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Check Out This Weirdo - Short Scale Fernandes Precision Bass

mikeowen17

mikeowen17

@mike_on_the_bass
Supporting Member
Jan 28, 2011
231
1,168
Westchester NY
#1
My buddy was kind enough to loan me this bizzare short scale bass!

It's a Fernandes from 1978 - made by Kawai and spent most of its life in Japan. My friend got it from his buddy and it came to him in rough shape! It now plays and sounds great.

Look at the positioning of the bridge - which means it has a basically full size body - but short neck. I took some pics of it next to my 65 P Bass so you can see the comparison.

A bit of internet sleuthing only turns up two of these (one of them being this one!).

I made some demo videos and put them on IG/YT - I'll link them below if anyone cares to hear it!

IMG_9050.jpegIMG_9055.jpegIMG_9052.jpegIMG_9043.jpeg



 
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#4
GretschWretch said:
I've been toying with converting 34" FSOs to 32" mensure. The bridge does have to be cheated forward. I've been using acoustic flat-top bass bridges to avoid having to do any irreversible mods.
Click to expand...
Do you know about @BTL's conversion necks? You can put one on a standard Fender-style body and make it 32" scale without having to move the bridge.
 
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#5
who said:
Do you know about @BTL's conversion necks? You can put one on a standard Fender-style body and make it 32" scale without having to move the bridge.
Click to expand...

Was going to say the same thing.

@BTL is a great TBer and makes a bolt on replacement neck that accommodates this, no need to move the bridge. If you just move the bridge the space between frets on a 34" neck is going to cause intonation issues. The neck swap is the way to go.
 
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#9
GretschWretch said:
I've been toying with converting 34" FSOs to 32" mensure. The bridge does have to be cheated forward. I've been using acoustic flat-top bass bridges to avoid having to do any irreversible mods.
Click to expand...
I've done that with my MIJ Precision - used a 32" neck from a Squier Jaguar H, had to move the bridge forward by about 12 or 15mm (can't remember exactly) - which works out so the bridge is still hidden by the bridge cover.
 
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#10
who said:
Do you know about @BTL's conversion necks? You can put one on a standard Fender-style body and make it 32" scale without having to move the bridge.
Click to expand...
BGroovy said:
Was going to say the same thing.

@BTL is a great TBer and makes a bolt on replacement neck that accommodates this, no need to move the bridge. If you just move the bridge the space between frets on a 34" neck is going to cause intonation issues. The neck swap is the way to go.
Click to expand...

Thanks, guys! I'll also point out that Allparts currently has licensed 32" scale conversion necks in stock, so that's pretty cool!
 
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#11
RomanS said:
I've done that with my MIJ Precision - used a 32" neck from a Squier Jaguar H, had to move the bridge forward by about 12 or 15mm (can't remember exactly) - which works out so the bridge is still hidden by the bridge cover.
Click to expand...
Interesting. I've read that those Squier medium scale necks don't fit properly in standard Fender neck pockets. Did you have any issues?

I have a modded Squier Jaguar H that I love. I have a P also that I've been eyeing some mods for!
 

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