Leave those necks on!

[LowRick]

Looking around on Reverb and other (local) used stuff sites, i see a lot of basses with the necks removed to show whats underneath.

I'm a technician and also a pretty curious guy... but this always rustles my jimmies. A lot of basses have what is called a "bolt-on" construction. In fact no bolt ever comes near it (wish they did). It is "screwed on" and everyone who ever used screws knows that it's in some way a destructive process. As a screw is turned in, the "thread" is being cut. This is not neat and nice thread like when a bolt is used, but crude and actually different for each screw. It's a very secure connection and solid and ridgid etc, but when you loosen the screws to remove the neck, you can, in some cases, see wood come out of the hole. meaning, the next time you reinstall it, the screws will have lost some power, tightening wise. worst thing that can happen is not the same screw in the same hole. No screw is exactly the same as an other one.

I know i'm a Nitpick right now, but i've been thinking about this for quite a while and find myself looking at awesome J-Basses that are and look great, but i hit the little cross as soon as i see a picture with the neck removed or a clearly damaged neck-joint.

Am i alone in this? am i going too far with it? Should i go to therapy?

 

[Zooberwerx]

The practice will stop when buyers quit asking for year-of-build verification and we know that's not going to happen.

That being said, there is a right way and wrong way to remove a neck for inspection / adjustment / repair...same holds true for re-introduction of the wood screws.

Riis

 

[Nashrakh]

I can see it being a problem if the neck is removed numerous times. Once? Not a big deal I would assume, but I am no technician.

 

[Spidey2112]

I wouldn't let this stop anyone from buying what they thought was an otherwise awesome instrument.

Plenty of resources/techniques to repair an enlarged hole...

Instead of asking 'weight' and 'nut width', our new inquiry will include 'mean time between failure of the neck joint'...

 

[Dave814]

Ok ok! I’ll leave the neck on my Jazz when it finally gets here.

 

[jamro217]

I think you're worrying way too much. The amount of wood you'd have to lose to cause problems would be more than half. The necks are usually hard rock maple (that holds up well to tension). Assuming you took the neck off and reattached it numerous times:
1.) If you labelled the screws and put them back into the same holes they'd all line up properly.
2.) Unless you really over-torqued them there'd be no shedding.
3.) Within the confines of the screw holes there isn't anywhere for the wood to go except to remain in the holes (which in turn will help keep the neck attached).
Besides, how many necks have you seen with this type of problem? Relax.

 

[Spidey2112]

2.) Unless you really over-torqued them there'd be no shedding.

^ This.

 

[lfmn16]

Besides, how many necks have you seen with this type of problem? Relax.

The most sensible possible response.

This reminds me of the thing going around in the 80's about not getting back into your car when pumping gas because when you get back out your clothes could create static electricity which could cause a spark so when you touch the metal nozzle to remove it from your tank the spark could fly down the gas tank and cause an explosion. Yea

 

[fretno]

Sure ok maybe but irl I’ve taken many on/off without issues so screw those necks just like Leo intended

 

[cardinal]

Also, seems like a good idea when reinstalling the screws: turn them counter-clockwise by hand for just a bit until you feel it "click" into the pre-cut threads in the wood. Then tighten. That way the screw won't be tempted to cut new threads in the wood.

 

[Nephilymbass]

Looking around on Reverb and other (local) used stuff sites, i see a lot of basses with the necks removed to show whats underneath.

I'm a technician and also a pretty curious guy... but this always rustles my jimmies. A lot of basses have what is called a "bolt-on" construction. In fact no bolt ever comes near it (wish they did). It is "screwed on" and everyone who ever used screws knows that it's in some way a destructive process. As a screw is turned in, the "thread" is being cut. This is not neat and nice thread like when a bolt is used, but crude and actually different for each screw. It's a very secure connection and solid and ridgid etc, but when you loosen the screws to remove the neck, you can, in some cases, see wood come out of the hole. meaning, the next time you reinstall it, the screws will have lost some power, tightening wise. worst thing that can happen is not the same screw in the same hole. No screw is exactly the same as an other one.

I know i'm a Nitpick right now, but i've been thinking about this for quite a while and find myself looking at awesome J-Basses that are and look great, but i hit the little cross as soon as i see a picture with the neck removed or a clearly damaged neck-joint.

Am i alone in this? am i going too far with it? Should i go to therapy?

I feel ya. I personally don’t touch basses that pictures show they clearly have been taken apart because I don’t know the competency of the seller. I get some people want to know for example if a vintage fender is legit. But I never felt the need to spend a fortune on super old gear.

 

[Glenn Johnson]

Original Fenders ( and quite a few new Fenders ) are designed with truss rod adjustments at the heel, with no adjustment route. The necks are designed to come off. In the unlikely case of the screws ever becoming too loose ( and that is highly unlikely ), a little wood glue and a piece of tooth pick or two would resolve the problem for many more years to come. Stop worrying.

