Stingray necks on non-Stingray bodies

[Unrepresented]

So, I've seen at least a couple basses on here that are MM/Fender hybrids, Fender32's JazzRay being the most famous in these parts. Would love to see some more examples of what can be done with a Stingray styled neck on a different body style.

[Gort]

Not a Stingray but for a couple of years I used an '89 Sabre neck on a Warmoth P bass body...sorry, no pix.

[fokof]

Here's mine

A 80's MM neck , all maple with a Warmoth body.
It's a VB99 specific bass , has only a GK3 pickup , no magnetic.

[Unrepresented]

Originally Posted by Gort

Not a Stingray but for a couple of years I used an '89 Sabre neck on a Warmoth P bass body...sorry, no pix.

Originally Posted by fokof

Here's mine

A 80's MM neck , all maple with a Warmoth body.
It's a VB99 specific bass , has only a GK3 pickup , no magnetic.

Would love to hear about the results for either of these basses, regarding assembly issues (or lack thereof) and how the instruments worked out in terms of tone, playability, etc.

[fokof]

Originally Posted by Unrepresented

Would love to hear about the results for either of these basses, regarding assembly issues (or lack thereof)

Warmoth doesn't do neck pockets for MM standard (they are Fender standard) so I ordered a 4 string body without any holes predrilled and had to chunk out some width for the neck.
Easy job if you have the right tools.

Originally Posted by Unrepresented

and how the instruments worked out in terms of tone, playability, etc.

I absolutly love that MM neck.Playability is on par with what I had before that ; tops.
I tried to build a lightweight bass , so I went with Light Swamp Ash , there is a Walnut top for the looks and got lightweight Schaller tuners. The absence of mag pickup and electronics keeps the weight low.

[Gort]

Originally Posted by Unrepresented

Would love to hear about the results for either of these basses, regarding assembly issues (or lack thereof) and how the instruments worked out in terms of tone, playability, etc.

My Sabre neck fit was a perfect physical fit in the Warmoth neck pocket (trussrod adjustment on the Sabre neck is at the headstock). However, since the Sabre neck has a heel that extends further along the scale due to its extra fret and the Sabre had a 3 hole neck heel, the neck mounting holes on the Sabre didn't line up with the neck attachment holes in the Warmoth body and I drilled the holes required to mount the neck. I used a Warmoth body I already had, if I had ordered it specifically for the Sabre neck I would have ordered it without the neck holes drilled.

Also due to the extra fret, the neck was offset relative to the body compared to a standard 20 fret Fender neck for which the Warmoth neck pocket is cut. As a result, everything on the body was offset about 1/2" relative to the scale length including the pre-routed pickup cavity and the bridge screw holes so either the saddles or the whole bridge had to be moved about 1/2" closer to the the neck for proper intonation. I did both over time.

Since it was a P style body, it was no surprise to me that it pretty much sounded like a P bass should, inspite of the pickup offset.

If I was to do it again I'd extend the neck pocket into the body.

[Unrepresented]

Originally Posted by fokof

Warmoth doesn't do neck pockets for MM standard (they are Fender standard) so I ordered a 4 string body without any holes predrilled and had to chunk out some width for the neck.

Ah. I was going to ask if the 5 string MM neck fit the 5 string Fender styled neck pocket that Warmoth makes.

Originally Posted by fokof

I absolutly love that MM neck.Playability is on par with what I had before that ; tops.
I tried to build a lightweight bass , so I went with Light Swamp Ash , there is a Walnut top for the looks and got lightweight Schaller tuners. The absence of mag pickup and electronics keeps the weight low.

Right on.

Originally Posted by Gort

My Sabre neck fit was a perfect physical fit in the Warmoth neck pocket (trussrod adjustment on the Sabre neck is at the headstock). However, since the Sabre neck has a heel that extends further along the scale due to its extra fret and the Sabre had a 3 hole neck heel, the neck mounting holes on the Sabre didn't line up with the neck attachment holes in the Warmoth body and I drilled the holes required to mount the neck. I used a Warmoth body I already had, if I had ordered it specifically for the Sabre neck I would have ordered it without the neck holes drilled.

Also due to the extra fret, the neck was offset relative to the body compared to a standard 20 fret Fender neck for which the Warmoth neck pocket is cut. As a result, everything on the body was offset about 1/2" relative to the scale length including the pre-routed pickup cavity and the bridge screw holes so either the saddles or the whole bridge had to be moved about 1/2" closer to the the neck for proper intonation. I did both over time.

Since it was a P style body, it was no surprise to me that it pretty much sounded like a P bass should, inspite of the pickup offset.

If I was to do it again I'd extend the neck pocket into the body.

Were you able to get proper intonation while using the extremes of the saddles in standard bridge location or was it necessary to relocate the entire bridge?

You didn't feel that the tone was impacted by having the pickup position shifted towards the bridge?

[fokof]

Originally Posted by Unrepresented

Ah. I was going to ask if the 5 string MM neck fit the 5 string Fender styled neck pocket that Warmoth makes.

No. Not mine anyways. The neck I have is a narrow spacing one. (0.659" spacing)

They are very precise with their neck pocket dimentions ;
http://www.warmoth.com/Bass/Necks/faq2.aspx

My MM neck I have is a 5 string , I don't remember wich model it was.
I bought the neck only wich was brand new coming off a MM in '88 or '89

[Gort]

Originally Posted by Unrepresented

Were you able to get proper intonation while using the extremes of the saddles in standard bridge location or was it necessary to relocate the entire bridge?

You didn't feel that the tone was impacted by having the pickup position shifted towards the bridge?

If I used a Badass II bridge it was fine in the standard location, with a Fender '62 RI bridge (my preferred bridge) I moved it to make intonation easier.

The tone was well within the range of tones I expect from P basses.