Rounded Neck Heel -> Square Neck Pocket

[Antisyzygy]

I've heard that you can't fit a rounded neck in a square pocket. For example, a modern P-bass neck in a old Tele bass body.

However, it's actually common for people to fit rounded Strat necks in the square pocket of Telecaster bodies and as far as I know it doesn't require any modifications to the instrument.

I'm wondering, would it actually be possible to fit a rounded bass neck in a square pocket in a similar fashion to a Strat neck in a Tele pocket?

The reason I ask is because Warmoth makes tele bass necks, but they have round heels. Still, you can get them with 21 frets so I think that fretboard overhang would cover up the neck pocket sides that don't line up properly. The main concern for me would be if it's possible to intonate and align a rounded heel neck in a square pocket.

 

[Jisch]

I don't have direct experience, but if the width and height of the new neck are the same as the old neck you should be ok, you will likely need to set the intonation on your bass after replacing the neck. As I think about this, there is a possibility that the new neck is too long or too short (thinking about the butt of the neck that sits in the pocket) as long as that difference is within the range of your string saddles you should be ok, but I have no idea if it is, without doing measurements of both necks it's hard to say definitively.

 

[Splods]

I'm not exactly sure for fender heels, but my Canora jazz bass fits an allparts rounded heel in the pocket, and just needed to be reintonated about 2 mm.

 

[bolophonic]

You have to modify the pocket in order to get the heel to fit.

 

[Beej]

I've heard that you can't fit a rounded neck in a square pocket. For example, a modern P-bass neck in a old Tele bass body.

However, it's actually common for people to fit rounded Strat necks in the square pocket of Telecaster bodies and as far as I know it doesn't require any modifications to the instrument.

I'm wondering, would it actually be possible to fit a rounded bass neck in a square pocket in a similar fashion to a Strat neck in a Tele pocket?

The reason I ask is because Warmoth makes tele bass necks, but they have round heels. Still, you can get them with 21 frets so I think that fretboard overhang would cover up the neck pocket sides that don't line up properly. The main concern for me would be if it's possible to intonate and align a rounded heel neck in a square pocket.

Yes and no. The strat neck works in a tele pocket because those two necks are the same length from 12th fret to end of heel. When you put a strat neck in a tele body, the neck snugs up against the flat end of the pocket and the scale length does not change. The distance from 12th fret to end of heel is not the same between the modern p and vintage tele bass for example. That size disparity is what contributes to the intonation problems.

That's just for the example above though. If you manage to find a rounded heel neck that has the same pocket depth with a flat pocket, then Bob's your uncle. You have to make sure that the neck, when fully fitted in the pocket, still provides the same distance from 12th fret to bridge as from nut to 12th fret. If not, you either have to modify the pocket to fit the neck or move the bridge to the correct location.

Hope that all makes sense...

 

[Antisyzygy]

It seems like I should just stick with the neck thats on my bass. It fits and is already set up well for the bass it's on.

I have a Squier Classic Vibe 50s bass. I'm making a custom version of that bass from USA made parts, so I figured I'd convert this older guy to a fretless.

I'll probably try doing my own fretless conversion on this Squier. It will end up being cheaper I suppose, all I need is some putty, some finish, a fret wrench and a radiused block. I already have the other tools like a soldering iron to heat the frets with. Thanks everyone.