Problems using an SX neck

[bassnyc1]

Hello from NYC!!!

I just got a new SX neck delivered today. I got the SX Bass Neck SJB-75 with Pearloid Block Inlays. This is the second time I ordered from Rondo and I can honestly say that I'm pleased with the level of service from them and the neck quality itself seems to be very good for the price; except for the nut. On Kurt's website, this neck's description says no nut included but nevertheless there is a nut; and a pretty crude one at that. That's okay because it can be replaced. My problem is that the neck doesn't fit in the neck pocket of the body I want to put it in. I'm no guitar tech and as much as I've always wanted to do some mods on my basses, I've never gotten around to doing any. The SX neck's pocket is 2 1/2" wide x 3/4" deep. I think the body I'm using has a neck pocket deep enough but it's not wide enough.

My question is: Can the width of the SX neck's heel be trimmed 1/8 - 1/4 of an inch to fit into the body's neck pocket or is that a waste of time? BTW the body I'm using is an old Hohner P/J bass that is originally a fretless. I know I could have just bought an SX P/J for about $120 especially since many of them just came back in stock but I really like this old Hohner's sound so I want to try to modify it.

Sorry for the long post. As you can see, I know nothing about doing mods even though my favorite threads here on Talkbass are the ones that show the mods a lot of you do on your SX Basses.

Any help is appreciated. Thanks!

[theshadow2001]

Im pretty sure the luthier guys say that it's better to extend the pocket than make the neck smaller.

[PilbaraBass]

Originally Posted by theshadow2001

Im pretty sure the luthier guys say that it's better to extend the pocket than make the neck smaller.

+1...

making the neck smaller invites lots of issues...

the best thing to do is to make the body suit the neck...

at any later date if a larger neck is to be installed...the pocket can be filled, re-routed and then a solid color or pickguard applied to disguise the work.

[GlennW]

I've trimmed necks a couple of times.
I wouldn't enlarge a neck pocket to accomodate a SX neck for two reasons:
1) SX necks are a tad larger than most, so you'd be making your neck pocket too wide for other necks in the future (it might happen).
2) The neck is probably less expensive and easier to replace than the body.

[jumbosilverette]

It makes more sense to modify the SX neck (cheap and still available) as opposed to modify the instrument, which is no longer available (and singular).

[Slax]

Originally Posted by GlennW

I've trimmed necks a couple of times.
I wouldn't enlarge a neck pocket to accomodate a SX neck for two reasons:
1) SX necks are a tad larger than most, so you'd be making your neck pocket too wide for other necks in the future (it might happen).
2) The neck is probably less expensive and easier to replace than the body.

+1, I trimmed my fretless neck when I put it on my MIA P-bass. I used a sanding tool and refinished it afterwards. It worked great and didn't hurt the tone. After I was done with it (found another cheaper bass to throw the neck on) I was happy to see the original neck sit nicely back in the neck pocket.

ps. Long Island "HEY" over here!

[matrok]

Funny, I'm having the opposite problem. I got an SX Jazz neck from one TB member and a P body from another. The neck pocket on the body is too wide, so I'm going to need it shimmed.