Crazy Idea: Converting 22 Fret Neck to 21 Fret?

[Nightclub Dwight]

I have a question.  I am partial to 21 fret necks because I don't like the way the overhang looks.  The way I play I'm not really missing that 22nd fret.  But a 22 fret neck has come up in the showcase that I like.  I'm wondering if it might be feasible to order the neck without the 22nd fret installed, then I can cut off the overhang thus making a 21 fretter.

Has anyone ever done this?  Any ideas pro or con?

Since I am motivated by purely esthetic reasons I can live with the 22 fret neck if this idea proves to be unfeasible.

 

[AutoBat]

You should email or phone Warmoth, they may be able to accommodate your request and do the dirty work for you for a small upcharge.

 

[anorakDan]

I have a question.  I am partial to 21 fret necks because I don't like the way the overhang looks.  The way I play I'm not really missing that 22nd fret.  But a 22 fret neck has come up in the showcase that I like.  I'm wondering if it might be feasible to order the neck without the 22nd fret installed, then I can cut off the overhang thus making a 21 fretter.

Has anyone ever done this?  Any ideas pro or con?

Since I am motivated by purely esthetic reasons I can live with the 22 fret neck if this idea proves to be unfeasible.

I'm right there with you Dwight. Do all Warmoth 22 fret necks have the overhang?

 

[AutoBat]

Do all Warmoth 22 fret necks have the overhang?

Yes

 

[rapfohl09]

The only problem with this is that the 22nd fret is right overtop of the end of the neck. So you just took of the overhang, the slot would still be there on the end. It isnt as prevelent on the strat, but on the tele it is really obvious. This is the main problem with using pre-slotted fretboards when building guitars.

 

[AutoBat]

Baritone conversion necks (24 frets) do not have fingerboard overhangs.
This probably doesn't help your particular situation, but it's nice to know.

 

[OzziePete]

The 22nd fret overhang has been an issue with me and the Jazzmaster body pickguards...... if you put in pickups other than the JMs (which are wood mounted to the body and not attached to the pickguard), then you have to loosen the neck plate to get enough room to slide/lever/ jackhammer! the pickguard off. As the JMs have 2 roller pots, two std. sized pots, a toggle AND a slide switch, the need to go 'under the hood' is more so than most guitars (other than Gretschs!). In fact, for JM projects I'd recommend seeing if you could get a  21 fret neck instead. :icon_thumright:

And, yes. The thought of using a woodsaw to solve my "problem" has been considered when I have had to take the pickguard off YET AGAIN!  :evil4:

You have to consider the neck screws too. Every time you loosen and tighten them, is it going to enlarge the hole they go into?...I doubt that when the wood screws for the bolt on neck was first thought of, they'd think you would be taking the neck off quite regularly - only to put it back on later. I think the use of the wood screws has to be managed carefully if you are using a 22 fret neck on a guitar that requires the neck to come off on a regular basis. Or consider putting in a system that can manage the unscrewing and re screwing in without wear upon the hole...maybe some sort of metal thread insert? :icon_scratch:

 

[Nightclub Dwight]

The only problem with this is that the 22nd fret is right overtop of the end of the neck. So you just took of the overhang, the slot would still be there on the end. It isnt as prevelent on the strat, but on the tele it is really obvious. This is the main problem with using pre-slotted fretboards when building guitars.

It is a telecaster upon which I would be performing this surgery, so thanks for that nugget of information.

 

[OzziePete]

The only problem with this is that the 22nd fret is right overtop of the end of the neck. So you just took of the overhang, the slot would still be there on the end. It isnt as prevelent on the strat, but on the tele it is really obvious. This is the main problem with using pre-slotted fretboards when building guitars.

It is a telecaster upon which I would be performing this surgery, so thanks for that nugget of information.

OK, take a look at my above post and see if that might be relevant to your Telecaster project......The Tele neck pickup can be attached either by screwing it to the body or to the pickguard. As you would have no pots or switches attached to that Telecaster pickguard usually (the trad styled pickguard is just a cover over the pickup routs), it should slide out with a bit of patience. I'd also look at getting a .060" pickguard rather than a.090".

 

[TroubledTreble]

Check out this post. It has been done. I have wanted to do it as well but not brave enough.

http://www.unofficialwarmoth.com/index.php?topic=31.0

 

[swarfrat]

Baritone conversion necks (24 frets) do not have fingerboard overhangs.
This probably doesn't help your particular situation, but it's nice to know.

Is this an observation or a speculation? The numbers mean fret 24 on a baritone is in the exact same spot as fret 22 on a 25.5"

 

[Nightclub Dwight]

The only problem with this is that the 22nd fret is right overtop of the end of the neck. So you just took of the overhang, the slot would still be there on the end. It isnt as prevelent on the strat, but on the tele it is really obvious. This is the main problem with using pre-slotted fretboards when building guitars.

It is a telecaster upon which I would be performing this surgery, so thanks for that nugget of information.

OK, take a look at my above post and see if that might be relevant to your Telecaster project......The Tele neck pickup can be attached either by screwing it to the body or to the pickguard. As you would have no pots or switches attached to that Telecaster pickguard usually (the trad styled pickguard is just a cover over the pickup routs), it should slide out with a bit of patience. I'd also look at getting a .060" pickguard rather than a.090".

I must confess, your woes with the Jazzmaster are real issues, while my motivations for the 21 fret neck are purely a "looks" issue.  I just think the overhang looks weird.  The points you make about the tele neck pickup and pickguard should result in less of a hassle than with your Jazzmaster.  In all honesty, I'm thinking of running without a pickguard at all, so the overhang is really just an esthetic issue, whereas in your case it gives you real problems.

Check out this post. It has been done. I have wanted to do it as well but not brave enough.

http://www.unofficialwarmoth.com/index.php?topic=31.0

This snakehead tele looks cool, but unfortunately does not give any advice about removing the overhang.  I'm a little hesitant to undertake the surgery, but I'm sort of open to how it comes out.  It seems a little sanding can blend the missing fret into the end of the fretboard.  Like I mentioned, I rarely play that high on the neck so I'm not too concerned about it one way or another.  I just want it to look decent.

 

[OzziePete]

The only problem with this is that the 22nd fret is right overtop of the end of the neck. So you just took of the overhang, the slot would still be there on the end. It isnt as prevelent on the strat, but on the tele it is really obvious. This is the main problem with using pre-slotted fretboards when building guitars.

It is a telecaster upon which I would be performing this surgery, so thanks for that nugget of information.

OK, take a look at my above post and see if that might be relevant to your Telecaster project......The Tele neck pickup can be attached either by screwing it to the body or to the pickguard. As you would have no pots or switches attached to that Telecaster pickguard usually (the trad styled pickguard is just a cover over the pickup routs), it should slide out with a bit of patience. I'd also look at getting a .060" pickguard rather than a.090".

I must confess, your woes with the Jazzmaster are real issues, while my motivations for the 21 fret neck are purely a "looks" issue.  I just think the overhang looks weird.  The points you make about the tele neck pickup and pickguard should result in less of a hassle than with your Jazzmaster.  In all honesty, I'm thinking of running without a pickguard at all, so the overhang is really just an esthetic issue, whereas in your case it gives you real problems.

It's fair enough that it is a looks issue, but having found this out the hard way via my JM project, I'd thought I'd alert you  (and others perhaps) to potential problems about the 22nd fret overhang too, with access issues. It does look like trimming the overhang off is merely a very careful sawing operation...not that I'd wanna try that.