Spare parts question

[Nicola_x]

Hi everyone,

I bought my bass off a friend years ago and never really played it and over the past year or so I've decided I want to actually take it up as a hoby. Thing is I've had some real trouble with the neck on this thing and have finaly decided I'm fed up and just going to replace the neck. I've measured all the dimensions of the neck but since I got it off a non-muical friend I don't know what make it is or anything. I know you can get spare parts and things from the makers website but since I don't know the maker could anyone tell me where I could get a cheap replacement neck?

Thanks in advance

Nicola x

[ack]

You can buy standard bass necks (2 1/2" [width] x 3 7/8" pocket) from www.stewmac.com. A Hard Rock Maple neck will run about $135, and they conform to Fender specs.

A less expensive alternative would be to get one from Rondo Music at www.rondomusic.com. The 34" inch scale model (Maple) will run about $60 USD (some have nuts installed and some don't, so make sure you check out the description).

Make sure you measure the diameter of the tuner holes in your current neck. If they match (the Jazz Necks from Rondo have 1/2" diam. tuner holes), then you're all set.

I bought a Jazz Neck (SX Bass Neck SJB-75CT) with white blocked inlays from Rondo a few months back. Installation was as easy as swapping out the tuners from the old neck, bolting (4-bolt) on the new neck to the body and then re-stringing.

Other adjustments, such as truss rod, intonation, etc. were fairly easy to do if you follow some of the help provided in the Stickys on the Setup & Repair Forum here on TB.

Also, take my opinion lightly (I've only been playing a little over 2 years), as there are lots of people here on TB who have much more experience with other replacement parts (Warmouth, All-Parts, etc).

You can also check out eBay for bass necks.

Good Luck,

Steve

[Nicola_x]

Thanks so much for the information! I did have a quick look on ebay but didn't find much. I will definitely give the other sites a try. As for the tuner holes I would have totally forgotten about those XD

thanks again xx

[lonote]

You won't get a reliable answer until we know what kind of bass you have. What you're asking is very much like asking, "I have a car and I want to install a new engine but I don't know what kind of car it is. Can anybody help me?" Some pictures would be very helpful.

[Nicola_x]

Yeah I guess it is really - I'll try and get some pictures put up in the next few days.

The neck is 63mm at the heel and about 42mm at the nut with 24 frets if that helps =/ It's 25mm thick (including the fretboard) at the heel too. The bass is a 4 string.

[202dy]

What kind of problems are you having with the neck?

[Nicola_x]

Well since it's an old guitar off a friend the thing's a bit battered for a start so I'd like to replace it just on aesthetics but when I got it it was SERIOUSLY bowed - I mean crazy like. I faffed about with the truss rod and got it as straight as I could without breaking the damn thing but the relief was still pretty silly. Despite changing the string heights at the bridge and exploring the possibility of shimming the neck the thing remains pretty much unplayable. I'd be better off just getting another guitar I know but I have a bit of a sentimental attatchment this guitar and a slight obsession with maple fretboards (at the moment it has a rosewood fretboard).

[202dy]

Unless the neck is twisted or the truss rod is broken the neck can be brought into proper relief via the use of clamps and or heat.

[Nicola_x]

Thanks for the information but I'm really not that experienced at guitar repair and that sounds a bit beyond my abilities. I think I'd like to replace the neck if only to get a better looking one too!