Oh GC, when will you learn?!?

[rojo412]

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I saw this on the GC website and had to laugh.
"Why is it funny?" you may ask...

Well, that replacement neck is a 20 fret neck. And the American Deluxe body it's mounted to was designed for a 22 fret neck. And the bridge hasn't been moved, so in essence, this is a bass that will never be in tune when playing a non-open string.

Oh, but hey... it was installed by a FENDER AUTHORIZED TECH!
Good job, buddy. You're the best!

 

[Dr. Cheese]

GC has learned that the odds are they can sell it and make a profit.

 

[5544]

The Fender authorized tech is the one that caused the error, not Guitar Center.

 

[Doctor J]

It makes you wonder what kind of tech skills you need to be Fender authorised.

 

[DeliriumTremens]

*normally* the extended fret necks just go longer past the neck joint. Should work fine (in theory)

 

[Doctor J]

Doesn't look like those models had an extended fretboard. With the truss rod at the heel you'd never be able to access it with a two fret extension. Well spotted, OP.

 

[bodmin]

Doesn't look like those models had an extended fretboard. With the truss rod at the heel you'd never be able to access it with a two fret extension. Well spotted, OP.

Correct! I have a 2007 Am Deluxe Jazz and the body on the Deluxe is smaller than the standard Jazz Bass body to accommodate the extra fretboard length.

 

[bholder]

*normally* the extended fret necks just go longer past the neck joint. Should work fine (in theory)

"In Theory, Theory and Practice are identical. In Practice, however, they are not."

 

[rojo412]

It makes you wonder what kind of tech skills you need to be Fender authorised.

Yeah, if they have an online form, I'm going to have my dog fill one out and see if he can be an authorized tech, too. Obviously, it doesn't take a genius...

 

[rojo412]

The Fender authorized tech is the one that caused the error, not Guitar Center.

Okay... but someone walked into GC and said "here's a bass that a Fender Tech worked on, buy it from me for $500..."
The people at GC looked at it, played it, got a manager to sign off on it, and purchased a bass that was basically put together wrong.
In essence, GC made a HUGE error.

And that's assuming they didn't buy a broken bass in the first place, then have one of their "authorized techs" fix it in house.

 

[Doctor J]

Hey, if you're the kind of guy who likes a miscellaneous shorter scale bass and you're not anal about being in tune, this could be the bass for you!

 

[Mosstone]

Uh... The number of frets doesn't affect intonation. The scale is the distance from the nut to the bridge, not the last fret to the bridge. It should intonate fine.

[Edit for clarity]: 21 fret necks have an extended fretboard that hangs over the body to accommodate the added fret.

 

[jim777]

Uh... The number of frets doesn't affect intonation. The scale is the distance from the nut to the bridge, not the last fret to the bridge. It should intonate fine.

The assumption here is that since the Dlx is 22 fret, and the body is shorter, the DLX neck is longer to accommodate the extra frets and make up for the shortness of the Dlx body. In that case, putting a standard neck on the Dlx body would change the scale length (from 34" to something different) which would place every single fret in the wrong position. I don't know of that is the case or not, but the reasoning is sound.

 

[Michael B]

The assumption here is that since the Dlx is 22 fret, and the body is shorter, the DLX neck is longer to accommodate the extra frets and make up for the shortness of the Dlx body. In that case, putting a standard neck on the Dlx body would change the scale length (from 34" to something different) which would place every single fret in the wrong position. I don't know of that is the case or not, but the reasoning is sound.

They could have adjusted the pocket in theory.
(I am also suspect though)

 

[mongo2]

They could have adjusted the pocket in theory.
(I am also suspect though)

I don't think they did. In the OPs ad it looks like the neck meets the body at about the 16th fret on the bass side. In photos of the Deluxe with the proper 22 fret neck posted later the neck meets the body between the 17th and 18th fret on the bass side. That spells trouble in River City.

 

[Michael B]

I don't think they did. In the OPs ad it looks like the neck meats the body at about the 16th fret on the bass side. In photos of the Deluxe with the proper 22 fret neck postd later the neck meets the body at about the 18th fret on the bass side. That spells trouble in River City.

Yeah probably right. I looked at it trying to imagine it cut in and it doesn't look like it.

 

[rojo412]

They would have had to mount the neck further out than the edge of the pocket, which they didn't do.
Whoever approved the repair in the first place should have their authorization revoked. And whoever bought it at GC should be chastised.

 

[ThePresident777]

The Fender authorized tech is the one that caused the error, not Guitar Center.

True. And GC is selling this piece of crap, not the Fender Authorized tech. You'd think a music instrument store, especially one that does setups, would be able to spot a shagup like this.

 

[Michael B]

Any TB'r in Atlantic City?
They could go look and give the bad news.

Maybe someone should call and ask to measure the scale.

Located at Guitar Center Atlantic City (609) 383-6979

Product # 111688918

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[Killed_by_Death]

it looks like the neck meats the body

Mmmm, Neck Meat!