Nostromo Posted November 25, 2009 Share Posted November 25, 2009 Hi, Simple question - Will any fender Jazz neck fit stright into any fender Precision body ? I've read they are interchangeable . . . but exactly how interchangable are they ? Ive got an option on a very nice Geddy Lee Jazz neck (MIJ I think ?) and would like to mate it with a Precision body to create a bit of a hybrid. Are there limitations on which models of Precision body I could use. I want to have a nice tidy interface between the neck and the body pocket . . no big gaps or interference fit problems ? . . . I was thinking a donor "Made in Japan" Precision body might reduce the risk of things not fitting snugly, but, various bar stool experts down my local pub are saying its absolutely no problem and everything 4 String wise from Fender's Jazz & Precision will be totally interchangeable ? If so, I'd probably wait until I found a tidy USA body I liked. I'm only gonna do this if its simply a case of installing and adjusting the neck - ie I'm confident of taking on an assembly project and ok on undertaking a full neck setup - but I don't want to take on a woodworking and re-varnishing project under any circumstances ! ! I also note that some necks have got two more frets than others ? . . is this an issue ? . . . ie, I guess I'm wondering if the bridge on the donor precision body would automatically be in the right place for scale length irrespective of how many frets the neck has - I think the answer here must be yes . . .but I'm only 99% sure . . not 100% ! ! ! Advice much appreciated. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Bass Doc Posted November 25, 2009 Share Posted November 25, 2009 It's true that most Fender necks and bodies are interchangeable but bear in mind we're talking woodwork not engineering. In otherwords you will not be looking at accuracy to thousandths of an inch but you'd also be very unlucky if the fit was so bad as to warrant some degree of woodworking to make it solid. Do not mix standard bodies with 22 fret necks - -the result will be badly out of line with where the bridge should be. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Low End Bee Posted November 25, 2009 Share Posted November 25, 2009 I would say yes generally on standard issue Fenders. as long as you're prepared for minimal sanding or shimming. I've got a Precision with a Jazz neck. Fitted fine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sibob Posted November 25, 2009 Share Posted November 25, 2009 I too have a Precision fitted with a Jazz neck, not an issue at all, very tight neck pocket/joint too! Si Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
basshead56 Posted November 25, 2009 Share Posted November 25, 2009 My first Fender was a jazz (still have her) After about 2 weeks of that new-Fender-freshness I noticed that there was a bow in the neck (I was young and ignorant then). took it to the shop I bought it in. They told me it didn´t leave the shop in that state. Got onto Fender who were worse than useless! Decided ´screw it´. Went and bought a Precision neck from the same series (MIM Standard 2000/01) on ebay. Popped it on, fit like a condom, no issues whatsoever. Irony of ironies, about a year later, met a guy who used to work in this music shop at a gig, who said they once had this lovely white Fender Jazz but it had a gammy neck and they thought they´d never sell it! Bunch of Coconuts!!! Despite wanting to deck him, I put it behind me and got on with it Very happy though, because the combination of a Jazz body and Precision neck was as close to a Mark Hoppus bass as I was going to get at the time (thats been sorted in the meantime ) Its not all doom and gloom though. Just be aware that although most Fender parts are standardised ala Ford, it is still wood you are dealing with and the tiniest difference COULD make a huge difference. Hope that helps Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nostromo Posted November 25, 2009 Author Share Posted November 25, 2009 Thanx all for replies so far . . . . must say . . . it sounds promising ! . . . these necks and bodies really are interchangable ! . . .well then, maybe fenders still are the utility instruments Leo always wanted them to be ! ! ! . . . I have read that it was in his original thinking that they should be ? Any more advice still much appreciated ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Delberthot Posted November 28, 2009 Share Posted November 28, 2009 I'm sure the thinking behind it was to change the neck when your frets wore out, plus its cheaper and easier to make. I've just mated a 2009 MIM Fender Precision body to a mid 80s MIJ Fender Precision neck and its as tight as a very tight thing Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Telebass Posted November 29, 2009 Share Posted November 29, 2009 It's rarely a problem. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
simon1964 Posted December 1, 2009 Share Posted December 1, 2009 (edited) I've swapped Precision and Jazz necks pretty regularly over the years - my Jazz has currently got a fretless precision neck on it. Subject to the points others have made, its usually dead straight forward to swap. Oh - obviously we're talking about 4 bolt necks. A three bolt 70s (or 70s reissue) Jazz neck obviously won't be a straight fit to a Precision. Edited December 1, 2009 by simon1964 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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