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Fender JP-90 should I defret?

C

CarlLightfoot

Apr 14, 2011
6
0
#1
I know many of you are probably sick of these type of questions but I need to make a decision on what to do with my JP-90 with serious fret issues. As I understand JP-90's are known to have neck issues(possibly due to having such thin necks?) would defretting it weaken the neck too much even if I used hardwood veneer? I dont currently have a fretless and the JP-90 just feels like it would be a good fretless. Any thoughts or experience with this situation?
 
#3
CarlLightfoot said:
I know many of you are probably sick of these type of questions but I need to make a decision on what to do with my JP-90 with serious fret issues. As I understand JP-90's are known to have neck issues(possibly due to having such thin necks?) would defretting it weaken the neck too much even if I used hardwood veneer? I dont currently have a fretless and the JP-90 just feels like it would be a good fretless. Any thoughts or experience with this situation?
Click to expand...


If you want to defret it - go ahead. Use hardwood in the fret slots and make sure the inserts are a snug but not forced fit. Do not use wood filler!

And as 202dy has said, I know of no specific issues with JP-90 necks. Does anyone here have some first hand knowledge to the contrary?
 
#4
202dy said:
There are no known issues with Fender JP-90 necks.

What are the issues with the frets?
Click to expand...

I have taken it to 3 different luthiers and they have all had the same reaction when they saw the bass. The groaned and stated that these basses were notorious for having neck issues. They have leveled and crowned the frets but every time I change the strings(same brand and gauge but new set) a new fret becomes an issue. One luthier suggested that perhaps the frets aren't glued. Guess I'll find out when I start pulling them....
 
#5
CarlLightfoot said:
I have taken it to 3 different luthiers and they have all had the same reaction when they saw the bass. The groaned and stated that these basses were notorious for having neck issues. They have leveled and crowned the frets but every time I change the strings(same brand and gauge but new set) a new fret becomes an issue. One luthier suggested that perhaps the frets aren't glued. Guess I'll find out when I start pulling them....
Click to expand...

There are no known issues with JP-90 necks. Please clarify the three different luthiers groans into the stated problems.

Frets do not need to be glued in to hold tight. The barbs on the tang do a good job. If a fret pops, CA glue is used to hold it down.

What is the specific issue with the fret(s)? High? Low? Popped? Crooked? Canted? AWOL?
 
#6
All three of the JP-90 basses that my old store got had the necks replaced by FMIC, one three times. All eight necks were highly unstable and needed constant truss rod tightening. We blew the last one out well below cost rather than try to go through yet another neck replacement process with Fender.

John
 
#10
I would never replace a Fender neck with a Squier one, even mexican Fender's have a much higher attention to detail. I like to be able to run my hands up and down the side of a neck without getting gashes in my hands from the sharp fret ends.... but hey that's probably just me.
 
#11
Then you've been shopping at the wrong music store, sir. Each of my three Classic Vibe necks are easily as comfortable as the '65 Jazz I never should have sold. Every Fender I played before picking up the CV made me wonder if my memory was whacked, baseball bats each of them, but then I picked up the CV and it instantly felt like home again.

iJazz - One man's poison...
 

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