Neck gap. Should I be concerned?

[roccobladr]

I just noticed that my Fender Mark Hoppus p bass has a bit of a gap between the neck and body. It seems to play fine as usual. This bass is notorious for having issues with the paint cracking, but I wouldn’t think this has anything to do with the gap.

Should I be concerned?

 

[enormungus]

It looks like a sloppy route. As long as the route depth is even at the corners where the neck screws are, I wouldn't worry about it.

 

[Gregc57]

LOL! Took me a few seconds to l@@k past the actual neck joint space!

 

[lug]

If you look at the top of the pic, I think I see a bit of pickguard lift...BEWARE!

 

[roccobladr]

If you look at the top of the pic, I think I see a bit of pickguard lift...BEWARE!

I’ve never had experience with this. Why is this a bad thing?

 

[Watchootognbout]

Always a Fender!Why is that?

 

[SJan3]

I just noticed that my Fender Mark Hoppus p bass has a bit of a gap between the neck and body. It seems to play fine as usual. This bass is notorious for having issues with the paint cracking, but I wouldn’t think this has anything to do with the gap.

Should I be concerned?
View attachment 4569467

May affect the tone. Vibration transfer may be compromised. But, if it plays and sounds good to you I wouldn't sweat it.

 

[micguy]

A Fender with a sloppy neck route? Looks like you stepped into a time machine, and ended up in the 70's. Are you wearing Bell Bottoms? Are people saying "groovy" a lot?

It looks like the neck was forced into the pocket (something wasn't made right), and cracked the body wood - I don't think that's just a finish crack.

 

[DirkP]

When I hear Fender and neck gap, I immediately imagine the gaps to the left or right of the neck.But never in my life and owning 11 Fender instruments, I have seen a neck with a gap between the neck and the neckpocket. Doesn't look good, micguy has described it well.

 

[E2942]

Wow, that's a mess, I hope you didn't receive it new like this.

 

[mdogs]

Paint cracking?!? That is some of the worst I have ever seen, take it to someone who knows and have it looked at, you’ve got issues.

 

[roccobladr]

Paint cracking?!? That is some of the worst I have ever seen, take it to someone who knows and have it looked at, you’ve got issues.

Apparently, Fender had some paint issues on the first run of the mark hoppus basses.
According to this post, “The first run of these, I have read, left the factory without a proper primer under the paint, causing the finish to be very prone to chipping and surface cracks.”
Mark Hoppus loaded body

But the paint cracking doesn’t bother me much. It’s been like that since I’ve gotten it (used) about 10+ years ago. Just more concerned about why this gap is occurring.

 

[E2942]

The gap & the cracks in the paint aren't isolated in my opinion.
The cracks in the paint allow the body to undergo changes due to humidity changes. That's why they have a finish, to keep them from shrinking & warping.

 

[MultiScaleMale]

I've never seen a body warp, but that looks like a body that warped.

 

[Dave Leighton]

bump for an aweome TB’er and fast shipping

Apparently, Fender had some paint issues on the first run of the mark hoppus basses.
According to this post, “The first run of these, I have read, left the factory without a proper primer under the paint, causing the finish to be very prone to chipping and surface cracks.”
Mark Hoppus loaded body

But the paint cracking doesn’t bother me much. It’s been like that since I’ve gotten it (used) about 10+ years ago. Just more concerned about why this gap is occurring.

So the gap has developed over the 10 years you've had the bass?

 

[roccobladr]

So the gap has developed over the 10 years you've had the bass?

I’m not sure exactly when it started but it seems like just recently over these years of owning it. Never noticed it before.

 

[Dave Leighton]

I’m not sure exactly when it started but it seems like just recently over these years of owning it. Never noticed it before.

So this is just a question not an accusation. Are the neck screws really sucked down tight? As it seems like the gap has developed over time IMHO it's less about a sloppy route.

 

[Dave Leighton]

I've never seen a body warp, but that looks like a body that warped.

Kinda of trip looking at it...

 

[roccobladr]

So this is just a question not an accusation. Are the neck screws really sucked down tight? As it seems like the gap has developed over time IMHO it's less about a sloppy route.

Exactly! Not accusing anyone. Just curious as to what is causing this and if it’s something I need to be concerned about.

 

[Fernando Costa]

It's a body crack?