Jazz Bass headstock bending forward?

[DWBass]

Just for comparison, here is a 45-105 string set. They do appear to be about the same besides the different nut cuts.

 

[abowers]

.045-.100 is what I have on my fretless, so I'm well acquainted with those gauges.

 

[Jeff Jackson]

interesting, after reading this, I checked my basses. I have many mx precisions and jazzies, a Korean made precision, and several amreicanos. I only have one mz jazz and it is exactly the same way. I guess there is something to the statement of the wood of that period.

 

[dwizum]

I guess there is something to the statement of the wood of that period.

To be fair, it's not as much the literal wood of that period as it is the manufacturing process. There's always been good and bad wood, it's a matter of selecting and milling the board properly more than it is a matter of wood from a certain era being better or worse.

Look at the growth rings showing in the grain along the side of the headstock in the first photo. They go from bottom left towards top right along the edge. Ideally, they should be totally parallel to the face of the neck blank, and they should just go top to bottom when viewed from the side like this, there shouldn't be a back to front or front to back tilt in the orientation. Wood that's untrue, like this headstock, is much more likely to move over time, regardless of how dense the growth rings are or what historical time period it was grown in.

 

[micguy]

As someone who will only own basses with angled headstocks, all Fender headstocks look like they're bending forward to me.

Fenders do have angled headstocks. They're just not angled the right way. ;-)

It needs a new neck. Thread closed.

I'd argue it needs a good neck. Age is not the issue here.

Seriously, you'll see some of this on a lot of Fenders. Most are not near as bad as yours. Thick strings (high tension) will contribute to this, but even then, it shouldn't be as bad as what you have.

 

[micguy]

Got to love that fast growth wood! Do a little reading on old growth vs fast growth (gmo) wood. You'll probably get a better picture.

The Maple Fender is using for necks today is from trees that are at least 50 years old - count the rings on your neck. The OP says this is an old MIM neck. Let's assume it's 10 years old. That means the tree started 60 years ago. How many genetically modified maple trees were planted in 1959?

 

[mongo2]

Bummer.

 

[Mastermold]

That can't be good …

 

[eastcoasteddie]

Sometimes you just get one with soft wood...(kind of an oxymoron, heh?)

I had a Squier Affinity (2014) Jazz V that I bought used. After setting neck relief and action to my tastes, I had a horrible buzz on D and G strings. Looking down the neck I saw that it had a slight twist to it.
I didn’t change the strings on it yet because they seemed to be pretty new Pro Steels, and noticed that the previous owner cut the D too short and only got about 3/4 turn around the tuning peg, causing the string to be situated way up high on the peg itself before going under the string tree. That uneven tension on the headstock between the peg and the tree pulled the headstock forward and caused the neck to twist.

I temporarily installed a zip-tie on that peg to set the string lower (see photo), and the neck magically straightened itself out over the next couple hours.
I replaced the strings soon after and never had a problem with the neck ever again so long as I wrapped the strings like the A and G shown below

Invalid Link Removed

 

[mcnach]

Please, link a VALID, peer-reviewed source proving the long-term safety of GMOs as compared to normal organisms. View attachment 573340

Zombie thread but I couldn't resist this.

You cannot possibly treat all GMOs equally, it all depends on what exactly has been modified and its function.

That's all I'll bother saying. Those who really are interested, know how to find proper information. Those who have an agenda (from both camps!) I have no time for.

 

[LetItGrowTone]

Also, I think that a too flexible neck sounds bad.

 

[lokikallas]

Those strings should be wound down further down the post to the base.

 

[Eilif]

That tilt is not normal. I think a touch of tilt is ok and not uncommon, but my 95 MIM P does not look like that.

That said,the neck has had plenty of time to warp. If it hasn't and there's no ski jump, the headstock wouldn't bother me much.

Also, the strings being high when off the tree is not a problem.