MIM jazz. Maple fretboard/maple neck.

redielg · #1 06-26-2011, 10:27 AM

I own a 2006 MIM jazz bass. I 've wanted a maple neck forever. I love the look, i love the feel. What are my options? What's the cheapest? I know as of 2009 i believe standards come with maple necks. But I don't have the funds to buy another bass. And I would rather save up and get an American standard if I were spending that much. Are mighty mite necks any good? Will they fit an MIM standard? Should I scour eBay for a MIM standard neck?

john grey · #2 06-26-2011, 01:48 PM

Look at custom necks to fit the J-bass. Try Warwick or some of the popular "build 'em" necks. You'll spend about 300 but you'll really get much better quality and exactly what you want.
You take a real chance buying (especially from eBay!) a separate maple neck pulled from an existing Fender as it could be sold for a reason that you may only find weeks down the road (dead spots, high frets, etc) where as if you buy a neck made by a company that specializes in parts your chance of getting a really sweet thing (that makes the bass!)is very high.
It just makes sense both economically and practically.

bassmeknik · #3 06-26-2011, 04:09 PM

I tried a Mighty Mite P neck from E bay (paid $90) and was satisfied (for $90).
It plays well and holds its set, has no fingerboard issues and is very satisfactory for my TOY bass. I use it for part of almost every live performance and am pleased with my purchase.

That said if I would of had the extra $200 and got a Warmoth I am sure I would of been THAT MUCH MORE happy with it... I just couldn't afford it then.

bassmeknik · #4 06-26-2011, 04:13 PM

John Grey gives a very rational argument for spending the extra cash

Maybe I was just lucky and got a good neck...

walterw · #5 06-26-2011, 09:32 PM

the ebay store "STRATosphere" has this kind of stuff, including this one i found in a minute or two.

bassmeknik · #6 06-26-2011, 10:17 PM

Here is where I bought mine, this link is to a maple/maple Jazz neck right handed (the price has gone up in the last two years). It's about $109 shipped inside the US now.

JAZZ J BASS GUITAR NECK ALL MAPLE FENDER LICENSED | eBay

I ordered tuning keys for $30 and had a ready to bolt on piece for about $125 then, it's closer to $150 now. My Partcision is my new fav. and gets played a lot ant hill music has a very high feedback rating (a good sign)

redielg · #7 06-27-2011, 07:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bassmeknik

Here is where I bought mine, this link is to a maple/maple Jazz neck right handed (the price has gone up in the last two years). It's about $109 shipped inside the US now.

JAZZ J BASS GUITAR NECK ALL MAPLE FENDER LICENSED | eBay

I ordered tuning keys for $30 and had a ready to bolt on piece for about $125 then, it's closer to $150 now. My Partcision is my new fav. and gets played a lot ant hill music has a very high feedback rating (a good sign)

I would jump on this if it weren't for the 15" fretboard radius.

bassmeknik · #8 06-27-2011, 08:05 PM

My '75 P has the 9 1/2" radius and the difference between it and the Mighty Mite is noticeable but not bothersome. (Although the '75 is a frettless and the Mighty Mite is fretted)

redielg · #9 06-27-2011, 11:44 PM

Well mighty mike necks have a 9 and 1/2 freeboard radius as well right?

bassmeknik · #10 06-28-2011, 06:52 AM

The literature on the Mighty Mite web site says they have a 15" radius.

I am going to get the basses out and visually inspect the two for any noticeable difference in fretboard radius and report back here today.

bassmeknik · #11 06-28-2011, 01:47 PM

I put both basses side by side and looked and played again. The Mighty Mite is noticeably larger in radius but not bothersome for ME. I have owned the '75 since then and the Partcision has been together 2 years. I played the Jazz bass in '75 and chose the Precision for its wider neck/string spacing so the radius never caught my eye 'till now. I think I need to go play a Jazz bass again and see how it feels today.....

john grey · #12 06-28-2011, 02:16 PM

Please don't misunderstand. I think you could get some great necks out there for $100....I just wish I was so lucky......

Given half a chance I'll always gripe about fleaBay. Once bitten twice shy.

bassmeknik · #13 06-28-2011, 03:04 PM

I did my home work. The Mighty Mites are not available with ANY options, they have a handful of styles to choose from and if they have the style you want (pretty basic choices, no exotic woods) then you will probably be happy. The product line has very good reviews by luthiers and despite having the machine work done overseas the company is in the US.

I totally agree about buying used necks from anywhere (why is it separated from its body???)

ripman3 · #14 06-28-2011, 07:15 PM

I'm in a similar position as you redielg. I'm looking for a replacement neck for my old 99 mim fender jazz, and I'm hoping to spend around $100 on it.

Does anyone have any suggestions on if/how to put on a finish on a new neck? Is it drastically different from putting a finish on other types of wood, say, for furniture?

bassmeknik · #15 06-28-2011, 10:51 PM

Spray it on with a spray gun with the fingerboard masked off (unless it's maple).

The $109 one I mentioned comes with an "oil based poly" finish.

look here;

Necks

and here;

http://www.anthillmusic.com/storefro...42&i=233323931

And no, it is not much different than finishing any fine furniture.

redielg · #16 06-29-2011, 08:52 PM

The listings for the Mighty mike necks on eBay say the fretboard radius is 9.5". Is that wrong info?

slap2much · #17 06-29-2011, 09:04 PM

When I was on that same hunt I discovered that the Mighty Mite necks with rosewood fretboards have a 9.5" radius but the maple ones are 15. A few sellers just copied/pasted from a catalog listing, I think, and didn't follow up to make sure it was the exact same model.

I ended up buying a used Allparts bound/blocked maple fb jazz neck -- really nice feel, 9.5" radius and vintage tint finish. Had a Mighty Mite on the bass before, but the Allparts (at least for me) was way more comfortable.

fhm555 · #18 06-30-2011, 05:04 AM

I bought a rosewood Mighty Mite jazz neck from these guys for less than $100. It needed a quick dressing of the fret edges, the machine head holes needed to be slightly enlarged for the MIM heads, and a slight bit of nut filing and it was good to go. I also had to drill the mounting holes. Granted, it was not a bolt and go situation, but I never expected it to be, and for the price and what little amount of work was required, I'm more than happy with the result.

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