Cutting Off Lower Body Horn

[antwon deserter]

I have an Ibanez SR505QW, and it's inability to reach the high register frets has been bugging me lately. I am completely new to modifying basses and building, so I have a few questions.

1. What shops or stores would be my best bet for a quality job of cutting off the lower horn?

2. How will not having the horn affect resale value?

3. What is the best shape or cut for cutting it off?

4. What is the official word for the lower body horn?

 

[type C basses]

I can't really answer all your questions, but marketable resale value will be gone gone gone. Also, make sure you can still rest it on your leg. Making the refinish look right may be the hardest part, depending on its current finish.

 

[bassteban]

1. I wouldn't pay someone to do this- it's really not that tricky(kinda/sorta speaking from experience*).
2. Resale value: In the toilet.
3. Totally your call, also depends on your end goal.
4. *Lower body horn* works for me(I'm no expert).

*I hacked up a Honer/Steinberger clone- ongoing info here:
http://www.talkbass.com/forum/f57/butcher-shop-706213/

5. Prepare for a swarm of *DON'T DO IT, MAN* comments. I say, do some homework, keep my answer to #2 in mind and proceed/come to your sense. Take pictures if you hack.

 

[AntAir267]

I was planning on doing this to my own bass but I backed out because I weighed my bass and discovered it would cause horrible neck dive.

 

[Beej]

I'm lost here. I love my 505 (for a cheapie import they rock) and I have never had trouble reaching the high register frets - I play up there quite a bit in some songs. I can't imagine that cutting off the lower horn would change anything, if anything you could cut the cutaway a bit deeper, but again, I can't really see what you'd gain. It already has full access to the 22nd fret and quite good access to the 23/24. I don't have freakishly long spider fingers either.

I also concur with the notion that this will empty your bass of any value whatsoever...

 

[90k]

here in lye's my dilemma as well.. The lower horn on most modern basses although much improved over the original fender disign, still leave me not quite there.. For me the perfect ballance can be found on the Ibanez EDA905's
although esthetically inadequate.

 

[bajerovaquero]

+1 in the cutaway work
I did this mod in a 80´ squire jazz and it absolutely works, not very aesthetic but playability is a must for me.
You just need a set of rasps and some finish skills.