Buying a new neck

[Jigster]

Can I put a 20 fret neck on a bass body that originally had 21 frets? Will there be any intonation issues?

[tino]

[quote name='Jigster' post='960148' date='Sep 18 2010, 08:40 AM']Can I put a 20 fret neck on a bass body that originally had 21 frets? Will there be any intonation issues?[/quote]
Of course you can,but will it sit correctly in the pocket is it thicker or thinnen than the original & will your existing bridge allow for correct intonation to be acheived..???.thats another matter and you may have to move the bridge a little or buy a bridge such as a hipshot/copy that has a lot of travel....
Almost all issues can be resolved and there are many tekky types on here that will help you to do it

[Jigster]

yep that's what i thought, ie. that the bridge might need to be replaced - hmm

[henry norton]

[quote name='Jigster' post='960164' date='Sep 18 2010, 10:12 AM']yep that's what i thought, ie. that the bridge might need to be replaced - hmm [/quote]
It's more like whatever bridge you've got will need to be moved back, unless your saddles are far enough forward that you can move them all back by about 15mm (for a 34" scale bass). Why do you want to put a 20 fret neck on?

[mcnach]

neck/body pocket fit is one issue.

The 20/21 fret thing, may not be an issue at all 'though. Sometimes the necks are pretty much identical, just that the fingreboard is slightly longer to acommodate the extra fret... If that's teh case, your only concern is that the neck fits well into the existing body pocket.

[KiOgon]

[quote name='Jigster' post='960148' date='Sep 18 2010, 08:40 AM']Can I put a 20 fret neck on a bass body that originally had 21 frets? Will there be any intonation issues?[/quote]
Measure the new neck from nut to 12th fret, lets say 17", then temporarily put the neck in position & measure the same distance again from 12th fret to the bridge. If the adjustment on the saddles is enough to cover a range of adjustment for intonation you should be OK without having to move the bridge.

Hope that makes sense!

Cheerz, John

[Jigster]

[quote name='henry norton' post='961321' date='Sep 19 2010, 05:08 PM']It's more like whatever bridge you've got will need to be moved back, unless your saddles are far enough forward that you can move them all back by about 15mm (for a 34" scale bass). Why do you want to put a 20 fret neck on?[/quote]


oh just cos I'd been looking at the Status graphite ones and they are all 20 fretters -


cheers for all the feedback guys

[henry norton]

[quote name='mcnach' post='962372' date='Sep 20 2010, 05:34 PM']neck/body pocket fit is one issue.

The 20/21 fret thing, may not be an issue at all 'though. Sometimes the necks are pretty much identical, just that the fingreboard is slightly longer to acommodate the extra fret... If that's teh case, your only concern is that the neck fits well into the existing body pocket.[/quote]
Yeah, you're right - some (if not all?) Fender 21 fret necks are just 20's with a board extension.