Your Opinions Needed: Jazz Bass Build Issue

[pacojas]

yeah,.. tell the perp to keep his mess-up and buy you a new body. easy peasy and he can practice fixing deep neck pockets and make that his specialty!
just make sure to hire someone else to finish it.

 

[BassFishingInAmerica]

He screwed up. Simple as that. An Allparts neck on a Fender body would never need routing. Now he wants to shim it to where it was in the first place?
Hope you don't pay for this hack job.

 

[TyBo]

Using a shim does, de facto, lead to a less firm connection between the neck and body, as the neck can't be fully flush with the body in that case. This does make a difference in the feel and resonance of the instrument. I realize there are those who will hold other views on this, or will say this doesn't matter. And we know that the use of shims is not a rare thing. Nevertheless, my experience is that a shim is less than optimal, and should be avoided if at all possible. For a new build, done by a supposed professional, I would not view it as acceptable to screw up the body by routing too deep and then offering to "fix" it with a shim. The body was ok. Now it's not. He effed up, and should make it good by replacing it. At least in an ideal world. What result can be attained in the real world is an open question. One would hope he'd do right ...

 

[Bill Whitehurst]

It sounds like he removed more than he needed to.
I'm not convinced that it needed routing at all.

The way to fix this is to try some different,
full length shims until you and he can agree that
the neck height is correct.
Once you have determined the exact thickness needed
then make a one piece , solid, full length shim from
maple, ash or some other hardwood to permanantly
glue into the pocket.
That will give the neck correct height and a solid
foundation for the neck.
Basicly reversing the over routing and letting you
somewhat pick the depth you want, without a bunch of
loose shims being stacked up and potentially
damping vibrations between the neck and body.

If done right, it should be as good as new.
It will take time and patience to get right.

 

[Hopkins]

There was absolutely no reason at all for him to remove any material from the neck pocket. I have replaced Fender and Squier necks with All Parts replacement. The are built to Fender spec and have all fit perfectly minus maybe a light fitting on the sides of the pocket. The depth is standard across the board. I am of the opinion that he either owes you a new body, or he needs to replace the wood that was removed and refinish your body. A new body would be the most economical solution on his part.

 

[Latitude94941]

There was absolutely no reason at all for him to remove any material from the neck pocket. I have replaced Fender and Squier necks with All Parts replacement. The are built to Fender spec and have all fit perfectly minus maybe a light fitting on the sides of the pocket. The depth is standard across the board.

I was wondering about this as well. The only thing that threw me off was that this was a Fender Japan body, so when he told me that the pocket wasn't deep enough, I accepted it.

Does any one out there have experience with the Fender Japan bodies (especially the JB62 model)? Do they use the standard neck pocket depth?

 

[Latitude94941]

It sounds like he removed more than he needed to.
I'm not convinced that it needed routing at all.

The way to fix this is to try some different,
full length shims until you and he can agree that
the neck height is correct.
Once you have determined the exact thickness needed
then make a one piece , solid, full length shim from
maple, ash or some other hardwood to permanantly
glue into the pocket.
That will give the neck correct height and a solid
foundation for the neck.
Basicly reversing the over routing and letting you
somewhat pick the depth you want, without a bunch of
loose shims being stacked up and potentially
damping vibrations between the neck and body.

If done right, it should be as good as new.
It will take time and patience to get right.

Thanks, Bill. I think this is essentially what he is now offering to do (not sure if he was planning to glue it in place or not).

But will it really be as good as new? Without refinishing the body, won't the shim be visible?

And won't the resale value of the instrument be diminished?

 

[Juststanley]

I think he should replace your body or pay you the purchase price and he can fix it at his leisure! (For someone else) a shim is acceptable to get an existing bass into spec but a new build with good parts...I don't thin k so...

 

[BassinCT]

It makes me queasy to hear about this. I would be so embarrassed to have to face a customer...I would have offered to replace the part right away. If he wants to retain business and a good reputation, I hope he makes things right for you.

The tech made a knucklehead mistake (we all make them at some point) and I do not think a shim is a proper solution. With a shim, you can get a little more range with the saddle height, but it sounds like you need one biga$$ shim. He has basically rendered your new part useless and I think he should own the body and purchase another identical body from the same supplier.

