vintage fenders get a bump in the neck?

[matito]

I took my 83' fender jazz into a bass shop because i thought the truss rod needed adjustment.

turns out theres a bump in the neck around the 15 fret, that is supposely common with vintage fenders and this occurs due to the screws that connect the neck to the body.

the guy at the bass store said he has had it done to his vintage P-bass's. all that needs to be done is for a luthier to take some frets out, shave the neck where the bump is and put the frets in.

is this really common? I've never heard it before, but makes sense how a bump can form

[Jim Carr]

This fits with what I have seen on the '69 neck I sometimes use on a '71
P-bass. However, that neck was refretted (poorly) long ago, and that could have been a big factor.

How many frets?

[jgsbass]

Its very common for this to happen. The screw holes actually let moisture in and the wood swells after a few years. The fix is easy too as your bass guy said.

[Musicman_17]

ive herd of this happening alot, but not because of the screws from the bolt on neck fender is famous for, but because of the turss rod. i herd it from a replacement body and neck suplier, www.warmoth.com, you might have herd of it. it says it under there discription of a "vintage truss rod" although it dose make more sence that the screes would do this more so than the truss rod, it dose kinda make sence. anyway, another thing i noticed about all the fenders you guys have had this problem with is there alll CBS era fenders, could that have anything to do with it?

[jgsbass]

Not true, Musicman 17, any bolt on neck is prone to this happening. The truss rod has no effect on the upper end of the neck. If you are referring to the screw for the truss rod, thats another opening in the wood where the neck can absorb moisture. I have seen old Fenders, new Fenders, CIJ Fenders with this problem. I'm willing to bet that a good number of vintage Fenders (and others) have already had this problem fixed.

[WillBuckingham]

Originally Posted by matito

the guy at the bass store said he has had it done to his vintage P-bass's. all that needs to be done is for a luthier to take some frets out, shave the neck where the bump is and put the frets in.

My fender has about 1/16" of Rosewood fingerboard. If the bump was big enough to be a problem, it seems to me you would have sanded through the fingerboard before you fixed it, no?

[pkr2]

Originally Posted by jgsbass

Not true, Musicman 17, any bolt on neck is prone to this happening. The truss rod has no effect on the upper end of the neck. If you are referring to the screw for the truss rod, thats another opening in the wood where the neck can absorb moisture. I have seen old Fenders, new Fenders, CIJ Fenders with this problem. I'm willing to bet that a good number of vintage Fenders (and others) have already had this problem fixed.

I agree completely.

[rawrOOO]

i just had it happen on a neck from a 1993 62RI jazz bass that i bought. i understand it happens more on one piece necks