screw it and get another neck?

[Gord_oh]

(it's a lot to read I know)

I got a fretless jazz bass neck off ebay for my bass project ($75!). It was an import neck that someone did a fretless conversion and cut it down to the jazz style. When I got it I was happy then I put it up to a Fender Jazz and the neck doesnt match exactly, but like he said "jazz style". (duh) Figured it wouldnt be noticeable so I bought some Wilkinson cloverleaf tuners. First I realized that I had to re-drill holes because the ones he marked were not right (I think it is from the original import tuners), and on top of that I kept stripping screws! The edge of the top tuner hangs off the headstock (see pics), it was cut too much and wont hide the edge of the tuner.

The fretless job is flawless, he did a great conversion. But it doesnt have that flare a Fender neck does. Right now Im kinda disappointed and am not especially looking forward to the rest of my build. (Go here for pics of neck: http://viewmorepics.myspace.com/inde...lbumId=1500096 )

Should I see what I can do with this neck, keep it bare until I know more, or buy a fretless neck from Warmoth for the ridiculous price?? (fyi, i bought a Warmoth body already, waiting for it to arrive)

I just need some advice...help me out please.

[danomite64]

Warmoth neck's are worth what you pay for them; I love mine.

[Jefenator]

Looks like you're using tuners that are '70s Fender spec. Shaller BML tuners have a much smaller back plate area. They're still plenty beefy, though, and are appropriate on peg heads where the holes are closer to the edge. (Warmoth sells Schaller BMLs. IME they have the same mounting hole profile as the tuners found on Music Mans & G&Ls.)

See the attached photo - the 5-string on the left has the Schaller BMLs and the one on the right is a '70s Fender. See the difference?

I think that the peg hole size is the same for the two. Not 100% certain on that.

Good luck - hope this helps.

[Jefenator]

You know, if you don't mind the pegs sticking out as far as they do, you could probably also just cut off that part that sticks out. Have Dremel will travel...

[BaldBass]

From your pics it looks like you won't get a nice straight line pull from the G machine head either I don't know about you but I'm a bit ANAL about cosmetics such as this...I think if it were my project I would either check out smaller tuners (gotoh light weights come to mind) or put the neck back on Ebay and start over.

[Gord_oh]

Here's the thing: I dont know if I could sell it on eBay or if anyone would buy it. I could try. As far as tuners go I wanted black and I couldnt find Schaller or Gotoh tuners besides chrome.

I considered using a Dremel and cutting down the tuner but it would drive me crazy!

[Jefenator]

You can get a set of black BML tuners right here for $60:

http://www.warmoth.com/hardware/tune...on=bass_tuners

[Gord_oh]

Maybe down the road, those look a lot better anyway. I put $40 in the tuners I have.
Chances are more likely that I will go with a new neck (later down the road), to give it that real fender look.