JB4 necks - £480

[Kiwi]

Haha...addicts?  I prefer to think in terms of aficionados...graphite composite necks have a certain sensitivity...

[Kiwi]

I need a set of measurements from a 4 string jazz bass neck just to check against the 3D model.  Can anyone provide widths at nut, 12th fret and20th fret?  Likewise depth of neck at nut, 12th fret and end of the neck heel?  Also length of heel to the start of the shoulder?  

[Phaedrus01]

I have multiple jazz basses I could measure but none are official Fender, is that a problem?

[Kiwi]

Weve got a set of measurements now and will begin the mould making this week.

[Phaedrus01]

Amazing news! Very excited

[WalMan]

…and done 😁

[Phaedrus01]

What's done? Is the mould made? This is all very exciting

[Kiwi]

The mould has been made and the first layers are being put down...I would share a photo of the first neck in a vacuum bag but it's not pretty.

 

[WalMan]

[WalMan]

On 11/08/2025 at 09:31, Kiwi said:

I just realised an error - the fingerboards will have a 21 fret extension because Fender necks are 20 fret not 21. I've edited the spec in the original to the correct number.

Phew... I had a sudden worry having said 21 when what I have is 20, so it'll fit a 20 pocket with an overhang

[Kiwi]

11 hours ago, WalMan said:

Phew... I had a sudden worry having said 21 when what I have is 20, so it'll fit a 20 pocket with an overhang

Yes, exactly.

[Kiwi]

Update: All five necks have been constructed. They are being prep sanded this weekend.  Clear coating will begin this week.

[Phaedrus01]

Can't wait!

[Geek99]

#spiritofbasschat -always innovating 

@ped cheque please 

[HeadlessBassist]

Hey Steve, now we're getting a little closer to fulfillment of the first batch of orders, could you maybe fill us in a little on the story of this graphite neck production odyssey of yours? What made you undertake this brilliantly ambitious project? (Obviously Status stopping graphite production in '22 has hit some of us quite hard.) Are you doing most of the work yourself, or do you have a China-based factory/maker/partner?

 

Questions, questions... So many questions  

[Kiwi]

12 hours ago, HeadlessBassist said:

Hey Steve, now we're getting a little closer to fulfillment of the first batch of orders, could you maybe fill us in a little on the story of this graphite neck production odyssey of yours? What made you undertake this brilliantly ambitious project? (Obviously Status stopping graphite production in '22 has hit some of us quite hard.) Are you doing most of the work yourself, or do you have a China-based factory/maker/partner?

 

Questions, questions... So many questions  

Haha, I suspect the reality may not live up to the hype!  I will share the story about the origins at some point but at the moment it's too early and there are certain confidences I have to respect until order volume hits a certain level of consistency.  Nothing dodgy, it's just that when business partners see volume, it can help provide them with some certainty that I'm not going to waste their time.  Then I can formalise some key business and logistic arrangements.

 

Once I have samples of the 5 initial neck types (JB4, PB4, SR4N, SR5N and headless 4/5) then I'll get a website set up.  Once that goal is realised, I can start working on promotion in earnest.  For now, the PB4 and SR4N moulds will be next after the SR5N and I'll need to test fit all the models to check measurements are within acceptable tolerances (and this could involve further development if not quite on point despite best efforts). The neck I'm looking forward to the most is the SR5N.  The Musicman Cutlass basses I owned more or less set the bar for tone and a five string version of one of those, with an adjustable neck, would be something exciting for me.

[Rich77]

Is there a timeline? Not too bothered really just being curious 

[Kiwi]

9 hours ago, Rich77 said:

Is there a timeline? Not too bothered really just being curious 

About 6-8 weeks to get to the point where the website can be started, depending on build time for the sample necks

[Phaedrus01]

If the JB4 neck turns out nice you may get a decent amount of repeat business just from me!

[Kiwi]

7 hours ago, Phaedrus01 said:

If the JB4 neck turns out nice you may get a decent amount of repeat business just from me!

Wow, that would be something!  If I can sell 24 necks before next August, it'll set things up nicely for the following 12 months

[Kiwi]

Update time: Necks are built and now just waiting for the logo decals before the final coats. 

[Phaedrus01]

Looks amazing, great piece of work!

[WalMan]

😍 I love a bit of graphite weave 🥰

[Blartfactor10]

Wow! Nearly there, getting excited 😎👌🤣

[HeadlessBassist]

Getting excited, huh? I've been ordering and collecting parts as the graphite necks are nearing completion, and my walnut body by @Silky999 is also nearing completion. You can see where I'm going here...

 

Edited September 21, 2025 by HeadlessBassist