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MJT NBD and total disappointment
- Thread starter Iofflight
- Start date
Warmoth's necks are Fender licensed and are supposed to be spec-ed just like Fender.
I've put together scores of basses of the years and none of the necks (Allparts, Warmoth, Fender) have ever been the same. Even among 5 Allparts necks, they are all different in width. Some are micro wider or micro narrower but they are never the same.
Of course, a micro narrower neck will fit into place but a micro wider neck will not.
It is not uncommon for me to have to "micro widen" a neck pocket. And I am talking about sanding the edges of the neck pocket less than that of 1/2 the thickness of a sheet of paper.
I made a little sanding block out of a little piece of wood and I use double stick scotch tape to stick a half inch wide piece of 150 or 220 sand paper onto the edge of the block and run it back and forth on both sides of the neck pocket to remove finish build-up and/or a micro amount of wood to get the neck into place.
I'm sorry about your long wait and disappointment with your neck not fitting.
I've put together scores of basses of the years and none of the necks (Allparts, Warmoth, Fender) have ever been the same. Even among 5 Allparts necks, they are all different in width. Some are micro wider or micro narrower but they are never the same.
Of course, a micro narrower neck will fit into place but a micro wider neck will not.
It is not uncommon for me to have to "micro widen" a neck pocket. And I am talking about sanding the edges of the neck pocket less than that of 1/2 the thickness of a sheet of paper.
I made a little sanding block out of a little piece of wood and I use double stick scotch tape to stick a half inch wide piece of 150 or 220 sand paper onto the edge of the block and run it back and forth on both sides of the neck pocket to remove finish build-up and/or a micro amount of wood to get the neck into place.
I'm sorry about your long wait and disappointment with your neck not fitting.
- Jun 30, 2010
- 49,600
- 222,011
- Disclosures
- musician/artist/owner - Gildaxe
This will be especially true when finishing a body/neck, as in - the paint will add thickness and affect its fit reassembling. So if the neck/body connection is tight pre-finishing, I tape off the (bare wood) neck pocket. I usually use oil or wipe-on poly on the neck which doesn't add more surface thickness so it will maintain the tight fit. If there is wiggle-room in that connection - I'll let the paint invade the neck pocket to add some material there. I've also used shims/spacers to snug-up a neck. Can add up to lots of fussy-work but it's pretty straight forward. (as in, anyone can do it)
Excellent points and tips! JIO Thank-you. I'm going to keep what you said into my file.
I actually like a wee bit of wiggle room because most of the time the neck needs to push off to the right or left in the neck pocket in order for the exact center of the neck to correspond to the exact center of the body (center bridge screw).
I always run a straight line of sewing thread from the center at the nut to the center bridge screw..........if the neck is off, it shows up at the center mark on the last fret.
I actually like a wee bit of wiggle room because most of the time the neck needs to push off to the right or left in the neck pocket in order for the exact center of the neck to correspond to the exact center of the body (center bridge screw).
I always run a straight line of sewing thread from the center at the nut to the center bridge screw..........if the neck is off, it shows up at the center mark on the last fret.
- Jun 30, 2010
- 49,600
- 222,011
- Disclosures
- musician/artist/owner - Gildaxe
A tried and true method which I also use. One of these days I'm going to pop for a laser - no wiggle room using one of those!
Sorry to hear you bass didn’t turn out how you wanted, that’s gotta be really frustrating. With the fiesta red, brown, and green being in pretty off color, it makes me wonder if someone or something is colorblind over at MJT. I had a 2018 ASUS computer monitor that was “colorblind”. I’ve seen a lot of monitors like this recently. Sometimes colors on it would be really dark (like green and brown) and other times colors would be really light. Maybe the computer monitors over there have the same problem? Not excusing their actions here, but it seems that could be the case.
I mean that is certainly possible but I have no idea how someone describes fiesta red with more red than pink and ends up with hot pink or sends a swatch of color in person through the mail and ends up with these colors being so off. So it seems to extend beyond the digital realm to me.
- Jun 30, 2010
- 49,600
- 222,011
- Disclosures
- musician/artist/owner - Gildaxe
This is true - we've become so accustomed to looking at colours on a computer screen and basing everything on that. Colour is really hard - I've spent my whole adult life being a colorist; as a fine artist/painter, interior design/decorative artist, and as a guitar finisher. Everyone has their own 'minds-eye' version of any colour and as a finisher - attempting to read someones mind is the hardest part of any job involving colour I've ever done. So I sympathize with a finisher who falls short and am always happy when my clients see the colour I unearthed for them that was in their 'minds-eye'. Sometimes that colour is nowhere close to what they thought was the colour they were after. That's because most people are not colourists and only have a basic sense of colour. (not making a judgment - just stating a fact) Add to that the standard Fender or Gibson or Ric colours that most people identify and request come in a wide variety of hues and shades. Put that all together and if you can nail that colour you are after - you're pretty lucky, and the more times you can pull that off will lead to being successful. Even still - after years of success, there is always going to be one you can't nail - and usually due to a client not really knowing what colour they want. If you want further insights on the difficulty of colour - ask a pro like Pat Wilkins or Marty Bell. I'm sure they each have a boatload of stories.
