Necks

etechstan · #1 02-28-2009, 07:35 PM

I have a Vinci bass that I just noticed the action was getting higher. A quick check showed that the neck is coming away from the body. I tightened the screws but that didn't make a difference

. Fortunately I only need it tomorrow for church and my new SX will be here. I want to do a project with it and replace the neck. Where do I find a 24 fret neck? I want fretless but I'm not afraid to remove the frets if needed. I checked Ebay but there wasn't anything interesting.

lethargytartare · #2 02-28-2009, 07:54 PM

Not sure what you mean by "coming away from the body." When you tightened the neck screws, were they loose? So once the neck was secured firmly, you're saying the action is too high, yes? Have you given it a thorough setup? (what's the relief, are your saddles maxed out up or down, is the neck shimmed)

If it's just a setup issue, but you buy a new neck, you'll be right back here in a few months when THAT neck needs to be re-set up.

And for a new neck, focus more on getting the correct scale length than just matching the number of frets.

ltt

etechstan · #3 02-28-2009, 08:03 PM

The bass is 4 years old, action has been fine up til now. Now it's high and there is a gap between the neck and pad. I tried tightening the screws but it didn't make a difference. Could dry weather affect the holes where the screws connect the body to the neck?

Beej · #4 02-28-2009, 08:12 PM

We'll be able to give you better advice if you post up some pics - I for one am having a hard time envisioning the problem - it just sounds like it needs a good setup. Also, you'll probably get better results in the setup and repair forum, and in fact I imagine they'll be moving this thread pretty soon...

lethargytartare · #5 02-28-2009, 08:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by etechstan

The bass is 4 years old, action has been fine up til now. Now it's high and there is a gap between the neck and pad. I tried tightening the screws but it didn't make a difference. Could dry weather affect the holes where the screws connect the body to the neck?

#1 -- If you've never had your bass professionally set up in 4 years, that's your main issue. You'll be amazed at how well it plays after a proper setup. My first MIM jazz needed to be set up every 6 months (which is not to say that I DID have it set up every 6 months! haha)

#2 -- I think the neck screw problem can be fixed by this: take the screws out completely. Settle the neck back into the pocket so it's nice and flush in there. Take one screw, get it into the mounting hole (read up in the fourms here on getting it into the old threads without stripping the wood). Screw that screw in until it's making contact with the neck plate, but don't tighten it down. Now take the next screw and set it in the opposite corner mounting hole. With one hand you want to keep the neck firmly in the pocket while you get the screw seated. tighten it down just to the neck plate, but don't crank it down. At that point the neck should be securely seated in the pocket. Now put in the other screws, again, not tightening them totally. With all the screws in, and the neck nicely seated, go around and tighten each screw 1/2-to-1 turn, and keep going around until they're all fully tightened.

If the mounting holes in the body are gripping the screws, then when they bottom out into the neck plate, they can't pull the neck back into the pocket, so if a gap develops, you can't close it by just tightening the screws (or you can't do it easily). So just get the screws out and reseat the whole thing.

Make sense?

ltt

**Basschair** · #6 02-28-2009, 11:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by etechstan

I have a Vinci bass that I just noticed the action was getting higher. A quick check showed that the neck is coming away from the body. I tightened the screws but that didn't make a difference

. Fortunately I only need it tomorrow for church and my new SX will be here. I want to do a project with it and replace the neck. Where do I find a 24 fret neck? I want fretless but I'm not afraid to remove the frets if needed. I checked Ebay but there wasn't anything interesting.

Hi etechstan,

I'm thinking you'll probably get further advice, both reinforcing the setup suggestion as well as ideas on another neck, over in Setup and Repair, so I'm going to move this thread over there.

Best regards,
Paul