I took a Fender Jazz USA bass on trade... (you know where this is going)

[Twocan]

and was able to examine it up close once I got it home. I found that the last 2.5 frets of the neck (where it bolts to the body) appear to have been removed (Rosewood fretboard only) and replaced. With a flashlight, the wood glue/filler is pretty apparent at the seam of the rosewood and maple.

It seems that someone must have over-tightened the truss rod and that the fretboard needed to be partially removed in order to replace it (or the nut).

The truss rod does appear to work and adjust fine. The only real issues I've found is a hairline crack directly above the truss rod nut and buzzing beyond the 12th fret, which appears to be due to a slight increase in fret height as a result of the "surgery."

Fret buzz aside, my question is - would such an "operation" change the structural integrity of the neck? In other words, am I likely to see this problem resurface with time? I love the bass but my gut tells me I better reverse the trade while I still can. Thanks!

[sevenyearsdown]

I would return it as once. Sounds like hack work if they couldn't be bothered to level the frets. Never know what may come down the road just based on that. IME, you have to really beat the crap out of Fender to 'cause problems like you are describing.

[Twocan]

Originally Posted by sevenyearsdown

I would return it as once. Sounds like hack work if they couldn't be bothered to level the frets. Never know what may come down the road just based on that. IME, you have to really beat the crap out of Fender to 'cause problems like you are describing.

I hear you - thanks for the advice!

[Benjamin Strange]

The bigger question here is why was the truss overtightened in the first place. Is the neck warped? Will the relief not pull out? Is the neck straight?

[reedo35]

Sounds like the Bass had a "dove tail" bow in it. This is when the truss rod is tightened until the lower end of the fingerboard starts to bend upward. It also sounds like somebody took the cheap way out to fix it. The right way to do it would have been to take ALL the frets out, replane the fingerboard, and replace all the frets. I had this done 23 years ago with my P-Bass and have never had another problem with it.

[NickInMesa]

It may be that the higher frets (higher as in closer to the body) were originally removed to remedy a ski ramp issue. I like my strings low and fret buzz is almost impossible to avoid with average necks and Jazz basses do not always have the best necks (some do have awesome necks, others, included MIA basses, have awful necks).

Following that, someone may have decided to refret that portion of the neck and did the job himself, and since it was the first time he did it, he did an awful job (as always when you do something the first time).

This is my theory ok.

[joelb79]

Originally Posted by reedo35

Sounds like the Bass had a "dove tail" bow in it. This is when the truss rod is tightened until the lower end of the fingerboard starts to bend upward. It also sounds like somebody took the cheap way out to fix it. The right way to do it would have been to take ALL the frets out, replane the fingerboard, and replace all the frets. I had this done 23 years ago with my P-Bass and have never had another problem with it.

There is your fix if you decide to keep it. Rather expensive shop labor wise.

[NickInMesa]

Originally Posted by joelb79

There is your fix if you decide to keep it. Rather expensive shop labor wise.

I had a refret done on a CIJ Jazz I got for cheap. I paid a bit more than $200 for the bass, but the refret was $300.

Note than a CIJ in perfect condition averages $650.

It's a question of "is is worth it"?

You may look for a new neck.

People say Warmoth, I say USA Custom.

[Twocan]

I was able to get the trade reversed. Thanks to everyone for the advice.

[Matt R.]

Trade it back.