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Upper Fret Access - Body Mod

Collin Lyle

Collin Lyle

Why not?
Feb 22, 2018
193
314
#1
Hi,

I had the oh so unique idea these days to get me an inexpensive bass to mod (de-fret, electronics and hardware changes. etc..) and the first bass I thought of was the Squier Vintage Modified Jaguar SS as I had played one a few times and remembered really liking the neck. And, I'm a short scale kinda guy. Anywho, I got my hands on one and after a few days play I've discovered a couple of things I don't like about it:

1. Access to the upper frets is bad.
2. When sitting (which will most of the time) I don't like the point where it rests on my leg.

** 3. The thing has some serious neck dive **

So, I'm figuring if I'm going to mod, then mod and slice and dice to my liking. I have a concern though cutting back the lower horn. The cut back will start a couple frets up and I don't know if neck stability will be compromised not having as much material hugging that side.

Below is a rough mockup of what I'm looking to do.

Is there anything I should be concerned about?

Screen Shot 2020-12-13 at 9.11.56 PM.png
 
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#2
Collin Lyle said:
Hi,

I had the oh so unique idea this days idea to get me an inexpensive bass to mod (de-fret, electronics and hardware changes. etc..) and the first bass I thought of was the Squier Vintage Modified Jaguar SS as I had played one a few times and remembered really liking the neck. And, I'm a short scale kinda guy. Anywho, I got my hands on one and after a few days play I've discovered a couple of things I don't like about it:

1. Access to the upper frets is bad.
2. When sitting (which will most of the time) I don't like the point where it rests on my leg.

** 3. The thing has some serious neck dive **

So, I'm figuring if I'm going to mod, then mod and slice and dice to my liking. I have a concern though cutting back the lower horn. The cut back will start a couple frets up and I don't know if neck stability will be compromised not having as much material hugging that side.

Below is a rough mockup of what I'm looking to do.

Is there anything I should be concerned about?

View attachment 4088801
Click to expand...
To note:

I won't just be cutting into the finished body. This will be stripped. I'll be working with an unfinished body. And, getting a custom made pick guard for the new shape.
 
#5
As long as you arent changing the amount of wood the neck bolts to, i cant see a problem structurally. I agree a cheap jazz body would be a heck of a lot quicker, but where's the fun in that? I hope you have some refin skills, that's gonna be the bulk of the work here. I'd leave the upper horn alone myself.
 
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#6
AIUI, the sides of the pocket contribute nothing, really - in most cases they don't touch, because in many cases when they do touch the body ends up cracked from expansion/contraction on a too-tight fit. So "what it bolts to" is indeed what holds it on there.

Can't see any reason you couldn't just cut the pickguard down rather than getting a new one made.

Might get some neck dive relief by moving the rear strap button up, but extending the upper horn (or using an extended strap button) is the definitive solution, AIUI.
 
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#11
IMO, move the neck access even further back, parallel with the end of the finger board or go with the scallop pictured above on the Ibby as suggested. Get rid of the thin sliver left over in the pocket. Use 6 screws to bolt down the neck if it makes you sleep better. The lower cut out that rest on your leg is not enough to move much. None of these mods will help with neck dive.
 
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#12
Collin Lyle said:
Hi,

I had the oh so unique idea this days idea to get me an inexpensive bass to mod (de-fret, electronics and hardware changes. etc..) and the first bass I thought of was the Squier Vintage Modified Jaguar SS as I had played one a few times and remembered really liking the neck. And, I'm a short scale kinda guy. Anywho, I got my hands on one and after a few days play I've discovered a couple of things I don't like about it:

1. Access to the upper frets is bad.
2. When sitting (which will most of the time) I don't like the point where it rests on my leg.

** 3. The thing has some serious neck dive **

So, I'm figuring if I'm going to mod, then mod and slice and dice to my liking. I have a concern though cutting back the lower horn. The cut back will start a couple frets up and I don't know if neck stability will be compromised not having as much material hugging that side.

Below is a rough mockup of what I'm looking to do.

Is there anything I should be concerned about?

View attachment 4088801
Click to expand...
Cool, go for it!

