Neck change question

[chilievans]

i have a Shuker Jazz with a 21 fret neck which I love too bits the only thing is that I wish it had 24 frets.

Is it possible to change the neck for a 24 fret?

 

[ahc]

Not familiar with a Shuker Jazz but I'd say probably not. The neck pocket is probably not designed for a longer neck.

 

[lowfreq33]

Warmoth makes a neck with an extended fretboard, but I believe it's made to replace a 20 fret neck.

 

[Beej]

If you can locate a neck you like, then you can fit it the body by routing out the neck pocket in the body to fit the new neck. It will likely require a refinish, unless you're alright with the unfinished pocket. Another alternative is to have a new 24 fret fretboard installed on your existing neck with an extended overhand allowing for 24 frets. Might be weak on the end and/or interfere with the neck pickup, but you'd have to explore that...

Edit: I would not suspect this would be very cheap to have done unless you've got the skills to pull it off yourself...

 

[Stealth]

Why not contact the folks at Shuker directly? I haven't had contact with them but I'd heard they're a helpful lot.

 

[curbowkid]

If youre going to route the pocket, be careful you dont gooch your scale length

 

[Beej]

If youre going to route the pocket, be careful you dont gooch your scale length

True, but by far the greater risk to "gooch" the scale length with a 24 fret neck is not routing it...

 

[MarthaSamira]

If youre going to route the pocket, be careful you dont gooch your scale length

Then you just adjust your bridge, correct?

 

[curbowkid]

Then you just adjust your bridge, correct?

Yes

 

[Phendyr_Loon]

Be it to route more neck pocket or an extended fretboard, you'll probably find that cutting the lower horn out deeper on the body to be necessary. It would be a pointless endeavor to add frets without being able to physically reach them.

 

[Hopkins]

Be it to route more neck pocket or an extended fretboard, you'll probably find that cutting the lower horn out deeper on the body to be necessary. It would be a pointless endeavor to add frets without being able to physically reach them.

What he said

 

[Beej]

That's true, especially on their design which is already just reaching 21. You could have a 24 fret neck built to install into that pocket, but it will necessitate moving the bridge/bridges forward to compensate, which will have the effect of moving the pickups closer to the bridge, changing the sound. Complicating factors like this are why people so often recommend just buying/building another bass that has the attributes you like designed in place.

Those Shukers are beautiful by the way, I can see why you'd want to keep the one you got and just find a way to work with it!

 

[MarthaSamira]

What about a custom 21 fret neck with a 24 fret protuding board?

Or maybe a device like the one on Pope's Fodera? An extension to the existing board?

Can we see pics?

 

[thepontif]

Honestly, bro, your best bet is not to do it. If you cut the neck pocket deeper, you'll have access issues, and if you just mount a 24 fret neck in the exiting pocket, you have to move the bridge, as Martha mentioned, then you have to move the PICKUP routes too. Balance will be all screwed up then.

I hate to be a stick in the mud, but you should probably just get another bass. You may love what you have to bits, but when you're done with it, it won't be the same bass anymore anyway.