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.