Vintage Fender J-Bass Neck Warp Q's

VoodooChi|d · #1 02-10-2009, 10:18 PM

Hey guys, I'm new to the forum and I'm hoping your expertise can help me.

I have a 1971 (I think the year is correct, based on serial number ID) Fender Jazz Bass.

I got it for free from a family friend who had it just sitting in their garage (which probably is why I'm having this issue). It is one of my most prized possessions but there is an issue. The guitar is completely original and I have both of the pickup covers and everything. Visually it's in very good condition besides a little bit of paint chipping on the ends of the cutaways. The issue is the neck. It is warped (bowed) pretty bad. So much so that unless I raise the action to an uncomfortably high level, a few of the pickups around the 14th-18th frets are dead on a few of the strings.

When I first got the guitar, it needed a tuneup so I took it to a local repair guy who I've worked with before, he got all the wiring and pots cleaned and working as well as fixing general issues. He tried to fix the neck as well as he could, but he said he was afraid if he tried to tighten the truss rod anymore it would snap.

So with that lengthy setup, my question is what course of action would be best in getting the guitar more playable? It sounds great, but the neck warping ruins the playability.

Here are the possibilities I have come up with:

1. I don't know if this is possible, but I would ideally like to be able to have the neck fixed. I would think there must be some way to unwarp it by steaming it and straitening it or something. This is my first choice because I really like the fact that the guitar is all original. Do any of y'all know if this possible?

2. The next option would be to buy a matching new neck and hardware from warmoth http://www.warmoth.com/Showcase/Show...=Neck&i=BN2032 to keep the look of the '71 but have the playability of a brand new neck. The problem with this option is that it would end up costing about $500 when all is said and done. Also, the guitar would no longer be 100% original.

3. Another option would be to try and find a straight '71 or thereabouts matching neck on ebay or somewhere. This would be as close to "original" as I can get if option #1 isn't possible, but this also would cost a pretty penny.

4. Just get a new plain ole J-bass neck on ebay or somewhere else for pretty cheap to have the playability. I could keep the old neck around for "show" or if I ever wanted to sell it as an all-original guitar (although I doubt I ever would).

I realize in some ways this is a personal decision, but I figured that many of y'all would have more experience and knowledge (I am a guitar player first, but playing more and more bass recently).

Here are some pics of the neck bowing... thanks for any help in advance.

lowendgenerator · #2 02-10-2009, 10:27 PM

Um...Am I missing something? The action on that bass looks pretty low from where I stand.

You could take the pressure off the truss rod by using a 3 point neck jig to get the neck straight and then crank on the rod some more. Another option is to use washers on the collar of the truss rod to give it more room, the wood under the collar may have compressed over time making the rod not as effective. Option 3 is to have the fretboard removed and a new rod installed.

VoodooChi|d · #3 02-10-2009, 10:38 PM

The action is fairly low because I am just putting up with having some dead frets so I can at least play the thing. It is also lower near the nut and and at the base of the neck because of the bowing. Around the 10th fret the action is somewhat high.

I don't think the issue can be fixed with just a truss rod adjustment If you look at the last picture, you can see that the head shows considerable bowing, and the truss rod wouldn't be able to help with that.

lowendgenerator · #4 02-10-2009, 11:02 PM

You could also have the buzzing frets knocked down. It's more of a symptom treatment than a fix, but it would make it playable me thinks. I see a little bit of bow in the headstock, but the string angle over the nut still looks good.

Slax · #5 02-10-2009, 11:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lowendgenerator

You could also have the buzzing frets knocked down. It's more of a symptom treatment than a fix, but it would make it playable me thinks. I see a little bit of bow in the headstock, but the string angle over the nut still looks good.

Agreed. A washer might help if you need to get some extra spins out of that rod. How's the bridge saddles? Maybe you could lower them a bit? With a back bow like that you should be able to get it pretty low w/o some buzzing... unless I'm way off.

Edit: The higher frets might start buzzing... Give it a shot, fail? My bad.

VoodooChi|d · #6 02-10-2009, 11:22 PM

Thanks for the replies... I'm really trying to get this thing fixed "right" though. Do you know if there is a way to steam the wood and straighten it or some method like that to fix it?

