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Fender Jazz Neck on a G&L Body (L-2000)

A

Adrian_D

Sep 18, 2018
11
11
#1
Hello. I've seen a body for a US G&L L-2000 body on ebay here in the UK that I'd like to try with an All Parts Fender Jazz bass (JMO) neck that I've got.

Has anyone done similar before? I've had a web search and it appears that to have it fit I may have to adjust the heel and/or pocket, but also move the bridge. When I say 'I' I mean a local luthier who could do it, but of course that would be at a price so I'd like to know if it's feasible before I pull the trigger.

It's not just whether it'll fit also what playbility might be like too. Thanks in advance.

G&L 2000E USA bass body - fully loaded with neck plate and screws | eBay
 
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#2
I don’t think the fender neck is compatible with a G&L body. The G&L is designed for a 21 fret, 3 bolt neck. The Fender is a 20 fret neck and the pocket dimensions are likely different. Even if you filled the Fender neck screw holes and drilled new ones and the Fender neck for in the pocket, the Fender’s 20th fret will be where the 21st fret on a G&L neck is and you probably wouldn’t be able to intonate it properly unless you moved the bridge on the G&L body. It would probably be easier just to find a G&L neck. Just an FYI, a 21 fret, 6 bolt stingray neck bolts up nearly perfectly to a G&L and vice versa (although you may need to route space for the truss wheel).
 
#3
Thanks @beat.

I should have said that the reason I've got the JB neck is that I'm severely visually impaired and bought an unfinished one that I am going to get stained black on every other fret like I did for a MIM P-bass body I bought. Believe me it makes a massive difference for me. I've not seen any G&L necks - finished or not - for sale, but I'm pretty sure they'd crash through my budget anyway. I did like the L-2000 body when I played one in a shop a while ago, so thought it worth asking the question.
 
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#4
In case anyone comes across this thread in the future, I'm ordering a Music Man / Stingray style bass neck from Guitar and Bass Build UK who have just started selling them (so new they're not on their website yet). I'll let you know how i get on.
 
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#5
Adrian_D said:
Thanks @beat.

I should have said that the reason I've got the JB neck is that I'm severely visually impaired and bought an unfinished one that I am going to get stained black on every other fret like I did for a MIM P-bass body I bought. Believe me it makes a massive difference for me. I've not seen any G&L necks - finished or not - for sale, but I'm pretty sure they'd crash through my budget anyway. I did like the L-2000 body when I played one in a shop a while ago, so thought it worth asking the question.
Click to expand...
As far as I know, G&L will not sell a USA neck separately. They will sell tribute necks, however. Also note that the heels on G&L's are squared off, not rounded like Fender does.
 
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#6
Yes, in general, the Fender neck won't work on the G&L body. In fact, each G&L neck/body are essentially a custom fit on each instrument so even another G&L neck may not fit. Basically, if you need a new neck, you have to have G&L manufacture another one specifically for your bass.
How long that'll take and how much it'll cost, only the greek gods know....

It would probably be easier, quicker and cheaper to just get another bass with the neck you want on it. L2000's with 1.5" at the nut are options orders, so you'd have to custom order it anyway. Or go used, if you can find one, etc.

L
 
#7
beatdatthang said:
I don’t think the fender neck is compatible with a G&L body. The G&L is designed for a 21 fret, 3 bolt neck. The Fender is a 20 fret neck and the pocket dimensions are likely different. Even if you filled the Fender neck screw holes and drilled new ones and the Fender neck for in the pocket, the Fender’s 20th fret will be where the 21st fret on a G&L neck is and you probably wouldn’t be able to intonate it properly unless you moved the bridge on the G&L body. It would probably be easier just to find a G&L neck. Just an FYI, a 21 fret, 6 bolt stingray neck bolts up nearly perfectly to a G&L and vice versa (although you may need to route space for the truss wheel).
Click to expand...

lug said:
Also note that the heels on G&L's are squared off, not rounded like Fender does.
Click to expand...

Came in to mention these points about 20 vs 21 frets and the heel shape. Sometimes, you can get lucky and have plenty of saddle adjustment to still intonate without moving the bridge, but that's not the norm.

On a side note, I LOVE that 80s/black crinkle/colored switch lever era of G&L, especially with the black body finish. I was actively searching for a black L2000 from the 80s when I found my black 84 El Toro with the same features. It was advertised as a L2000 and had really, fuzzy bad pictures but a very fair price for a L2000 of the era. When I arrived in person to check it out, I nearly had a heart attack at the discovery that it was the elusive El Toro. Paid the guy and left quickly. I cackled with joy the whole drive home.
 
#8
Moving the bridge on a G&L bass would not be as easy as on any other bass.
It requires routing very accurately into the body to accommodate for the underneath protrusion of the bridge. Not speaking of “moving string holes” and ferrules in the case of a string-through-body configuration (5-stringer only, I believe).
 
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#10
Thanks - I'd seen those two Tribute necks on ebay - but the whole idea is to use a maple neck that I can stain to suit a sight problem I have (see comment above) - I did consider buying one & taking the finish off, but it looks like Guitar & Bass Build in the UK offer just what I'm after now - and I should be able to get square (ish) edges too.
 

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