 

[Wesley R]

It kinda bugs me a little, but by the time it is vintage the neck has been removed and re-attached many times.

 

[songwriter21]

Why not just use threaded metal inserts, and then get smaller screws? Imo, the "problem" is now solved.

 

[Atshen]

Why not just use threaded metal inserts, and then get smaller screws? Imo, the "problem" is now solved.

Some builders do that, I've seen that in a magazine some years ago.

 

[smtp4me]

Looking around on Reverb and other (local) used stuff sites, i see a lot of basses with the necks removed to show whats underneath.

I'm a technician and also a pretty curious guy... but this always rustles my jimmies. A lot of basses have what is called a "bolt-on" construction. In fact no bolt ever comes near it (wish they did). It is "screwed on" and everyone who ever used screws knows that it's in some way a destructive process. As a screw is turned in, the "thread" is being cut. This is not neat and nice thread like when a bolt is used, but crude and actually different for each screw. It's a very secure connection and solid and ridgid etc, but when you loosen the screws to remove the neck, you can, in some cases, see wood come out of the hole. meaning, the next time you reinstall it, the screws will have lost some power, tightening wise. worst thing that can happen is not the same screw in the same hole. No screw is exactly the same as an other one.

I know i'm a Nitpick right now, but i've been thinking about this for quite a while and find myself looking at awesome J-Basses that are and look great, but i hit the little cross as soon as i see a picture with the neck removed or a clearly damaged neck-joint.

Am i alone in this? am i going too far with it? Should i go to therapy?

I agree in principle. However... if this is the case, then manufacturers should stop designing/producing basses where neck removal is required in order to adjust the truss rod (e.g. quite a few Fender bass models, like my MIM Geddy signature). With my Geddy, at a minimum I need to remove the pick guard, which again involves removing screws from wood, and to do it properly, at a minimum, I have to loosen the neck screws and tilt it or remove it completely. Not a very practical design if screws should not be removed on a regular basis.

 

[fabubass]

Looking around on Reverb and other (local) used stuff sites, i see a lot of basses with the necks removed to show whats underneath.

I'm a technician and also a pretty curious guy... but this always rustles my jimmies. A lot of basses have what is called a "bolt-on" construction. In fact no bolt ever comes near it (wish they did). It is "screwed on" and everyone who ever used screws knows that it's in some way a destructive process. As a screw is turned in, the "thread" is being cut. This is not neat and nice thread like when a bolt is used, but crude and actually different for each screw. It's a very secure connection and solid and ridgid etc, but when you loosen the screws to remove the neck, you can, in some cases, see wood come out of the hole. meaning, the next time you reinstall it, the screws will have lost some power, tightening wise. worst thing that can happen is not the same screw in the same hole. No screw is exactly the same as an other one.

I know i'm a Nitpick right now, but i've been thinking about this for quite a while and find myself looking at awesome J-Basses that are and look great, but i hit the little cross as soon as i see a picture with the neck removed or a clearly damaged neck-joint.

Am i alone in this? am i going too far with it? Should i go to therapy?

Agree 1 million%! It always Turns Me Off, to see someone selling a Guitar/Bass and there are photos of it all torn apart! I wouldn't consider buying it, so Stop It!!

 

[jd56hawk]

Am i alone in this? am i going too far with it? Should i go to therapy?

Well, I wouldn't recommend printing your theory on a T-shirt.

 

[ctmullins]

I imagine Leo would be amused and perplexed at the reverence shown to his designs. His approach was always pragmatic, and he probably intended for his necks to be consumables, like air filters on cars (but with longer service lives). In other words, use it until it’s worn out, then chuck it and get a new one.

Why not just use threaded metal inserts, and then get smaller screws? Imo, the "problem" is now solved.

This is how I build all of my bolt-on necks. It works really well.

 

[Bass V]

the big issue for me in taking a neck off (or just loosening the screws) is if it's never been done before it destroys everything that bass has built up in decades of integrity, the 'mojo' dies. it may come back to some degree if re-screwed just right but it'll never be like it left the factory. this really hit home last year when I wanted to shim my Japan Fender Power Jazz Bass Special and the second I cracked back the first screw I knew I killed it, the bass just felt like the life went right out of it... it may be a head trip but playing felt meh after being way kick ass. I was never as happy with it again. it'll go into the shop for a complete overhaul of rewiring / new PUs / pro setup soon and the shim will be out so it has a chance to seat tight and naturally, in time I hope it'll be a happy camper again. on these the neck has to come off to access the truss rod (grrrr...) I won't risk marring the paint with a tool, and the tech better not, but that hassle will be his thing. but I agree, don't mess with it if possible.