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Squier Standard P Bass Special - Ski Jump

Bassmingo

Bassmingo

Nov 6, 2008
708
211
Ireland
#1
As documented in a thread over on the basses forum, I was given a Squier P for free because the I was told the neck was bent. My initial plan for a project was to strip the finish, but the good folks of TB advised against it. So, plan B was to black out the hardware as the finish (satin pewter metallic) compliments this.

So, I got the bass yesterday and the neck is...bad. The truss rod functions, and upon setting the relief at .012 at the seventh fret, almost everything past the twelfth fret on every string is unplayable, as the strings are resting on the last fret. The bend starts to happen around the 9th/10th fret so the truss rod won't help me here. To add to my problems it seems the headstock has been "pulled" as it looks bent out of shape.
IMG_20180801_084027.jpg


My question is: Is this neck worth rescuing, as it's "only a Squier"?
 
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#2
Maybe, I don't think the decal on the headstock makes much difference anymore, it's up to you though. The headstock 'pull' can be addressed simply be adding a 4 string tree just before the E string tuner. That looks like a classic 12th fret kink (ski jump.) A new, quality P neck can be had for as little as 205 USD plus shipping from Warmoth (USA). There are also less expensive necks out there, e.g. Mighty Mite. If you decide to get a new neck, I'd be looking at a P neck rather than the J neck you have there. There is probably someone in the EU that makes a comparable neck that would be less expensive for you. There is a heat treatment available for necks like that, something you could try if you want to invest the time. Here's the thread that explains it all.
Rescuing a badly-twisted 1964 Jazz Bass neck
 
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#4
I would do a radical heat treatment on that neck. Nice summertime project.

1. Remove strings
2. Remove neck from body.
3. Remove tuners from headstock.
4. Remove nut
5. Remove frets
6. Next time you are roasting some marshmallows, chuck the neck on the fire. Probably will burn nicely.

I really doubt that it is worth the time and expense of trying to salvage the neck. That's a pretty serious 12th fret kink ands that suggests to me a really inferior piece of wood was used in its manufacture. From what I see of the grain pattern, it looks like a poor choice of wood for the neck. So even if you were able to straighten it out, it probably won't stay there without some interior reinforcement, and even then...
 
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#6
Turnaround said:
I would do a radical heat treatment on that neck. Nice summertime project.

1. Remove strings
2. Remove neck from body.
3. Remove tuners from headstock.
4. Remove nut
5. Remove frets
6. Next time you are roasting some marshmallows, chuck the neck on the fire. Probably will burn nicely.

I really doubt that it is worth the time and expense of trying to salvage the neck. That's a pretty serious 12th fret kink ands that suggests to me a really inferior piece of wood was used in its manufacture. From what I see of the grain pattern, it looks like a poor choice of wood for the neck. So even if you were able to straighten it out, it probably won't stay there without some interior reinforcement, and even then...
Click to expand...

Heh, perhaps you're right. But if you're interested here are some pics of the neck grain. Also the action on the low E at the twelfth. The bridge saddle is almost completely lowered.
IMG_20180802_150543.jpg
IMG_20180802_150507.jpg
IMG_20180802_150449.jpg
 
#7
Bassmingo said:
As documented in a thread over on the basses forum, I was given a Squier P for free because the I was told the neck was bent. My initial plan for a project was to strip the finish, but the good folks of TB advised against it. So, plan B was to black out the hardware as the finish (satin pewter metallic) compliments this.

So, I got the bass yesterday and the neck is...bad. The truss rod functions, and upon setting the relief at .012 at the seventh fret, almost everything past the twelfth fret on every string is unplayable, as the strings are resting on the last fret. The bend starts to happen around the 9th/10th fret so the truss rod won't help me here. To add to my problems it seems the headstock has been "pulled" as it looks bent out of shape. View attachment 3101582

My question is: Is this neck worth rescuing, as it's "only a Squier"?
Click to expand...

Now, that's a ski jump. A picture perfect example of one. The truss rod is doing its job keeping the main length of the neck fairly straight. But the zone right around the 12th fret, and the zone right beyond the nut, have bent from the load of the strings.

Note that this isn't really the same as warpage. If it had been sitting without strings for a few years, it wouldn't have gone to this shape. This distortion is caused by the load of the strings. This is simply a soft, squishy piece of maple. It's not strong enough to take the load, and it has slowly stretched and bent under the load.

No realistic hope for it. If you tried to straighten it with heat, it would straighten pretty easily. Then go right back to bent as soon as you put the load back on it. The only way to fix it is to straighten it, and add some significant internal reinforcements. Major surgery.

One of us should copy that picture up onto the Ski Jump thread.
 
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#10
sissy kathy said:
Done. It's post# 122; you can copy and move it at your leisure.
Click to expand...

So this is where you got the picture.

If it was my neck, I would be getting a heat light, some clamps, and some metal bars. It is not like the neck is going to get much worse and it is not like you are losing anything. I am about to start a repair on a friend's P with a ski ramp (nothing like the OPs though) and I intend to try heat before I attack the frets.
 
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#11
I'm in the process of scoring a Harley Benton P style neck for 40 bucks for this thing. Hopefully it will fit without too much work. Then I plan to shape it like a 51P and match the colour.
FB_IMG_1533653342176.jpg


Any recommendations on logo removal methods?
 
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#15
vaesto said:
Hmm. Is there a tilt toward E string? E string looks much closer to the edge of the neck than G...
Sand off the logo and make the end of headstock rounder like original Squier. Or leave as it is.
Click to expand...

Yeah, looks like there is. It could be the way the neck is sitting in the pocket, the crappy Squier bridge or the nut (I suspect I'll need a new nut anyway) but it's definitely skewed.
 
#16
Bassmingo said:
Yeah, looks like there is. It could be the way the neck is sitting in the pocket, the crappy Squier bridge or the nut (I suspect I'll need a new nut anyway) but it's definitely skewed.
Click to expand...
There's nothing wrong with that 'crappy Squier bridge' It does what it's designed to do. The neck is not straight in the pocket. Doesn't matter though, you have to take it off for the refinish.
 
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#18
DiabolusInMusic said:
So this is where you got the picture.

If it was my neck, I would be getting a heat light, some clamps, and some metal bars. It is not like the neck is going to get much worse and it is not like you are losing anything. I am about to start a repair on a friend's P with a ski ramp (nothing like the OPs though) and I intend to try heat before I attack the frets.
Click to expand...

I've actually used a drapery steamer machine (and lots of time and patience) to save a few necks.
 

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