Converting 32" scale to 34"

[Rolling Thunder]

i think your best bet is to mount a standard (34") fender-spec fretless neck (assuming the body is also standard fender neck-mount) and then measure to relocate the bridge.

That's exactly what I plan on doing. I'm going to refinish the body first, so I have time to gather parts as deals present themselves.

 

[yodedude2]

very good. check how much room there is between the back edge of the bridge and the butt end of the body. if there is 1 inch or more this plan should work.

edit: i would add...if you have already determined to refinish the body, find out the proper bridge location first. that way you can fill in the old bridge holes during the refinishing.

 

[dwizum]

There's nothing wrong with your plan and Bruce's math is correct (as always). The trick here is that the only fixed relationship between the body and the necks is the effective 21st fret position since that's set right at end of the neck for either scale length. To put it another way, the edge of the neck pocket is the 21st fret for either neck. So when you're measuring bridge position relative to the neck pocket, you're really measuring bridge position relative to the 21st fret.

You are correct in that the bridge needs to be 1" further away from the 12th fret, but the 12th fret isn't in the same spot on the two necks relative to the neck pocket.

And of course once you have neck in hand you can verify all of this in about 10 seconds with a ruler. You could even just forget this whole thread, mount the neck, and measure for bridge position as if you were starting from scratch.

Ultimately you're moving the bridge barely more than half an inch. The old holes will be covered by the bridge, you won't even have to hide them. This is about as easy as it could possibly get for a scale length conversion. Have fun and show us the results.

 

[Rolling Thunder]

very good. check how much room there is between the back edge of the bridge and the butt end of the body. if there is 1 inch or more this plan should work.

edit: i would add...if you have already determined to refinish the body, find out the proper bridge location first. that way you can fill in the old bridge holes during the refinishing.

I plan on using the Hipshot Kickass bridge. It has such a large range of adjustment the I might not even need to move it at all.

 

[Hopkins]

Nope, bad idea.
There are plenty of 32" scale necks available.
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Check the short scale section, plenty of others makers could do it as well.

Don't cobble, do it right, you can thank me later.
Good luck,
Dirk

p.s. lots of curious assumptions and down right incorrect scale confusion in this thread.

If the neck heel is the same, nothing will be cobbled together. He will have to move the bridge back by less than 1/2 inch.

 

[Rolling Thunder]

If the neck heel is the same, nothing will be cobbled together. He will have to move the bridge back by less than 1/2 inch.

It appears to be a 1:1 match

 

[yodedude2]

encouragement dept.: years ago, i installed a 34" mighty mite neck on a reverse pawn shop jaguar body that originally had a 32" neck. only mod needed was moving the bridge.

 

[zontar]

Depending on number of frets (So length of fretboard is part of it) & neck pocket fit--you may not need much movement--I've heard of people not needing any adjustment
Because even though the necks are different scale lengths--the issue isn't really how different they are--but what the measurements are for the neck you're putting on.

So sometimes a lot--sometimes not.

 

[covermego]

Again, I had one, stuck a MIM P Bass neck on it and heel-to-nut was 1-3/8" longer compared to the stock 32" scale neck. Therefore, moving the bridge back 5/8" will equate to 2" exactly (bridge will still cover the original mounting holes, whether stock or hi-mass). I reported on this as a NBD several months ago. I was surprised to see the dimensional similarities/differences. Kinda weird to make a 32"scale bass that came real real close in overall length to a 34" scale. Didn't really feel a lot different. Installing a fretless neck on this, with the Alnico pickups, will be sweeeeeet! Previous post for reference:
NBD Squier Classic Vibe Jaguar Bass Medium Scale

 

[Rolling Thunder]

Again, I had one, stuck a MIM P Bass neck on it and heel-to-nut was 1-3/8" longer compared to the stock 32" scale neck. Therefore, moving the bridge back 5/8" will equate to 2" exactly (bridge will still cover the original mounting holes, whether stock or hi-mass). I reported on this as a NBD several months ago. I was surprised to see the dimensional similarities/differences. Kinda weird to make a 32"scale bass that came real real close in overall length to a 34" scale. Didn't really feel a lot different. Installing a fretless neck on this, with the Alnico pickups, will be sweeeeeet! Previous post for reference:
NBD Squier Classic Vibe Jaguar Bass Medium Scale

I have that same exact body. I had this on its way to me when a Squier CV Jag Bass was recommended on Youtube. About 2 minutes in he talks about features and mentions its 32" scale. I rewinded the video and my stomach dropped. Now that I know the correcting adjustment is not the 2" that you would assume, I'm glad I have it.