Look into some Hipshot Ultralight tuners to lighten up the headstock and alleviate some of the neck dive, especially if you are willing to switch to Y-shaped tuners vs. clover. You'll probably save close to half a pound.

One thing to consider with the lower horn - I would bevel the back of the lower horn. That's where the back of your hand is likely to hit. (That holds true more with Jazz basses, with the lower horn extends further up the neck.)

The neck block on the body also interferes with upper fret access though I don't know how much you could change that without affecting stability and alignment of the plate screws. Hmmm...
 
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#15
Seems to me that up-tuning would be an easier and less destructive way to get to those notes, if you really need them that badly. I'd string yourself up a bass that is tuned A-D-G-C, to start – the opposite idea of a B-E-A-D bass.

That said, Fender necks aren't "held in" by the sides of the neck pocket. They are "held in" by the screws pushing the back of the neck heel and the bottom of the neck cavity together. So don't worry about the mod in that regard.

One more thought: Before doing anything else, try an SG-bodied EB-0. Epiphone makes some cheap ones. They have very good upper fret access, they are available short scale, and they don't cost much. They're under $300, even brand new. The upper fret access by the dots might not seem any better, but in the hand, it's definitely easier than on a Fender offset body.
 
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#16
Collin Lyle said:
Hi,

I had the oh so unique idea this days idea to get me an inexpensive bass to mod (de-fret, electronics and hardware changes. etc..) and the first bass I thought of was the Squier Vintage Modified Jaguar SS as I had played one a few times and remembered really liking the neck. And, I'm a short scale kinda guy. Anywho, I got my hands on one and after a few days play I've discovered a couple of things I don't like about it:

1. Access to the upper frets is bad.
2. When sitting (which will most of the time) I don't like the point where it rests on my leg.

** 3. The thing has some serious neck dive **

So, I'm figuring if I'm going to mod, then mod and slice and dice to my liking. I have a concern though cutting back the lower horn. The cut back will start a couple frets up and I don't know if neck stability will be compromised not having as much material hugging that side.

Below is a rough mockup of what I'm looking to do.

Is there anything I should be concerned about?

View attachment 4088801
Click to expand...
Take the neck off and hit it with a flap disk on a grinder.
 
#17
Wow! What a great group. I'm glad I posted here. Thanx for all the wonderful replies.

To answer a few suggestions: I'm not looking to take the easy route on this one. This all started wanting a short scale fretless (I have a long scale one but, I don't (can't [read: shoulder injuries]) play it anymore). If I was taking the easier (and cheaper) route, I would grab a Gretsch Jr. Jet, de-fret it and be done. But, when the thought of a short scale fretless came to mind, this is what first popped into my head. So, I'm following that first vision.

If it doesn't turn out right (I screw it up) I'm just out a couple hundred and time. The upgraded tuners and bridge can be use to upgrade another bass I have and the new PU can be used for another or easily sold. I figure if I'm going to mod it at all, why not slice and dice it to my liking and if I fail at least I've learned a thing or three I can apply to the next project.

Anyway, keep the suggestions coming. I really appreciate them! Thanx
 
#18
Gilmourisgod said:
As long as you arent changing the amount of wood the neck bolts to, i cant see a problem structurally. I agree a cheap jazz body would be a heck of a lot quicker, but where's the fun in that? I hope you have some refin skills, that's gonna be the bulk of the work here. I'd leave the upper horn alone myself.
Click to expand...
Indeed. What is the fun in that?
 
#19
T_Bone_TL said:
AIUI, the sides of the pocket contribute nothing, really - in most cases they don't touch, because in many cases when they do touch the body ends up cracked from expansion/contraction on a too-tight fit. So "what it bolts to" is indeed what holds it on there.

Can't see any reason you couldn't just cut the pickguard down rather than getting a new one made.

Might get some neck dive relief by moving the rear strap button up, but extending the upper horn (or using an extended strap button) is the definitive solution, AIUI.
Click to expand...
Yeah, I think I wasn't great at explaining my concern. It's so much about the body hugging the neck but taking away the thickness of the wood surrounding the neck pocket. The more I think about it the less my worry makes sense :)
 
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