Your Opinions Needed: Jazz Bass Build Issue

[Double E]

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.

If you were looking to purchase a bass and discovered a visible full-pocket neck shim installed, how would that affect your interest level?

I know it would be perfectly functional, but I would be compelled to pay much less for the bass than I would for the same bass without such an issue...or more likely just pass altogether.

The OP should not settle for anything other than a new body...I know it sounds harsh but that is the only way to set this straight. This is my opinion of course and if the OP wants to be forgiving and take the hit rather than the guy that made the mistake then that's their decision.

 

[Arthur SX]

If you were looking to purchase a bass and discovered a visible full-pocket neck shim installed, how would that affect your interest level?

I know it would be perfectly functional, but I would be compelled to pay much less for the bass than I would for the same bass without such an issue...or more likely just pass altogether.

The OP should not settle for anything other than a new body...I know it sounds harsh but that is the only way to set this straight. This is my opinion of course and if the OP wants to be forgiving and take the hit rather than the guy that made the mistake then that's their decision.

I agree 100% this guy is a "hack" he should replace the body. An "all parts body" is fine I would print these responses out and bring it to him. if he does not fix this bs post his name here we will bombard him or you can take him to court. you could give him the bass and charge him for all the money you invested to get a replacement. A MiM fender used maybe.. good luck

 

[BassinCT]

Another solution to a repair is to leave the deep pocket...rough sand the neck heel and glue a 1/8-3/16" thick slice of wood to the bottom of the heel; trim, re-shape and touch-up finish. It's an option that requires more skill to make it nearly invisible, but a thin slice of rosewood or pau ferro as a contrast could be used. Not my first choice, but I thought I would throw it out there.

 

[Double E]

Another solution to a repair is to leave the deep pocket...rough sand the neck heel and glue a 1/8-3/16" thick slice of wood to the bottom of the heel; trim, re-shape and touch-up finish. It's an option that requires more skill to make it nearly invisible, but a thin slice of rosewood or pau ferro as a contrast could be used. Not my first choice, but I thought I would throw it out there.

Then you'll have spoiled the body and the neck!

 

[charlie monroe]

An "all parts body" is fine ... A MiM fender used maybe.. good luck

Why should the OP take a loss on his purchases? He bought Japanese Fender, not Mexi or after-market.

Another solution to a repair is to leave the deep pocket...rough sand the neck heel and glue a 1/8-3/16" thick slice of wood to the bottom of the heel; trim, re-shape and touch-up finish. It's an option that requires more skill to make it nearly invisible, but a thin slice of rosewood or pau ferro as a contrast could be used. Not my first choice, but I thought I would throw it out there.

Please do not do this. Modifying the neck to accommodate a defective body will mean that they may only be used together. The neck will become incompatible with any other body and the body will still require remediation should you ever decide to make a neck change.

 

[Latitude94941]

I'd like to thank everyone who's taken the time to give me their opinions.

The clear consensus so far is that the tech should reimburse me for the cost of the body; this is what I'll ask him for.

But there is the matter of the work he performed on the neck, which he'll want to be paid for.

He performed a Plek on the neck. I know that the Plek machine uses the strung up instrument to scan and then perform the fret work.

So my question: does it matter that the neck was Plek'd on the damaged body? Or does the Plek work really need to be performed on the body that the neck is ultimately installed in?

He also installed and cut a new nut. Will the nut hight be correct when the neck is transferred to a new body? Or will a new nut be needed?

 

[charlie monroe]

If he Plek'd your neck while it was parked at the bottom of that deep pocket, it may indeed be flawed. Since he he has shaken our confidence by borking up the depth dimension, we don't have any reason to feel confident that it is square and parallel.

In theory, Plek should be dependent on saddle position alone, but I have never heard feedback from anyone having it performed on a bass that is known to be defective. The faulty pocket may present the neck to the Plek machine in a manner that causes false machining corrections.

Seeing is believing. Bolt the neck up on an OEM Fender body and evaluate it firsthand before offering any cash settlement for this part of the job.

 

[BassinCT]

Why should the OP take a loss on his purchases? He bought Japanese Fender, not Mexi or after-market.

