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Time for a new neck?

T

thehiros

Jan 23, 2009
93
1
Melbourne, Australia
#1
I have an old Fender-copy P-bass, which really rocks, I love it!

Anyway, when I first got it, the A string socket on the nut was shaved across, so if you plucked the A string a bit too hard, then the string will pop out. I have had the nut filled and the string stays in place, but when I play an open A, sometimes, you can hear a faint vibration and the sound doesn't sustain at all.

Also, up on the 15th fret on the G string (B flat), ONLY on the that fret, there is horrible fret buzz, horrible sustain. And on a couple of the other high notes, the sustain isn't as good either.

The bass overall has a killer tone, really punchy and fat, but I have these issues that really bug me, especially that B flat.

Also the frets smell quite metallic and nasty.

If I get the bass refretted, and replace the nut, will it solve my problems, or is it worth getting a new neck?
And I'm pretty sure the neck isn't warped, it was kept in a decent environment for the last few years and there aren't visible neck warpings, although I'm not entirely sure how to adjust the truss rod.

Anyway, thanks in advance!
 
#2
Fret dressing/leveling + new nut ! Would be probably be around the same price than a new cheap neck, but if you like this one, you should go for it. A new neck change the feel and tone of a bass !
 
#3
Sounds like a new nut and good fret job is in order rather then new neck. Much better choice in most cases imo. And better choice then cheap replacement necks. Only time a new neck is best concidered is if one on it is damaged, wont adjust right with truss rod, or for different profile. Or perhaps if switching to a graphite neck for pref. Imo.
 
#6
The luthier will fix the intonation when he's done the fret-levelling & the nut.

Also, be aware that the A strings on Fender-type headstocks are notorious for not sitting on the groove with any downward pressure unless you allow a little bit of extra length & give it a better break-angle by forcing the string down the shaft of the tuner by putting on a few extra turns of string. This *may* be causing your rattle on the open A.
 
#7
Before you start thinking about a new neck it would be worth setting the action and intonation up properly. If the A string nut slot is a bit deep then it may buzz a bit so ignore it for a start.

As it is a P bass copy I would go with the Fender instructions

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If you can get the intonation right, and the action ok for E D & G as per the instructions then get a new nut fitted to sort out the A and put a new set of strings on. Then go through the setup again, it should not be too far out this time.

If you still have a problem with the odd fret then a good fret job, as darkstorm suggests, should cure it.

You may want to alter it from the Fender factory setup, I usually do, I like my action a bit lower and just ignore a bit of fret buzz, just as long as no frets 'choke off' with too much buzz.
 
#8
GeoffByrne said:
Also, be aware that the A strings on Fender-type headstocks are notorious for not sitting on the groove with any downward pressure unless you allow a little bit of extra length & give it a better break-angle by forcing the string down the shaft of the tuner by putting on a few extra turns of string. This *may* be causing your rattle on the open A.
Click to expand...

Very good point, I forgot about that.
 

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