Ibanez Mikro GSRM20 Left hand neck on Right hand body - Reverse Nut?

[VOXMAN2027]

Hi,
Am currently working on a right handed Ibanez GSRM20 MIKRO 4 string bass. It needed a replacement neck to which I was lucky enuff to acquire an exact neck for it, however it is designed for a lefty. Comparing the 2 different left and right neck profiles, I don't really see any problems except maybe the string lengths might be a little goofy since the tuning posts are in different locations. Since I haven't gotten the neck yet, I'm not sure whether or not I can pop the nut out and just reverse it so the strings lay in the correct nut slots. Also the area finish of the neck that fits in the neck pocket might also be unfinished since it was hidden before ...don't know until I receive neck.
My question? Just looking for any one's knowledge about any of the above issues I might run into. Especially the reverse nut plan.
Thanks everyone!

 

[dr doofie]

Hi,
Am currently working on a right handed Ibanez GSRM20 MIKRO 4 string bass. It needed a replacement neck to which I was lucky enuff to acquire an exact neck for it, however it is designed for a lefty. Comparing the 2 different left and right neck profiles, I don't really see any problems except maybe the string lengths might be a little goofy since the tuning posts are in different locations. Since I haven't gotten the neck yet, I'm not sure whether or not I can pop the nut out and just reverse it so the strings lay in the correct nut slots. Also the area finish of the neck that fits in the neck pocket might also be unfinished since it was hidden before ...don't know until I receive neck.
My question? Just looking for any one's knowledge about any of the above issues I might run into. Especially the reverse nut plan.
Thanks everyone!

I think if you're a righty and you're putting a lefty neck on the body, wouldn't you use a standard righty nut? You're not changing the orientation, just the tuning pegs, and like you said, the length of the strings from peg to nut.
I've done many mods on righty basses where I've just swapped out the nut and put the strings in the appropriate pegs for a lefty.
Technically it might affect intonation, truss rod adjustment etc, but I'm unsure to what level it would. I never had trouble with the intonation, and I have a real picky ear with tuning and stuff
Others might know better

 

[VOXMAN2027]

I think if you're a righty and you're putting a lefty neck on the body, wouldn't you use a standard righty nut? You're not changing the orientation, just the tuning pegs, and like you said, the length of the strings from peg to nut.
I've done many mods on righty basses where I've just swapped out the nut and put the strings in the appropriate pegs for a lefty.
Technically it might affect intonation, truss rod adjustment etc, but I'm unsure to what level it would. I never had trouble with the intonation, and I have a real picky ear with tuning and stuff
Others might know better

Hi and thanks for the quick response!
Yes I recognized the need to have a righty nut on the bass shortly after I started looking at photos of other necks. I figured I could just remove the nut and flip it around so the orientation was correct. I am more concerned with the nut slots being correctly angled or sloped. If the original lefty nut orientation had any kind of a slope from rear of nut to the front (or vice versa), then I might be running into a slight intonation problem or even a buzz/rattle there at the nut where string leaves the nut slot. Who knows!

 

[dr doofie]

Hi and thanks for the quick response!
Yes I recognized the need to have a righty nut on the bass shortly after I started looking at photos of other necks. I figured I could just remove the nut and flip it around so the orientation was correct. I am more concerned with the nut slots being correctly angled or sloped. If the original lefty nut orientation had any kind of a slope from rear of nut to the front (or vice versa), then I might be running into a slight intonation problem or even a buzz/rattle there at the nut where string leaves the nut slot. Who knows!

No problem
I would advise against turning the nut around and using it for all the reasons you said (angle, slope, buzz, etc). Order one from amazon, or if you live near a music store, sometimes they'll sell you or give you one that's laying around.
It's odd to find a lefty neck and not a righty, but you take what you can get. Ibanez generally have two posts on each side on their headstocks, so it wouldn't really be noticeable.
Post photos of the neck and other TB ers will be able to help you with that stuff
Good luck.

 

[VOXMAN2027]

Yeah I get it...was hoping to save a dollar or 2. Because it's a "Mikro" bass the nut width is 38mm. Seen a few on eBay and hope to find one exactly the correct one.
Thanks for your input and advice.

 

[GIBrat51]

No problem
I would advise against turning the nut around and using it for all the reasons you said (angle, slope, buzz, etc). Order one from amazon, or if you live near a music store, sometimes they'll sell you or give you one that's laying around.
It's odd to find a lefty neck and not a righty, but you take what you can get. Ibanez generally have two posts on each side on their headstocks, so it wouldn't really be noticeable.
Post photos of the neck and other TB ers will be able to help you with that stuff
Good luck.

Yeah.. ^^This^^, pretty much. There will be minor differences in string length for you with a left hand neck, since the tuners are slightly offset on a Mikro's headstock, but no way will it be enough to make a difference in anything. Just get a righty nut, and... Play on, Brother, play on...

 

[VOXMAN2027]

Thanks GIBrat51,
Will do! Thanks for the additional confirmation as to what I should and shouldn't do with this crazy idea!