Jazz / Precision Neck Swap

[ingmar808]

I recently stuck the super-slim Jazz neck from my Fender Modern Player onto a Squier Precision. Total success. Dead easy job, straight swap – it's now my no1 bass.

So I'm left with a Modern Player Jazz body, and a Squier Precision neck... I may as well put them together, and have a usable second instrument.

Do they fit? Do they f**k!

The neck slots in OK, but the fingerboard is way too high, with the strings pressed against it – and raising the bridge saddles won't be enough to compensate.

How can this be? How can it work one way and not the other?

Head wrecked.

[Lozz196]

Super slim may mean not as deep front to back, so there lies the problem. Maybe get a luthier to take a bit off of the body where the neck attaches to it?

[Marc S]

I'm amazed at how such things vary. But Fender necks will vary in different eras, and certainly from factory to factory...
Was the Squier a China made one? And from which factory? The Matt Freeman sig P, the Classic vibe range were all made in the same factory, which was a different one to the China made Affinity series
(and that range changed factories too!) Of course, the super slim Jazz neck may well have a chunkier heel than the standard Jazz neck too....

As Lozz suggests, you could get a luthier to trim the heel of the neck a little. But bear in mind that you may not want to keep either bass for ever - so you may end up wanting to swap back?
Of course, a shim in the neck pocket would then remedy that.... and you may need that to make your P neck fit your Jazz body properly...
How well did that fit? Was it solve-able by adjusting the bridge saddles alone?

Another solution might be for you to think about a more solid, chunky bridge than the standard Squier / Fender BBOT....
A chunkier bridge, on a thicker plate, with sufficient height adjustment may do the job? Has anyone else found a suitable bridge?

I put a replacement neck on an old 70's / 80's Matsumoko bass some time back. The replacement neck was a chunky P neck - but the heel wasn't deep enough
So I had the reverse problem to yours - I had to put a shim into the neck pocket. It was simple enough, and worked a treat! Lovely bass too, with great sound
Wish I'd kept that one

Good luck, and let us know what you decide on

Edited September 8, 2017 by Marc S

[Beedster]

[quote name='Marc S' timestamp='1504875915' post='3367965']
Another solution might be for you to think about a more solid, chunky bridge than the standard Squier / Fender BBOT....
A chunkier bridge, on a thicker plate, with sufficient height adjustment may do the job? Has anyone else found a suitable bridge?
[/quote]

Job done

[dave_bass5]

When i got a Lakalnd JO neck to go on my Squier CVP i had the same issue. It did fit but I couldn’t get the actuino high enough to raise the strings off the fretboard. A Gotoh 201 bridge solved that instantly, and gave me a better string spacing as well.

[BrunoBass]

If only Music Man did a Jazz size Stingray neck...