Heavy 77 Jazz...New Body?

[FirewalZ]

So...I have a 77 Jazz that been in a family for years and was my older brothers.
Ive had the frets and fretboard re-done professionally, and it plays and sound great...only problem is it weighs like 13lbs. I was thinking of just getting a new body to put the neck on....of course I would get good passive electronics and pickups for it and keep everything so it could be switched back.
Has anyone done this...know where I can get a good quality finished body in the $300-ish range? Im thinking a 2-piece/classic Alder, tobacco burst or black?

 

[Gorn]

Seems to me you'd be better off getting a whole new bass.

 

[JKos]

Seems like Warmoth is an obvious good place to start. And they list the weight of the in stock bodies so you know what you are getting.

4 lb 7 oz flame maple on alder burst for $386: Invalid Link Removed

5 lb 2 oz alder burst for $350: Invalid Link Removed

- John

 

[FirewalZ]

Seems to me you'd be better off getting a whole new bass.

Possibly, but the neck is superb, I had it professionally redone and it really has a great feel.

 

[Microbass]

You could get a light weight body, bolt the neck in and the whole thing sucks. Even with the existing electronics.

Keep it real or move on...

 

[micguy]

Warmoth is a good place to get a great body, and yes, if you pick it from the available ones, you can know the weight beforehand.

When the Jazz bass is worth a bunch more, buy a Warmoth neck (they're even better than their bodies), build a player out of the Warmoth parts, and sell off the Fender. You'll probably end up with a better playing instrument (assuming whoever does the work knows what they're doing). Yes, the Warmoth won't resell for lots of cash, but you'll already be ahead from selling off the "vintage" Fender/boat anchor.

 

[buldog5151bass]

I am guessing it is an Ash body. In the 70s, Fender went from swamp Ash to northern Ash.

 

[sing-modulator]

why not just get a new body and drop everything into it? why get new electronics instead of the old ones?

 

[jongor]

Have a rear control cavity routed out of the back, you can lose a pound doing that.

 

[zortation]

1. Sell it
2. Buy a Flender reissue, new socks, liquor and whores.

 

[Brad Johnson]

Have a rear control cavity routed out of the back, you can lose a pound doing that.

That type of irreversible mod does wonders for resale value. To end up with a 12 lb. bass. A win-win.

 

[MMiller28]

What's the point of a vintage bass if you change out the body?

 

[Brad Johnson]

So...I have a 77 Jazz that been in a family for years and was my older brothers.
Ive had the frets and fretboard re-done professionally, and it plays and sound great...only problem is it weighs like 13lbs. I was thinking of just getting a new body to put the neck on....of course I would get good passive electronics and pickups for it and keep everything so it could be switched back.
Has anyone done this...know where I can get a good quality finished body in the $300-ish range? Im thinking a 2-piece/classic Alder, tobacco burst or black?

There's no telling what the fit will be on an aftermarket body until you actually do it. As long as you know what a crapshoot it is and don't mind possibly wasting time and money, cool.

 

[BassFishingInAmerica]

new socks, liquor and whores.

Good name for an album.

 

[JKos]

What's the point of a vintage bass if you change out the body?

He has a neck he loves on a body he doesn't. Why shouldn't he try the neck on a new body? It's completely nondestructive and reversible.

- John

 

[MMiller28]

He has a neck he loves on a body he doesn't. Why shouldn't he try the heck on a new body? It's completely nondestructive and reversible.

- John

That's reasonable, but I feel like removing the largest piece of wood from the instrument is a big move.

 

[buldog5151bass]

I was considering the same thing on my '75 Ash jazz (although mine was only 11). I kept it original, and I'm happy.

 

[FirewalZ]

The bass has sentimental value, sounds and plays great as is, so i won't sell it or carve it up. But damn its heavy. I was just trying to think of a way to be able to keep the bass, swap the neck out on a lighter body, and be able to return it back if/when needed. But I agree, I could just save a bit more and get a good reissue and retire it?
The Bass in Question...note the 80's upgrades (barts and roller bridge)
.
Oh....and it was "white" at one time...years of smokey bar gigs.

 

[Gord_oh]

I'd retire it but keep it in the family. Get a new bass. It's a hard realization but seems to be the right choice IMO.

 

[ThuzzleFump]

1. Sell it
2. Buy a Flender reissue, new socks, liquor and whores.

Sounds like somebody's been watching Trailer Park Boys again.