Replacing a 24 fret neck with a 21?

[5StringFool]

I have recently come into a Yamaha RBX 460 that has no turns left in the truss rod. The neck bow isn't too bad but I was thinking of making this one a project bass to start learning how do builds.

From the existing neck's dimensions it looks like a jazz bass neck would fit nicely. However all the replacements I'm seeing (at least the ones that aren't cost prohibitive) are 21 frets. Scale length on the RBX 460 is 34", same as the 21 fret replacements are designed for. So would this cause a problem?

If not, could I replace the existing neck with a P bass neck?

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

[Hellbastard]

Have you tried using washers under the truss rod nut?

[madbassplaya]

I think you would have to relocate the bridge to get the intonation correct. I may be wrong though...

[M.Wrenn]

Originally Posted by madbassplaya

I think you would have to relocate the bridge to get the intonation correct. I may be wrong though...

You might have to relocate the bridge, but I wouldn't say that's for sure necessary. You're definitely gonna have to do a pretty extreme set up on it though. Hopefully the saddles can move far enough to make a bridge relocation unnecessary.


This is an interesting idea. Let us know how it goes.

[ctmullins]

I doubt it will work, not without relocating the bridge. The critical distance here is the nut to the body end of the neck heel. This defines the distance from the nut to the bridge, which must match the scale length of the replacement neck (unless you're going fretless, in which case I have a minty RBX200F neck you can have for cheap ). If this distance doesn't match the original neck, then you'll have to move the bridge by whatever the difference is.

[5StringFool]

Thanks ct, I get what you're saying. I'd have to move the bridge about 3" toward the rear of the body and there just isn't enough room.

I'll have to think about the fretless thing, it's tempting though. I'm already a flatwound guy and have been thinking about it for a while.

[ctmullins]

I'll PM you with further details about my RBX200F neck, to keep the thread clean.