refilling the screwholes and re-drilling them.

I will not be able to do this myself as I dont have any tools plus I dont want to stuff it up

Would this be expensive to fix?

Cheers

Figjam · #2 12-24-2006, 09:57 PM

The gap difference doesnt necesarilly mean what you think it does. It may mean the bridge is just off center or the nut is cut weird, or something.

Rumblejohn · #3 12-24-2006, 10:20 PM

I know I'm getting old and can't see as well as I used to, but it looks like the bridge is off center, not the neck.

Check to see if there is any adjustment. If not maybe the bridge will have to be moved over a bit.

John

DaRK_CaRNiVaL · #4 12-24-2006, 10:48 PM

well thats possible as this is a parts bass not a mass produced one so the guy who put it together may have screwed the bridge on without lining it up properly.

Now that I look at it more I am thinking it is much more likely the bridge being put on crookedly than the body is it as simple to fix as filling the old holes and screwing in the new ones?

Rumblejohn · #5 12-24-2006, 11:00 PM

Check it out carefully, take some measurements. Check to see if the bridge has a string spacing adjustment, if so you might be able to straighten it up with that. If you do have to move the bridge, check the intonation first, if there is a problem that would be difficult to adjust out, you can take care of that too, when you move the bridge.

Good luck, just take your time, and really think through what you are doing, before you do anything irreversable.

John

Akami · #6 12-24-2006, 11:16 PM

Yeah, just make sure you're properly aligned and that your bridge to nut distance is correct.

DaRK_CaRNiVaL · #7 12-24-2006, 11:17 PM

Thanks for the advice everyone.

The thing is I cant do anything yet as this is an ebay auction that I am winning at the moment :P with about a day left.
I may still lose the auction but if I dont I am evaluating what options I have in terms of fixing it.

In terms of the bridge it looks like your standard 1 slot bridge that you would find on most Fenders and the like so it would most likely have to be moved.

JimmyM · #8 12-25-2006, 12:11 AM

If this is what I think it is, it's a very easy fix. A lot of Fenders tend to work loose in their neck pockets and shift. I have one that used to do it. Billy Sheehan used to complain about his old Fender doing it. But it's really easy to fix. All you have to do is give it a good yank up and it will temporarily straighten itself out. Cut a small piece of wood to wedge in the side of the neck pocket to hold it in place. Then you tighten the bolts down as tight as you possibly can with as large a screwdriver as will fit them.

However, you can only tell by playing it, and it could very well be that the bridge is off kilter.

DaRK_CaRNiVaL · #9 12-25-2006, 12:18 AM

haha Jimmy that cracked me up

I will probably have to check it out if I win the auction but it seems like a simple solution.. as long as it has actually shifted

62bass · #10 12-25-2006, 03:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JimmyM

If this is what I think it is, it's a very easy fix. A lot of Fenders tend to work loose in their neck pockets and shift. I have one that used to do it. Billy Sheehan used to complain about his old Fender doing it. But it's really easy to fix. All you have to do is give it a good yank up and it will temporarily straighten itself out. Cut a small piece of wood to wedge in the side of the neck pocket to hold it in place. Then you tighten the bolts down as tight as you possibly can with as large a screwdriver as will fit them.

However, you can only tell by playing it, and it could very well be that the bridge is off kilter.

That can work. I did it on a 74 Jazz I had that I bought new. It shifted after about a year. It was a permanent fix. I used a bit of oak veneer edging tape. Any hard wood should work. You can use a small drop of plastic cement to hold the wood in place. I didn't have time to leave the bass with my repair guy who was a real whiz, so he told me how to do it. I've also used this trick on a Fender Strat with the same problem. I removed the strings to make it easier to do the work. I have someone bringing over a Fender Jazz in the next few days with this problem. It should be easy to fix.

DaRK_CaRNiVaL · #11 12-25-2006, 05:34 AM

Looks like the wedge in the neck is the way to go.. but I will have to have a look at it first to get a good idea of how to proceed.

