J neck on a P body?

[Orpheus55]

This may be redundant, but I have been considering converting my P-bass to an unlined fretless via Warmoth; it appears that a jazz neck will fit a p-body as the heel sizes look the same. Is this so? If true, would there be any other fit considerations?

[iiipopes]

You're in good company. Duck Dunn did this decades ago. Fender even issued a Duck Dunn signature model that is just that. Just be sure you get a good fit. And since there may be slight manufacturing tolerances, give the bass a complete setup to tweak truss rod, bridge saddle intonation and height, pickup adjustments, etc. All very minor, but necessary to get the best out of your bass.

[onosson]

I've swapped a number of necks around, J to P and P to J - never had any problem except adjusting saddles and truss rods. I can't say it will work in absolutely every case, but no harm in trying.

[echoSE7EN]

I just did something similar -- moved my slim-taper J-neck (Warmoth) to my P-body, and put a fretless J neck on the J-body. No issues. I called the guys at Warmoth before ordering the neck, just to be sure, and they said everything should fit. It does. Very happy.

[Orpheus55]

While I was at Warmoth's, I thought about the option of a fretless maple fretboard as well; now, as I know maple is softer than rosewood or ebony, I would only be using flats on it. Thinking that a clear poly finish would be OK with flats? The poly on my fretted P is pretty durable. Just a thought; I know ipdeluxe here did one on his FSR P/ sometime ago.

[hdracer]

I just replaced the fretless neck on my Jazz with a fretted P neck.

[Peepaleep]

I have a warmoth J neck on a fender P body for my franken-fretless. It's a perfect fit and it kills.

[DHowardAir]

Orpheus.

I have a 2004 Fender American Precision Bass with a 2004 Fender American Jazz Bass neck mounted on it. This is my wife. :-)

But, I also have a 1997 Fender USA P-Bass with a 2002 Fender Custom Shop '64 Jazz Bass neck. This is my MISTRESS !!!

This is what CARL RADLE (Clapton's bass player 1970-79) played for much of his career. It is the rig to die for!

Check this for more info: A Lesson in Carl Radle's Style | Bass Musician Magazine [the face of bass]

Good choice my friend.

[chuck norriss]

fender made a JB Special (mij) late 80s early 90s, what duffmckagan played in G&R--P body, J neck. what i play now but fretless. i think the current duff model may have the same (fretted) not sure though. check out fenders site for the dm model

[chuck norriss]

slightly different than duff's

[chuck norriss]

Fender® Products
o it does have a j neck

[lowend1]

Originally Posted by iiipopes

You're in good company. Duck Dunn did this decades ago. Fender even issued a Duck Dunn signature model that is just that. Just be sure you get a good fit. And since there may be slight manufacturing tolerances, give the bass a complete setup to tweak truss rod, bridge saddle intonation and height, pickup adjustments, etc. All very minor, but necessary to get the best out of your bass.

The Fender Duck Dunn model, based on the instrument he played for lierally decades, had a '58 profile P-Bass neck - which nobody would confuse with a J-Bass. The Lakland DD model does have a J-width neck. The Fender Deluxe P-Bass Special uses this combination of features (plus a Jazz pickup at the bridge), with the earlier models having passive pickups and the more recent ones active. Here's my 1998 model:

[BassZilla5]

Fender P Bass Special is a P body w/ J neck so I would imagine they would be the same size heel. The only thing Warmoth's site warns about concerning neck pockets (IIRC) would be differences in MIA, MIM and Squire...