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Modifying a kit question

Bassist59

Bassist59

Oct 4, 2010
285
343
Houston, TX
youtu.be
#1
I am considering building a custom bass from a kit. I intend to modify the body as well as convert it to a set neck instead of bolt on.

I might do something similar to what the Simmons Lobue tribute bass builder did with the neck joint.

http://http://www.talkbass.com/forum/f57/gene-simmons-lobue-tribute-build-954472/index46.html

Here's the plan:
1. Drill out large holes in the neck and body that would normally be for the wood screws on a bolt on.

2. Insert and glue into place the wood dowels into the neck and body.

3. Glue the neck to neck pocket.

Sound structurally ok? It would be a reinforced bolt on to set neck conversion idea.

If this is discussed elsewhere, my apologies. I did search for conversion topics and didn't find anything.
 
#2
Set neck pockets are typically a little tighter fit than bolt on pockets, but your mileage may vary. I'm not sure what the advantage to making it a set neck would be, unless you're planning to carve the heel down after it's all together. Just looking at your steps, it would probably be best to glue the neck into the pocket first, and then afterwards, drill out the holes and fill them with plugs. Dowels will show end grain on the surface of the guitar, so making custom fit plugs with a plug cutter and properly grain-oriented wood would be preferable... :)
 
#3
Beej said:
Set neck pockets are typically a little tighter fit than bolt on pockets, but your mileage may vary. I'm not sure what the advantage to making it a set neck would be, unless you're planning to carve the heel down after it's all together. Just looking at your steps, it would probably be best to glue the neck into the pocket first, and then afterwards, drill out the holes and fill them with plugs. Dowels will show end grain on the surface of the guitar, so making custom fit plugs with a plug cutter and properly grain-oriented wood would be preferable... :)
Click to expand...

Yes, correct, I would carve the heel down afterward. And of course, dowels would go in after gluing the neck to the pocket.

It would end up a solid color but the plug cutter idea is brilliant.

There is no rational reason for doing this other than I want a Gibson Ripper/Grabber-type bass with set neck. The I want to build it myself, too.

Just throwing some ideas out to make it strong. Dowels glued in place instead of wood screws....
 
#4
Bolt neck pockets should be as tight a fit as a set neck pocket. It's true that most bolt neck instruments are a little sloppy, but it shouldn't be this way. Godin is an exception--they have tight neck pockets on their bolt neck instruments.
That being said, there is no reason you can't tighten up the neck pocket on your kit with veneer, sanded to fit.
And before you glue in the neck, make sure it doesn't need a shim in the bottom of the neck pocket first. Assemble it as a bolt neck initially to be certain, then take it apart and glue it up, after you have made a tapered shim for the bottom of the pocket (if needed). Once it's glued, you obviously can't adjust that critical neck to body angle.
 
#5
BAce said:
Bolt neck pockets should be as tight a fit as a set neck pocket. It's true that most bolt neck instruments are a little sloppy, but it shouldn't be this way. Godin is an exception--they have tight neck pockets on their bolt neck instruments.
That being said, there is no reason you can't tighten up the neck pocket on your kit with veneer, sanded to fit.
And before you glue in the neck, make sure it doesn't need a shim in the bottom of the neck pocket first. Assemble it as a bolt neck initially to be certain, then take it apart and glue it up, after you have made a tapered shim for the bottom of the pocket (if needed). Once it's glued, you obviously can't adjust that critical neck to body angle.
Click to expand...

Awesome....totally agree. Gotta get that neck pitch right since it'll be permanent.

I guess the main question is...is the glued dowel/plug where the bolt on wood screws go idea a good idea for strength?

I wanna know if I can make a joint that's just as strong as a gibson set neck bass joint...all on a kit guitar project.

It sounds like it'll be strong if done right. Just looking for positive reinforcement I guess....
 
#6
Absolutely as strong as a Gibson tenon joint, if not stronger, because you will have quite a bit more glueing surface area than a Gibson tenon. Plus the dowels you intend to use will give it even more strength.
 
#7
Bassist59 said:
Awesome....totally agree. Gotta get that neck pitch right since it'll be permanent.

I guess the main question is...is the glued dowel/plug where the bolt on wood screws go idea a good idea for strength?

I wanna know if I can make a joint that's just as strong as a gibson set neck bass joint...all on a kit guitar project.

It sounds like it'll be strong if done right. Just looking for positive reinforcement I guess....
Click to expand...


I would skip doweling the body to the neck. It will make it nearly impossible to get the neck off if you need to in the future. It will be plenty strong as a set neck with out the dowels.
 
#8
Thanks, guys! The doweling the neck to the body idea...I just came up with that out of the blue. It seems logical to use wood dowels and wood glue as an "fastener" in place of the wood screw "fasteners" on bolt on instruments.

I will let you know if I do it. It will be done on a kit guitar or my old practice bass.
 

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