Replacing Bass Necks...Help Required

[Boguszewivz]

Hey guys,

So I've been meaning to switch the necks on 2 of my basses, my jazz bass which came with a maple neck would look pretty sick with the rosewood neck of my P bass (and vice versa). Normally this sort of job wouldn't really present any problems until I noticed that the maple neck follows a triangular pattern with 3 screws whilst the rosewood has the traditional square pattern with 4 screws. My question is this, would it be sufficient to have both necks held in place with only 2 screws? (the 2 at the top of the neck) or would this create certain problems for both instruments? both necks match the holes drilled in the body but there are only 2 due to the different patterns that the neck plates have.

Any input/help is greatly appreciated

 

[johnk_10]

you definitely need to use at least three screws to mount a neck. just using the two top ones won't secure it properly.

 

[GolemTB]

`

Just 2 neck screws is definitely NOT safe enuf.

The leveraging force from the length of all that
neck, and headstock, is huge. If, in any way, just
2 screws could work, they'd hafta be 2-in-a-row,
not side by side ... and that isn't compatible with
your implied desire to avoid drilling any new holes.

Just make the extra 2 holes in the formerly-3-hole
neck and a single extra hole in the formerly-4-hole
neck. The necks will not be compromised by this,
and the holes are not visible on the assembled ax.

Both neck heels would then have 5 holes in each.
Consider how many quality basses have 5 or more
holes in their neck heel [having 5 or 6 screws]. A
neck heel is, intentionally, a very substantial hunk
of wood [usually rock maple].

The other option, new holes in the body, would
be the opposite. That piece of the body has way
less wood in it than the neck heel itself, and may
be weakened by extra holes, holes which WOULD
be evident on the assembled ax [well, on ONE of
them, cuz you gotta swap the neck plates, too,
and the 4-hole plate will hide the extra hole from
the 3-hole pattern that the body was born with].


`

 

[Pilgrim]

You can always add holes, as long as they don't overlap the old ones. A couple more holes won't damage or compromise the neck, and no one can see them.

Actually, I'm surprised they don't line up enough to get screws in. Fender neckplates are standardized and the holes are often in about the same place.

 

[Nsih]

2 screws aren't enough. Just drill new holes for the neck socket. Just be careful

 

[Jim Carr]

I think this is a terrible idea just for the sake of "my jazz bass which came with a maple neck would look pretty sick with the rosewood." Can the appearance really merit this kind of thing?

You have a 3-bolt Jazz? Is is a 70's vintage Fender? Have I just been trolled?

 

[Pilgrim]

I agree. Switching necks for rosewood vs. maple is pointless to me.

 

[johnk_10]

on many 4 bolt necks you can't drill a center hole since the center screw would hit the trussrod, especially on the heel adjusted type.

and, at least on the vintage fender 3 vs 4 neck plates, the top two holes do not line up exactly.