New bass or New neck- what would you do?

[MrSidecar]

Ok,

the question is: I’m playing an 80s ESP 400 precision, a true beauty, great sound, but with a neck twist.

With the equivalent of USD 580 at your disposal, what would you do? Replace the neck with a genuine Fender P neck, or spend the money on a new squier fsr 50s precision (sonic Blue, a beautiful and very tempting bass I’ve already tried and do like quite a bit)?

Hit me, talkbass.

Best
Sidecar

 

[coalbass]

Ok,

the question is: I’m playing an 80s ESP 400 precision, a true beauty, great sound, but with a neck twist.

With the equivalent of USD 580 your disposal, what would you do? Replace the neck with a genuine Fender P neck, or spend the money on a new squier fsr 50s precision (sonic Blue, a besutiful and very tempting bass I’ve already tried and do like quite a bit)?

Hit me, talkbass.

Best
Sidecar

Measure the body's neck pocket very accurately if you are shopping for a replacement neck. Those 80's ESP basses have a neck heel slightly narrower than standard Fender 2 1/2")

 

[JW56789]

Give it a proper burial and buy something else. I'm a big fan of ESP basses, but some problems on relatively inexpensive instruments lead to fixes that don't make any sense money-wise.

You could stay with ESP in an 80's PBass format:

SURVEYOR '87 - The ESP Guitar Company (espguitars.com)

 

[MrSidecar]

Measure the body's neck pocket very accurately if you are shopping for a replacement neck. Those 80's ESP basses have a neck heel slightly narrower than standard Fender 2 1/2")

Good point. Haven’t checked, but will do.

Give it a proper burial and buy something else. I'm a big fan of ESP basses, but some problems on relatively inexpensive instruments lead to fixes that don't make any sense money-wise.

That certainly has truth to it.
On the other hand, turning back the wheels of time to when my esp was made- it’s a lawsuit model (complete with fender style headstock and, as such, pretty rare) that, in terms of general build quality, gave U.S. fenders of the time a serious run for the money (some say the Japanese were superior, and while I don’t have any firsthand comparison, I know that of the early 90s Fender Japan basses). The neck problems on this bass surely are related to it being abused for years on end as a school instrument.

Again on the other hand- any “mojo” related to originality would be gone with a replacement neck from 2022.

I just don’t know. But, maybe selling this for 400 and spending 550 on the Squier is the smarter way.

Damn.

best
Sidecar

 

[elgranluis]

Buy the squier. Sell the ESP as parts, but if the tuners or pickups are exceptionally good , keep those.

 

[MrSidecar]

Just to be sure what we’re talking about, the race is between this bass (I added the ash trays and pickguard)

And that one (as per an image I found on the store’s site- more beautiful in person).

 

[Bent77]

Depends how much you like the rest of the bass

I’ve moved basses that needed a neck a regretted it later.

 

[BarqsBitMe]

Ok,

the question is: I’m playing an 80s ESP 400 precision, a true beauty, great sound, but with a neck twist.

With the equivalent of USD 580 at your disposal, what would you do? Replace the neck with a genuine Fender P neck, or spend the money on a new squier fsr 50s precision (sonic Blue, a beautiful and very tempting bass I’ve already tried and do like quite a bit)?

Hit me, talkbass.

Best
Sidecar

The most fun option: buy the Squier now, then eventually get a new neck for your ESP… maybe consider a custom built one from Warmoth.

I encourage people to try to have fun in life

 

[Hounddog409]

Buy the squier. Sell the ESP as parts, but if the tuners or pickups are exceptionally good , keep those.

Why would you replace with lower quality?

 

[Goatrope]

One of the benefits of a bolt-on neck. Take advantage of that. Replace the bad neck. Be happy.

 

[MrSidecar]

For perspective, there’s a Kloppmann replacement pickup in the ESP that I would keep no matter what. And the guard and trays would stay with me as well.
Best
Sidecar

 

[J_Bass]

So, you're keeping the pup, the covers, probably the electronics, too.

You're just switching to a Squier body because of the neck.


Why don't you measure the pocket send the measures to Warmoth and order a neck from them?

 

[elgranluis]

Why would you replace with lower quality?

You wouldn’t , of course. Getting the squier would be an upgrade over the Japanese esp.

 

[jd56hawk]

Why would you replace with lower quality?

He said Squier, not Sire!

 

[Clark W]

Just to be sure what we’re talking about, the race is between this bass (I added the ash trays and pickguard)

View attachment 4545018

And that one (as per an image I found on the store’s site- more beautiful in person).
View attachment 4545022

Call Warmoth, get a neck.

 

[FenderBassist]

I appreciate the points of view in the responses. To sort of combine some of them, I suggest you buy the Squier to get you back up and playing. Afterwards, when you have more of a budget, measure the neck pocket on the ESP body and order a Warmoth (or similar) neck to get that bass playable again. Now you have a main and a backup P. Both can have round wounds or one can have flat wounds (if that is something you want).

 

[PotsdamBass8]

Do you like everything else about the ESP? I have to imagine that with your budget, you could get a replacement neck and a luthier to fit it and set it up properly. Don’t think of it as lost mojo, think of it as taking a good bass and investing in the part that has the most effect on playability and longevity. Hardly a good money into bad situation.

 

[DrThumpenstein]

You’ve got that sweet ESP dialed in just so. Another vote for taking advantage of the bolt-on neck. I think you really need to measure carefully and investigate the actual cost of replacing the neck before you can compare your options from an economic perspective.

How playable is it now? Not all twists are created equally.

 

[Breeze3]

There are better options than a squire , Sire makes a very nice P bass within your budget. and I'm sure there are others.

 

[FRoss6788]

Be sure you get a 21 fret neck...

A standard Fender replacement will not work.

I'd stick with the ESP.