barrycreed Posted August 12, 2020 Share Posted August 12, 2020 Hi all, I am thinking of looking at a 51 p bass body, and have seen some for sale online with neck pockets to fit standard fender dimension necks. I have a jazz bass neck lying around which I may use, but do like the tele headstock on the original models. Can you get t style p bass necks with a thin j bass neck profile? Or are the tele style p bass necks all thick? I suppose a normal P bass profile wouldn't be so bad either. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hooky_lowdown Posted August 12, 2020 Share Posted August 12, 2020 You may want to note that the 51 style neck and pocket on the body is more square than the split coil versions. I think I've seen 51 style necks on eBay with 38mm nuts, not sure about depth mind. From China I may add. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
barrycreed Posted August 12, 2020 Author Share Posted August 12, 2020 @hooky_lowdown good to know, so there would possibly be some small gaps if I fitted a j neck. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hooky_lowdown Posted August 12, 2020 Share Posted August 12, 2020 Yes, the standard fender neck have a more round end, where as the 51 style is flatter, so there will be gaps either corner of the body's neck pocket. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
barrycreed Posted August 12, 2020 Author Share Posted August 12, 2020 ah right, so I should be looking for something with a square neck, as opposed to rounded... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cuzzie Posted August 13, 2020 Share Posted August 13, 2020 Essentially you need to match your body neck pocket rout to the contour of your neck heel. If there is a mismatch you can alter the neck pocket to fit the neck so there is a good contact maintained. the most important joins are Heel into the body laterally on the upper horn side. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
barrycreed Posted August 13, 2020 Author Share Posted August 13, 2020 (edited) Thanks folks. So for example in this, I have the option of choosing a vintage correct neck socket or a reissue neck socket. I would assume I'd still need a neck with a square heel? https://www.guitarbuild.co.uk/products/pb-51 On reflection, it's the 54 countoured body I'd go for. Any suggestions for wood. (Not heavy!). Guitarbuild has quite a few options. Plan would be to keep it a natural finish, as dark as possible once finished. No pickguard, possibly black hardware... Or else finished where the natural grain would show through. Edited August 13, 2020 by barrycreed Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
barrycreed Posted August 13, 2020 Author Share Posted August 13, 2020 (edited) Suppose I could just get one of these, and try and take the "shine" off the neck, and remove that pickguard.... https://shop.fender.com/en-ES/squier-electric-basses/precision-bass/classic-vibe-50s-precision-bass/0374500501.html Edited August 13, 2020 by barrycreed Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RichardH Posted August 14, 2020 Share Posted August 14, 2020 I've eyed up the CV 50s basses, but the necks aren't jazz width - from the specs: "Nut Width: 1.685" (42.8 mm)" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
barrycreed Posted August 14, 2020 Author Share Posted August 14, 2020 1 hour ago, RichardH said: I've eyed up the CV 50s basses, but the necks aren't jazz width - from the specs: "Nut Width: 1.685" (42.8 mm)" I could probably live without a j neck profile, but wouldn't want a baseball bat thick one either. Bar getting a custom neck made.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RichardH Posted August 14, 2020 Share Posted August 14, 2020 This might do the trick? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
barrycreed Posted August 14, 2020 Author Share Posted August 14, 2020 1 hour ago, RichardH said: This might do the trick? tempting! I really need to sell some things first, so should park this idea until I do :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hooky_lowdown Posted August 14, 2020 Share Posted August 14, 2020 Have you tried a slab body before? I bloody hate them, very uncomfortable. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
barrycreed Posted August 14, 2020 Author Share Posted August 14, 2020 2 hours ago, hooky_lowdown said: Have you tried a slab body before? I bloody hate them, very uncomfortable. On reflection, it's the 54 body I'd go for, so the same as the current CV. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kodiakblair Posted August 14, 2020 Share Posted August 14, 2020 8 hours ago, barrycreed said: tempting! I really need to sell some things first, so should park this idea until I do Before you do check your jazz neck with a square. To flatten the heel might take 3 - 4 mm. As long as your bridge will allow the saddles to freely move back the removed 3 to 4 mm you can still use the guitarbuild body. Minimum speaking length of a bass string is 34", your saddles will always be more than 34" from the nut so "- 3m" is just a case of winding back the saddles . If you're concerned about the fretboard don't go the whole hog, just do the pocket depth. Think a thicker fret overhang like those found on many 21 fret necks. For a great squared heel neck I'd recommend Wan Guitar on Ali Ex or their ebay store "jinwan". The 2 Tele bass necks I bought are terrific though they'll be too chunky for your needs. Ask them how thick the 38mm nut version is. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RichardH Posted August 15, 2020 Share Posted August 15, 2020 (edited) 10 hours ago, kodiakblair said: For a great squared heel neck I'd recommend Wan Guitar on Ali Ex or their ebay store "jinwan". The 2 Tele bass necks I bought are terrific though they'll be too chunky for your needs. Ask them how thick the 38mm nut version is. I've been looking at their necks. The headstock looks weird on most of them - more like a telecaster guitar shape, with the "bump" further towards the end. Id that just the photographs, or are they really like that? This one looks OK but this looks a bit odd ....oh, and some of them actually have a rounded heel rather than squared off, so there are options! Edited August 15, 2020 by RichardH Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnDaBass Posted August 15, 2020 Share Posted August 15, 2020 (edited) 13 hours ago, kodiakblair said: For a great squared heel neck I'd recommend Wan Guitar on Ali Ex or their ebay store "jinwan". The 2 Tele bass necks I bought are terrific though they'll be too chunky for your needs. Ask them how thick the 38mm nut version is. +1 for the "jinwan" necks. I've had 2 Tele Bass necks and one Jazz neck and they've been great. All three had the MoP block inlays on maple boards with gloss finish and are great. As @RichardH points out the headstock is not quite 100% but 98% in my veiw and a man on a galloping horse is not going to notice! Edited August 15, 2020 by JohnDaBass Added link 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RichardH Posted August 15, 2020 Share Posted August 15, 2020 Thanks for the reminder on that build. In fact your neck looks a lot closer to "proper" than that the one they have on eBay at the moment in that style - which even the Red Arrows on a flyapast would spot as shonky - so maybe the photos on eBay are just samples. I think if I go ahead I'll message the seller first.... 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnDaBass Posted August 15, 2020 Share Posted August 15, 2020 51 minutes ago, RichardH said: Thanks for the reminder on that build. In fact your neck looks a lot closer to "proper" than that the one they have on eBay at the moment in that style - which even the Red Arrows on a flyapast would spot as shonky - so maybe the photos on eBay are just samples. I think if I go ahead I'll message the seller first.... Yes Wing Commander you are absolutely correct Sir. I bought the Tele Bass necks at different times and the second one is a bit "Orff" a Nant's, but as I was adding a larger decal the extra real estate works a treat. I plan to post a diary of my P51 3/4 upgrade in the coming days. Roger 10-4 O A O Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RichardH Posted August 17, 2020 Share Posted August 17, 2020 What bass model is this based on? ....what pickguard/control plate is that designed for? Telecaster bass with the swoopy pickguard? Looks like a Stingray control plate might fit.. quite fancy a funky frankenbass along those lines... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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