Not long to go now

workdaddy · #12 12-25-2006, 05:25 PM

careful "wedging" the neck. you can potentially crack the finish around the treble side neck pocket by putting too much expanding force against it. most of the necks i have worked on tend to stay put when you crank the bolts back down. so, i would suggest not putting any wedges in the pocket and see how the neck is for a few weeks. another alternative: put a tiny dab of yellow glue(titebond 1) in the center of the neck pocket, retune, check alignment and let the glue dry overnight. this will keep the neck from moving around unless it is whacked pretty good.

DaRK_CaRNiVaL · #13 12-25-2006, 06:15 PM

Hey Workdaddy,

thats a good point.
The first thing I would do is simply try and yank the neck into place and screw it down as that may be the only fix that is needed.

For some reason I dont feel comfortable using glue as a fix.. especially when it involves sticking a neck into place

but thanks for the idea.

DaRK_CaRNiVaL · #14 12-25-2006, 08:52 PM

I have won it so I will let ya'll know when I get it in the post. That way I can have a good look at it myself and do some measurements etc. take more pics.

georgestrings · #15 12-26-2006, 08:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaRK_CaRNiVaL

I have won it so I will let ya'll know when I get it in the post. That way I can have a good look at it myself and do some measurements etc. take more pics.

I'll be keeping any eye out for this, as I have an early 80s MIJ Jazz Special that looks EXACTLY like that, and thought I'd have to move the bridge to fix it - but looking at the neck pocket a little closer reveals that it "might* be a victim of shift...

- georgestrings

LiquidCougar · #16 12-26-2006, 03:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JimmyM

If this is what I think it is, it's a very easy fix. A lot of Fenders tend to work loose in their neck pockets and shift. I have one that used to do it. Billy Sheehan used to complain about his old Fender doing it. But it's really easy to fix. All you have to do is give it a good yank up and it will temporarily straighten itself out. Cut a small piece of wood to wedge in the side of the neck pocket to hold it in place. Then you tighten the bolts down as tight as you possibly can with as large a screwdriver as will fit them.

However, you can only tell by playing it, and it could very well be that the bridge is off kilter.

I fixed a P-Bass for someone a couple months ago that had that problem, and that's exactly how I fixed it. It also turns out that the neck had been removed a few times previously, so the wood in the holes was a little lapped out. I threw in some same-length screws, only with a slightly coarser thread pitch.

Permanent fix so far. He's been playing it nonstop since.

BassikLee · #17 12-27-2006, 10:34 AM

VERY SIMPLE FIX!

I am kind of surprized all you guys are suggesting relocating the bridge, when all that has happened is that the neck has shifted "south" a tad. What I do when fixing this type of thing is loosen all four strings, but leave the E and G just taught enough so they can be used as guides. Then loosen the neck bolts enough so the neck will slip back into place, line up the E&G with equal space at the edge of the FB, and tighten the neck bolts down. For extra added mojo, you can employ one of the following options as well. IF there is no shim between the neck and body, get a small piece of METAL screen, like window screen. Cut it to fit the entire neck pocket. We are not trying to change the neck angle at all, just give the neck/body joint a tad more grip. So, get the screen trimmed, then line up the joint as before, and tighten down the bolts. You'll want to give the screen enough "squeez" to grab the body and neck. This'll hold really well. The other option I have done is just a VERY small amount of white glue. NOT enough to hold the neck/body joint without the bolts, but enough to keep the joint from slipping. Think "just a tiny amount", then reassemble, align, tighten, enjoy.

HTH,

Lee

Figjam · #18 12-27-2006, 01:01 PM

If the neck 'slipped south' wouldnt the gap on the E side be smaller, rather than larger.

BassikLee · #19 12-27-2006, 01:48 PM

Depends on your definition of "south" I suppose... When I read a map, SOUTH tends to be on the bottom, toward the floor.

deaf pea · #20 12-27-2006, 03:09 PM

+1 BassikLee

Yeah, this is a VERY common problem with Fender (and other bolt-on) basses and SO easy to fix!

(with 46 years experience playing Fender P basses I've come across this problem lots of times)