- Jun 30, 2010
- 49,600
- 222,011
- Disclosures
- musician/artist/owner - Gildaxe
So did Dan build the neck for you? I had him make me an early '66 dot/bound neck for me years ago. Dan does all my custom necks.
Marty Bell did the Oly white finish on my '66 body.
Yes, he made the neck for me. I got the neck specs of a 66 jazz bass from Chicago Music Exchange, and requested that Dan get as close as he can to said specs. Right now the body (2002 62 J reissue in c.a.r loaded with Antiquity 2’s) and lollipop tuners are at his shop so he can PLEK it. Can’t wait for it to arrive!So did Dan build the neck for you? I had him make me an early '66 dot/bound neck for me years ago. Dan does all my custom necks.
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- Jun 30, 2010
- 49,600
- 222,011
- Disclosures
- musician/artist/owner - Gildaxe
That's exactly what I did! I visited the CME and played a '61 J - and loved the neck feel. (but didn't have a spare $20k to buy it!) Always liked the early '66 D&B J so I told him I wanted the feel of a '61 neck as a D&B '66. The board he used on yours looks similar to the one he put on mine. He Plek's all the necks he's made for me - it's the only way to go. I'll be looking for your NBD posting!
So your avatar sez' KC... are you doing this long distance?
Well, this thread is freaking me out a little bit.
I have a “Bass Kit” on order through MJT at the moment. I ordered it back in April before ever seeing this thread.
Interestingly enough my order also includes a Sherwood Green precision style body (along with a Musikraft neck). I’m really hoping it turns out well, this thread is making me wonder if I made the right choice.
The kit already ended up being more expensive than I had originally hoped, so I’m really going to want it all to be right. I will keep you all posted with any relevant updates as I move through the process. Crossing my fingers it turns out well...
I have a “Bass Kit” on order through MJT at the moment. I ordered it back in April before ever seeing this thread.
Interestingly enough my order also includes a Sherwood Green precision style body (along with a Musikraft neck). I’m really hoping it turns out well, this thread is making me wonder if I made the right choice.
The kit already ended up being more expensive than I had originally hoped, so I’m really going to want it all to be right. I will keep you all posted with any relevant updates as I move through the process. Crossing my fingers it turns out well...
- Jun 30, 2010
- 49,600
- 222,011
- Disclosures
- musician/artist/owner - Gildaxe
As you might have read - I am in the same boat. But until I receive what I ordered - I'm going to stay neutral and optimistic. I bet there are a lot of thumbs-up reviews from people using them also. Can't assume until you have your own proof one way or the other.
Yeah I’m doing this all long distance. I want to rephrase what I said about CME. I didn’t actually go there, I visited the website and got the measurements from a product description of a dot n bound J they were selling. They put 1st fret and 12th fret depth measurements of everything, which is awesome. It’s taking a little longer than expected, due to the world’s situation, which is fine, I’d rather have everybody be safe than have my neck on time.That's exactly what I did! I visited the CME and played a '61 J - and loved the neck feel. (but didn't have a spare $20k to buy it!) Always liked the early '66 D&B J so I told him I wanted the feel of a '61 neck as a D&B '66. The board he used on yours looks similar to the one he put on mine. He Plek's all the necks he's made for me - it's the only way to go. I'll be looking for your NBD posting!
Absolutely, agreed. I’m going to remain neutral and optimistic as you mentioned and hopefully the project will turn out well.
I did see your earlier post, I’m anxious to see the results of your BMM body finishing as well. Please keep us posted when you receive it in June! I’m not sure on the exact ETA of mine yet, but I would imagine it’ll be sometime later this summer (maybe July-Aug).
Whatever the color, it turned out beautiful, IMO. Gorgeous bass!
For the record, I have ordered several bodies from MJT over the past 8 years or so, and MOST of them have been the color I wanted. I don't want to smear them online, that's not my purpose. Hopefully your bodies will be exactly what you want.
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Ive had 3 custom MJT orders with mixed results: mid-60s Lake Placid Blue, translucent brown (George Harrison tele), and mid/60s burgundy mist metallic. The BMM was knocked out of the park-perfect, the LPB didn’t have the depth I wanted and seems to lean a little towards ocean turquoise (slight disappointment) but I still like it, the brown was quite disappointing and I sold it
I also have a charcoal frost metallic and sunburst I bought from their eBay shop, which are both great (might be the beat way to go with MJT). Helpful to keep in mind that their specialty is aged finishes, not exactly custom finishes
sorry about your disappointments. I think if I were to work with them I’d include a picture reference with every email correspondence throughout the process. It helps that they’re good people
I also have a charcoal frost metallic and sunburst I bought from their eBay shop, which are both great (might be the beat way to go with MJT). Helpful to keep in mind that their specialty is aged finishes, not exactly custom finishes
sorry about your disappointments. I think if I were to work with them I’d include a picture reference with every email correspondence throughout the process. It helps that they’re good people
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I've only dealt with MJT once. And I'll admit that I was really nervous about getting a color that didn't meet my expectations. I was going to go with Daphne blue, but ended up going for Oly White because I thought there was less chance of being disappointed. They knocked it out of the park.
