Before replacement neck manufacturers were a thing, what was the de facto "replacement neck", if any?

[Cheery Zeery]

The obvious answer may be old pre-CBS necks, or even decent CBS-era necks, given how modular F-style guitars are, but the reason I ask is because I have seen some literature in the shared primordial soup of Warmoth, Charvel, Jackson, etc. that Danelectro necks were once used in this capacity. I have heard that EVH was once a proponent of them (which is why you see one of his brand's tribute guitars pay homage to the Danelectro headstock), but I have also heard that Danelectro necks were once used in promotional photos for advertisements, and even for full builds, modified beyond recognition, like the Megazone guitar.

 

[cuthbert]

Fender offered replacement necks since the beginning, it was one of Leo's philosophies. Regarding the 70s I think Charvel and Mighty Mite were the first third party companies who offered Fender necks and also complete guitar kits.

Back then guitarists were more open minded, the limits of vintage guitars were known, technique was rapidly evolving therefore improvements like better tuners, tremolos in order to improve tuning stability were welcome.

 

[mayfly]

Back in the day, if you wanted a replacement neck on your guitar you contacted Paul Bigsby:

 

[rockandroller]

Carvin was in the neck supply game early on (60s), but they originally sold necks that were manufactured for them by Hofner. By late70s or early 80s they were selling neckthru blanks with fretboard ('just add wings') ... I'm not sure if they ever sold necks 100% compatible with 'Fender heel spec. They used to offer a 'bolt' guitar kit but I think they stopped selling kits and necks entirely by the 90s

 

[supertruper1988]

Carvin was in the neck supply game early on (60s), but they originally sold necks that were manufactured for them by Hofner. By late70s or early 80s they were selling neckthru blanks with fretboard ('just add wings') ... I'm not sure if they ever sold necks 100% compatible with 'Fender heel spec. They used to offer a 'bolt' guitar kit but I think they stopped selling kits and necks entirely by the 90s

They sold them until right before the Kiesel rebranding. But they were mostly compatible with Fender. Not sure about the beginning.

Charvel and Mighty Mite were some of the first if not the first.

 

[Strat Avenger]

Charvel is my earliest recollection.