necks, # of frets, length + body . . .

jondog · #1 06-27-2009, 08:49 PM

Sorry if this is a dumb question! I've got a bunch of necks and a bunch of bodies. None of the necks were originally paired with the bodies, but I've got a router and I'm brave so I want to put them together . . .

If a body is designed for say, a 34" scale and 24 fret neck, is it a bad idea to put any other type of neck on it? Are there general scale length rules for building frankenstein basses?

vbasscustom · #2 06-27-2009, 09:47 PM

yes, if the body has been designed for a 24 fret, it pretty much has to stay that way. unless you are really handy with a router and can relocate the bridge, ect, its pretty much a done deal

DerHoggz · #3 06-27-2009, 10:04 PM

It really all depends, pics?

jondog · #4 06-27-2009, 10:34 PM

Sorry, no pics yet. Ideally I'd like to put a 21 fret SX neck on a Daisy Rock body designed for 22 frets. The body pocket end is angled, but the neck butt is only rounded, so this isn't a simple match. I've also got a Vaccaro body designed for 24 frets, and a P bass copy body.

guitar ed · #5 06-27-2009, 10:49 PM

Here's the key. Take neck A, put it on body B, and measure from the nut to the 12th fret, then from the 12th fret to the saddles. (Put the saddles in the middle of their range.) If the two measurements are the same, it will work. If not, then you have to move either the neck or the bridge until the two measurements are the same.

Good luck.

edg

Cy_Miles · #6 06-27-2009, 11:12 PM

Is there. or could we use, a sticky about scale length and F/B and neck replacement, since this seems to be a common question?

edit:
Bottom line; The fret placment is designed precisely a given scale. The scale is determined by the distance between the nut and the bridge.

If you move the nut by putting on a different neck you must either move the bridge to retain the scale length the frets were designed for...
Or
determine the new scale length and fret/refret the neck to match the new scale length,

jondog · #7 06-28-2009, 07:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by guitar ed

Here's the key. Take neck A, put it on body B, and measure from the nut to the 12th fret, then from the 12th fret to the saddles. (Put the saddles in the middle of their range.) If the two measurements are the same, it will work. If not, then you have to move either the neck or the bridge until the two measurements are the same.

Good luck.

edg

Cool, thanks!

erikbojerik · #8 06-28-2009, 08:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cy_Miles

Is there. or could we use, a sticky about scale length and F/B and neck replacement, since this seems to be a common question?

"Make Your Own Electric Guitar" by Melvyn Hiscock

Spider · #9 06-28-2009, 08:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cy_Miles

Is there. or could we use, a sticky about scale length and F/B and neck replacement, since this seems to be a common question?

edit:
Bottom line; The fret placment is designed precisely a given scale. The scale is determined by the distance between the nut and the bridge.

If you move the nut by putting on a different neck you must either move the bridge to retain the scale length the frets were designed for...
Or
determine the new scale length and fret/refret the neck to match the new scale length,

Or re-route the neck pocket deeper to the body if u r using 24fret neck on body that was designed for less frets neck..perhaps even shorten the pocket on neck direction side...

Cy_Miles · #10 06-28-2009, 11:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cy_Miles

Is there. or could we use, a sticky about scale length and F/B and neck replacement, since this seems to be a common question?

Quote:

Originally Posted by erikbojerik

"Make Your Own Electric Guitar" by Melvyn Hiscock

+100 on MYOEG. I own and find it invaluable when attempting to design a unique guitar. And at the heart of the crucial design is the scale length and nut & bridge placement.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Spider

Or re-route the neck pocket deeper to the body if u r using 24fret neck on body that was designed for less frets neck..perhaps even shorten the pocket on neck direction side...

My point exactly. There are a number of ways do deal with the issue, and althougt it is simple at the heart, but can get confusing...

If you change scale length you have to change fret placement. If you change the fret positions (by changing necks) then you have to adjust the scale to match.

That part is simple to understand. But if you actually can actually match Neck A to Body B, and how you would go about doing it, can be a little confusing.

Again, I think this is a good sticky topic since so many posts ask about it.