Ibanez (Modulus) Graphite neck needing tuners, Advise Please

M.Brown2112 · #1 11-03-2011, 11:22 AM

Hello Gals and Guys,

I have a Ibanez (Modulus) Graphite Neck. I am looking for any information on the neck. It appears that it was never mounted on a bass. The number on the heel is 0013. No string tree, graphite nut, or tuners appear to have been installed. I have went to several luthers and have had no luck. I went to Guitar Center and a guy called Modulus, but was told that once it left Modulus factory they did not drill the or finish the neck. I am trying to complete the neck and build it in to a playable bass. I already have a 86-87 aldar Jbass body from Japan.

Any information regarding the tuners or any other information would be great. I am new here so sorry if I am posting this again but very few people responded to the original post. What has worried me about mounting 'clamp' like tuners on the headstock is I will have to drill out small holes to keep the tuners from rotation from the tension on the tuners. No holes were drilled for the tuner stays. I really don't know what tuners to get or what tuners to use to keep from damaging the headstock.

I am planning on mounting the neck on a Fender jbass body as described from above. I will have to routing out the neck pocket on the body to make the neck 34" inch scale. This is my plan as of now. Could I make it 35" or 36" scale? Any suggestions or recommendations would be welcome. The bass body is not perfect, so I have no issues cutting in to it. Thanks for any information or advise.

To Mike Zimmerman,
Thank you for your comment. I searched the internet for the 24-fret Roadstar and Pro Series basses from the 80's but was unsuccessful in finding any photos of the 24 fret neck. Thanks again.

Cheers,

Michael

M.Brown2112 · #2 11-03-2011, 11:23 AM

More Photos.

M.Brown2112 · #3 11-03-2011, 11:24 AM

More Photos

chokeslam512 · #4 11-03-2011, 11:25 AM

Well, I can say that once it's fretted for a certain scale length, you will not be able to make a different scale length bass with it. Good luck.

M.Brown2112 · #5 11-03-2011, 11:26 AM

More Photos

Please let me know if you have any information or advise.

Thanks

Michael

SolidFooting · #6 11-03-2011, 11:41 AM

Read this. It ought to help.

STEWMAC.COM : Scale Length Explained Free information

M.Brown2112 · #7 11-03-2011, 11:42 AM

Thank you,

**nervous** · #8 11-04-2011, 10:15 AM

What size tuning machine holes are they, 9/16"? If so you have many options. Gotoh GB7or Gotoh Resolite GB350 tuners are pretty much stock on Modulus bass necks. The Hipshot Ultra Lights (3/8" I believe) may also work and all are fine tuners. You'll probably have to drill the small screw holes no matter what you choose because they are needed to stop the machines from rotating.

bassgod0dmw · #9 11-04-2011, 11:33 AM

You need to measure the holes to get any decent information.

I have Hipshot Ultra Lites on my Modulus Q5. It came stock with Gotoh's, and the UL's were a direct replacement.

M.Brown2112 · #10 11-04-2011, 11:33 AM

Thanks,

I think they are 9/16". I check a while ago when I got the neck and can not remember, but will check again. The only thing that concerns me is the headstock is hollow. Are other modulus headstocks hollow and have the two small peg holes drilled for tuners? The Tuners I have been looking at would like to have are the Schaller M4S. I was thinking last night about how to install the tuners with out drilling holes in the headstock and thought of making a graphite/carbon fiber or brass sheet that would be made/cut to match the headstock and be 3 mm thick to be drilled for the pin holes.

Thanks

Nev375 · #11 11-04-2011, 12:00 PM

I have one of these basses, what exactly are you wanting to know?

I know that in the mid-'80's a small run of guitar and bass necks were ordered from Modulus for a new intended line of Pro-grade instruments. The best of the necks were assembled into prototype instruments. Stanley Jordan owns one of the guitars. In the end, the line was scrapped (probably due to the high costs of building the necks, plus there were a few quality concerns) Not much more is known about them, but there are a few of the necks and a few of the prototypes still out there.

My bass appears to have been assembled from a mid 80's roadstar body and some early 80's musician pickups. (I assume this was what they had laying around at the time) It is passive with 2 push-pull switched vol/tone knobs and a blend knob. I still don't know what the push-pull switches do exactly, but the tones you can get from the instrument are amazing. The neck is about 1/8 inch too narrow for the pocket, but it doesn't seem to matter except it looks bad like that.

mikezimmerman · #12 11-04-2011, 12:22 PM

Cool to hear from someone who actually has one of those basses! I had one of the Roadstars that yours is probably based on, and contacted Modulus about whether they made a graphite neck that would fit it. That's how I found about about these prototype necks, but I never saw anything except a picture of the neck...

By the way, those are the standard pickups for that particular Roadstar bass model, and the push/push switches just change the pickups from series to single-coil.

Mike

M.Brown2112 · #13 11-04-2011, 12:44 PM

Thanks Nev375,

That is awesome. What tuners do you have on your bass? Have you ever taken the tuners off? From the Photos I have posted the headstock is hollow, I am trying to find the right tuners for the headstock.

Could you post some pictures of your bass. I would love to see it. I have looked all over the internet and have not found any images. Esp. the rear/front of the headstock. Is your neck a 24 fret? Do you know the scale of your bass as well?

How does you bass play?

Any information you have would be appreciated.

Thank you very much,

rojo412 · #14 11-04-2011, 12:57 PM

From my experience with graphite necks, I'll tell you this:

Any screws needing to be installed SHOULD BE DRILLED AND TAPPED FOR before installing.
In other words, if you try to just "screw it in" without a pilot hole with tapped threads, you will break the screw and it will be stuck.

I have a Kawai with a graphite neck and the neck mount screws are just regular wood screws. But any other necks I've dealt with have had inserts and machine screws to mount them to the body.

Maybe try to find a 24 fret Fender Jazz body and you won't have to do weird routing!

M.Brown2112 · #15 11-04-2011, 01:07 PM

Thank you,

Yes I will definitely pre-drill any holes. The heel has machine screws already installed. About routing the body, The only problem is the heel of the neck is an odd size. It is longer than a normal fender heel. Photos of the heel are attached.

Thank you for your advise,
Very helpful,

Michael

rojo412 · #16 11-04-2011, 01:18 PM

Individual ferrules for the neck bolts are one solution (as opposed to a neck plate).
The other option is finding an Ibanez neck plate.

Perhaps, you could even find an Ibanez body? I'm guessing any of the 24 fret, bolt-on bodies would be a close fit.

M.Brown2112 · #17 11-04-2011, 01:34 PM

Individual ferrules would work. That would look good too. I like it. I have not been so worried about the neck to body mounting. I can fabricate a neck plate out of steel/aluminum if need be.

Thank you,

Michael

RCCollins · #18 11-04-2011, 01:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rojo412

From my experience with graphite necks, I'll tell you this:

Any screws needing to be installed SHOULD BE DRILLED AND TAPPED FOR before installing.
In other words, if you try to just "screw it in" without a pilot hole with tapped threads, you will break the screw and it will be stuck.

Wouldn't you do that on ANY neck that you cared about?

rojo412 · #19 11-04-2011, 02:11 PM

Pilot holes, yes.

Tapping threads, though? Only on something like graphite. Most regular wood screws seem to do fine to make their own threads in wood, assuming the pilot hole is the correct size.