Please do not do this. Modifying the neck to accommodate a defective body will mean that they may only be used together. The neck will become incompatible with any other body and the body will still require remediation should you ever decide to make a neck change.

On all the points mentioned: I agree that the option I proposed is not a good choice in these circumstances.
Particularly because you are dealing with someone's mistake by performing a second major modification.

 

[Chrisk-K]

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?

I don't see how the use of the shim would change the tone. If the tech paints the shim in a color similar to the body color, it won't be visible. It would be very difficult to have the tech buy a new bass body because the body hasn't been damaged in a technical sense (shims are used for bolt-on guitars and basses).

However, the resale value of the body is pretty much gone, I think.

 

[Latitude94941]

If he Plek'd your neck while it was parked at the bottom of that deep pocket, it may indeed be flawed. Since he he has shaken our confidence by borking up the depth dimension, we don't have any reason to feel confident that it is square and parallel.

In theory, Plek should be dependent on saddle position alone, but I have never heard feedback from anyone having it performed on a bass that is known to be defective. The faulty pocket may present the neck to the Plek machine in a manner that causes false machining corrections.

Seeing is believing. Bolt the neck up on an OEM Fender body and evaluate it firsthand before offering any cash settlement for this part of the job.

Thanks, Charlie.

Does anyone else have any opinion on whether the Plek work will be transferable to the new body and worth paying for?

 

[Arthur SX]

Thanks, Charlie.

Does anyone else have any opinion on whether the Plek work will be transferable to the new body and worth paying for?

Please do not plek it that is a waist. just buy a cheep fret rocker and if you have a high fret after setup either file it "and you don't need a fancy set just a small file" or have someone else file it. But listen I think you are way overboard on this thing. One guy said ahh a mim j bass and how you would take a loss well let me tell ya brother at this point the body is shot so he should buy it. the j bass you get from allpart or fender or g&l or even mike lull are all so close in playability " in general" "and I know someone will boo hoo this but it's true" don't go crazy its not worth it.
Lakland skylines are great so are stock fenders yea you can put a badass bridge different pickup bla bla bla in the long run what counts is how often you work at playing it. If you love your bass you will play it more I have had maybe 25 basses over the years including Warwick, Spector, and USA G&L all sold.. I play a Fender USA 60s hot rod p bass a lakland skyline 5 st J with delano pickups, and a Fender usa fretless j plain and simple. get good play out have fun // get complements and the chicks.. ENJOY

 

[Latitude94941]

Please do not plek it that is a waist. just buy a cheep fret rocker and if you have a high fret after setup either file it "and you don't need a fancy set just a small file" or have someone else file it. But listen I think you are way overboard on this thing. One guy said ahh a mim j bass and how you would take a loss well let me tell ya brother at this point the body is shot so he should buy it. the j bass you get from allpart or fender or g&l or even mike lull are all so close in playability " in general" "and I know someone will boo hoo this but it's true" don't go crazy its not worth it.
Lakland skylines are great so are stock fenders yea you can put a badass bridge different pickup bla bla bla in the long run what counts is how often you work at playing it. If you love your bass you will play it more I have had maybe 25 basses over the years including Warwick, Spector, and USA G&L all sold.. I play a Fender USA 60s hot rod p bass a lakland skyline 5 st J with delano pickups, and a Fender usa fretless j plain and simple. get good play out have fun // get complements and the chicks.. ENJOY

Sorry, the Plek work has already been done. My question is whether I should be paying for it since it was done while the neck was attached to the body with the pocket that was routed too deep.

Anyone have any thoughts about this?

 

[Arthur SX]

Sorry, the Plek work has already been done. My question is whether I should be paying for it since it was done while the neck was attached to the body with the pocket that was routed too deep.

Anyone have any thoughts about this?