This picture might show the bowing better... it's not as easy to see in pictures but it's pretty noticeable in person.

VoodooChi|d · #7 02-10-2009, 11:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Slax

Agreed. A washer might help if you need to get some extra spins out of that rod. How's the bridge saddles? Maybe you could lower them a bit? With a back bow like that you should be able to get it pretty low w/o some buzzing... unless I'm way off.

Edit: The higher frets might start buzzing... Give it a shot, fail? My bad.

The higher frets are the ones buzzing or "dead" now.

Fred19137 · #8 02-10-2009, 11:33 PM

u need a truss rod replacement. he is afrid the age of the truss rod will break it. So get a new one and replace it. and since the guy did not mention this too u i suggest a different luthier to do it who really knows what they r doing

Turnaround · #9 02-11-2009, 06:52 AM

DO NOT try to fix this by adjusting the truss rod. You are very likely to damage the trussrod, the neck, or both by doing so. The trussrod is made to counteract the pull of the strings - NOT to straighten a warped neck.

If it's a 70's bass, it deserves to be put right. Best option is to take it to a luthier who knows how to handle this condition. You may find descriptions in this forum of how to use heat lamps and such to correct the problem, but unless you are experienced in these techniques, I would not recommend you try it on a vintage instrument.

Free, eh? Too bad. You can never get a discount when they're free.

Relic · #10 02-11-2009, 07:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Turnaround

DO NOT try to fix this by adjusting the truss rod. You are very likely to damage the trussrod, the neck, or both by doing so. The trussrod is made to counteract the pull of the strings - NOT to straighten a warped neck.

If it's a 70's bass, it deserves to be put right. Best option is to take it to a luthier who knows how to handle this condition. You may find descriptions in this forum of how to use heat lamps and such to correct the problem, but unless you are experienced in these techniques, I would not recommend you try it on a vintage instrument.

Free, eh? Too bad. You can never get a discount when they're free.

BINGO - do NOT try to fix this by adjusting the rod. Turnaround hit the nail right on the head. The truss is there to counter the pull of the strings, not to reshape the wood of the neck. It has basically settled that way.
If it were me, I'd take it to a good luthier. You got it for free - an all original bass like this would cost a good amount of money, compare that to what a luthier would charge? It's still a killer deal.
Even if you loosen the truss, clamp it into position and then tighten the truss, the wood's still going to want to go back into the warp as that's how it's settled. And, even if you somehow managed to get that puppy perfectly straight, the frets are still going to probably be all out of whack due to the effects of time and temperature while sitting in a garage for so long. A good luthier can fix all of the above.
If money is the object, what I would do is just get a decent jazz neck off of eBay or here, pop that on, and play and enjoy. If you ever go to sell it, you can put the original neck back on.

lowdowndad · #11 02-11-2009, 07:24 AM

I've got a '70 P-bass I picked up at a yardsale for $80 that has some heel kick-up.
Try some low tension, light gauge strings to see if that helps.
For what you've got into your Jazz, you can afford to have the neck heat-pressed by a competent luthier.
Good luck.

lowdowndad

JLS · #12 02-11-2009, 07:30 AM

It sounds like you not only have trussrod issues, but the dreaded fenderitis, from the way you're describing non-playability on the high frets. I've heat treated these kind of necks, but this invariably leads to the necessity of at least some fret leveling.

Fixing this is going to cost you some change, but considering what you have in this bass, a bargain. And, get those ideas about trying to steam it, out of your head.

If I had to do this, I'd heat treat the neck w/ the trussrod loose, get it in better shape for the planing/sanding of the fretboard, and complete refret.

Or, as others have mentioned, get a player neck for this bass.

VoodooChi|d · #13 02-11-2009, 11:09 AM

Thanks guys, I'll look into this heat treatment thing. That's what I had in mind with the "steam" idea... just some method of straitening that involved more than clamps. I definitely realize the value of the bass so seeing as how I got it free I don't mind spending some money, just within reason.

If it looks like it's going to be too much money, I'll look into a jazz bass neck on ebay.

Any thoughts on the Warmoth neck? Would it be silly to spend that much money just so it looks original?