 

[BassFishingInAmerica]

I was wondering about this as well. The only thing that threw me off was that this was a Fender Japan body, so when he told me that the pocket wasn't deep enough, I accepted it.

Does any one out there have experience with the Fender Japan bodies (especially the JB62 model)? Do they use the standard neck pocket depth?

Yes. I have put both, Fender and Squier necks on an MIJ bass. Neck pocket depth is standard.

 

[Double E]

Yes, a new body is the only acceptable solution. A discount on his services is not acceptable because he did not move your project forward…

If he believes he deserves the reputation as being a well regarded technician as you described, then he should understand that the right thing to do is replace your body.

 

[jamro217]

"Cut that same board three times and it's still too short. D'oh!" Insist on a new body or send him a letter from the law firm of Burst, Rosewood, Tort and Flats.

 

[Kaden Daniels]

Id be damn Pissed

 

[7dollarbologna]

I don't mean to complicate things, but I bought an AllParts neck for my Bullet and the neck heel was too narrow, (2 & 7/16ths of an inch. the stock Fender neck pocket is 2.5") I had him install it anyway - it has a 32nd of an inch gap on either side now

 

[CH Design]

If it was me, I'd opt for him to plane a little thickness off the top of the body to bring the neck pocket back to the right depth.

 

[buldog5151bass]

Part of my issue is the guy lied to you. He must know he #$%*&ed up.

I'd want a new body, but based on his actions I doubt you will get it. You will either have to accept the glued in shim with a discount, or head to small claims court.

 

[BassFishingInAmerica]

If it was me, I'd opt for him to plane a little thickness off the top of the body to bring the neck pocket back to the right depth.

I've actually had to do this. Many more problems can arise from planing. First, if the bottom isn't perfectly flat, it can not be run through a planer, so it would need to be sanded with a belt or vibrating sander. Looks like it needs at least 1/8" or more to be taken off. Would be tough to get perfectly straight. Then the edges would need to be re-contoured. Then the whole thing refinished to match exactly. So in the end you have a sanded, refinished body, with a lot of work involved. I wouldn't be happy with that.

 

[GBassNorth]

Agree with most everyone here - the tech screwed up and removed too much wood from what I assume is a finished body. I'd give him two options and let him choose the one that best suits him...

Option one - the tech or an agreed qualified third party is to replace the excess wood that was wrongfully removed with a full size wood neck pocket shim to return the pocket to fender spec depth. This corrective action if done right should be invisible to the player when the bass is assembled. Which means shim cut perfectly, permanently glued in place, all seams filled and sanded smooth and the body refinished to the point where the shim and subsequent repair are not visible with the neck in place. This will not be cheap (probably well over $300) and does run the risk of finish cracking around the shim at a later date so you'd want at least 1 year guarantee against any cracking, flaking or chipping around the neck pocket.

Option two - the tech is to replace the now damaged and unusable body with an identical in spec new one from the same supplier yours originally came from at no cost to you. He then has the option to complete the build at the originally agreed to price, find a competent third party to do the work at no increased price to you, or return the new un-damaged body and all other parts (excluding the damaged body, which he an keep to help offset his losses) to you so you can contract with a different tech if desired.

He should be aware that failure on his part to accept one of the two options or offering you an acceptable third option will result in immediate negative feedback in local social media and service rating sites and a report to the BBB as well as a filing for damages in small claims court where you will be seeking reimbursement for a new body plus any other expenses you may have incurred as a result of his incompetence.

Lets hope he just buys you a new body, that would be the right thing to do and would save everyone a bunch of grief.

 

[BassFishingInAmerica]

I don't mean to complicate things, but I bought an AllParts neck for my Bullet and the neck heel was too narrow, (2 & 7/16ths of an inch. the stock Fender neck pocket is 2.5") I had him install it anyway - it has a 32nd of an inch gap on either side now

True. Side gap can vary, depending on the model, but pocket depth is almost always consistent.

 

[gjbassist]

IMO the body is not ruined and the neck can easily be brought back to the proper height by shimming it. Did he screw up? Yes! I would have him glue in a laminate piece in to the neck pocket to bring it back up to the proper height then put it all back together and set it up correctly, all at no charge or at least at a highly discounted rate! If he balks at that then demand he purchase you a replacement body.