Well from a pragmatic point of view the string tension should be about the same on the neck weather the neck sits low or high provided the action was done correctly for the pleking machine. pleking is just a mass production way of fret leveling. did you try the neck in another body yet? I honestly think the neck will be fine and really as long as you can get the action the way you like it, it doesn't matter how low the neck sits in the body as long as you have enough pickup clearance. It is just a bass guitar , a tool , no mystery just a few part put together to make sound. Did you take the bass to a different tech? I would and see what he or she says. Why not a/b your bass to say a Fender and see if it feels similar or way off. If this guy routed the body that poorly I would more concerned about the neck to bridge alignment.

 

[BassFishingInAmerica]

I'd like to thank everyone who's taken the time to give me their opinions.

The clear consensus so far is that the tech should reimburse me for the cost of the body; this is what I'll ask him for.

But there is the matter of the work he performed on the neck, which he'll want to be paid for.

He performed a Plek on the neck. I know that the Plek machine uses the strung up instrument to scan and then perform the fret work.

So my question: does it matter that the neck was Plek'd on the damaged body? Or does the Plek work really need to be performed on the body that the neck is ultimately installed in?

He also installed and cut a new nut. Will the nut hight be correct when the neck is transferred to a new body? Or will a new nut be needed?

Sorry, but for all of the aggravation, ALL services at this point should be FREE.

 

[Hopkins]

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.

Its going to require a full pocket shim that will be visible between the neck and body. To fix it correctly he would have to refinish it.

 

[Hopkins]

Why should the OP take a loss on his purchases? He bought Japanese Fender, not Mexi or after-market.



Please do not do this. Modifying the neck to accommodate a defective body will mean that they may only be used together. The neck will become incompatible with any other body and the body will still require remediation should you ever decide to make a neck change.

I would personally be happy with an Allparts body. They are extremely high quality MIJ parts. Don't quote me but I think they are made at the same factory as the MIJ Fender bodies.

 

[gjbassist]

Its going to require a full pocket shim that will be visible between the neck and body. To fix it correctly he would have to refinish it.

Yeah that's true. It could probably be made less noticeable by painting the shim to either match the body or the neck. After giving it more thought, if I were the OP I probably would never be totally happy with it regardless of how it turned out. Best to ask for a new body.

 

[7dollarbologna]

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

Here's the Allparts page, note heel width.
Finished Rosewood Jazz Bass Neck with Binding | Allparts.com

 

[CH Design]

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.

I guess I should have been more specific. If I had to do it, I'd just put it through a drum sander, not a planer. It would take a few passes, but would come out perfectly flat. I don't remember the OP saying if the body was finished or not. I assumed it isn't. If it is, then yes, it would have to be refinished, but (hopefully) that is something that the tech can do (at his expense) and it shouldn't detract from the end product. Is it more work than a shim? Yes. However, IMO it would result in a better repair.

This all assumes that the bottom of the neck pocket is actually flat and parallel to the top of the body.

It's sounding like the only thing that will make the majority of the people who have commented happy is a new body at the tech's expense. That's great if the OP can swing it. If not, working with the tech to come up with an acceptable solution for both is going to be a lot more productive than working against them (i.e. dictating what they have to do).

 

[Latitude94941]

Sorry, but for all of the aggravation, ALL services at this point should be FREE.

You think he should write off the work he's performed

I guess I should have been more specific. If I had to do it, I'd just put it through a drum sander, not a planer. It would take a few passes, but would come out perfectly flat. I don't remember the OP saying if the body was finished or not. I assumed it isn't. If it is, then yes, it would have to be refinished, but (hopefully) that is something that the tech can do (at his expense) and it shouldn't detract from the end product. Is it more work than a shim? Yes. However, IMO it would result in a better repair.

This all assumes that the bottom of the neck pocket is actually flat and parallel to the top of the body.

It's sounding like the only thing that will make the majority of the people who have commented happy is a new body at the tech's expense. That's great if the OP can swing it. If not, working with the tech to come up with an acceptable solution for both is going to be a lot more productive than working against them (i.e. dictating what they have to do).

Thanks. Yes, the body is finished so would need to be refinished. Even so, I would need to disclose the repair if/when I sell the instrument, and based on the responses here it seems like that would diminish the instrument's resale value.

I agree that finding a solution that is acceptable to both parties is the goal here--and hope that will be the case.