Warmoth J-Bass neck on a Fender P-Bass Deluxe® 4 strings body

[bendeg]

Hi all,

I know, I know : this isn't possible (Warmoth : "J bass Deluxe®, P Bass Deluxe®, P Bass® Special, and the"Lyte" series necks all feature 22 frets and are incompatible with Warmoth bass bodies. ")

[EDIT/]
W says that such Fender necks don't fit W bodies but what about W neck on a Fender P-Bass Deluxe 4 strings  body?

Since the Fender neck pocket looks bigger, it would be possible to put a W neck in it ? No ?
[/EDIT]

So, this isn't possible because of the 22 frets.
Does that mean that the Fender neck pocket is too long (1 more fret) and the 4 holes can't match a W neck ?
Is the WIDTH of the Fender neck poket too short/wide as well?

Briefly, what modification(s) ON THE FENDER body has(have) to be done to accept a W J-Bass or P-Bass neck ?
Is an instrument maker able to do that easily ?

Please don't tell me it's not possible AT ALL...I wish I could get a W neck, mine has to be remade (frets, finish)

 

[bendeg]

No reply... :sad:

 

[dmraco]

I always thought they were direct replacements...I would call W.

 

[bendeg]

I always thought they were direct replacements...I would call W.

Thanks for you answer DMRACO (and congrat for your guitar of the month !).
I've already asked and the answer was no, it won't fit.
They just don't do it, period.

I'm pretty sure it's possible to put their necks on my Deluxe body with minor updates but I don't have accurate measurements and I daren't unmount my current neck to check untill I get my new W.

But their warning is somewhat incomplete : they don't say THEIR necks can't go in a Deluxe body, they say a Deluxe neck can't go in a W body because of 22 frets setup, that's a big difference...

I think the Deluxe neck heel is simply longer (22 frets instead of 21, and the 22th fret matches the end of the neck, well it's just a wee bit bigger...) => the W neck pocket is too short => W neck heel is shorter than a Deluxe neck heel => W neck heel can go in a Deluxe neck pocket ! I mean it can enter the neck pocket since it's smaller...

But is there so much/many difference/s that it will leave big empty spaces between the neck and the body ?
If yes, that might be quite difficult to modify...Especially, if the width is different, it would be very difficult to center the W neck in the Deluxe pocket...

I'll just check that myself, maybe someone might be interested...

 

[bendeg]

One detail after visiting Fender web site for instruments dating (http://www.fender.fr/support/usa_instruments.php) :

The serial number on the back of the headstock reads : N6...

...and Fender says :

"...American Deluxe Series instruments use the same dating convention, but with the addition of a "D" in front of the "Z", i.e., DZ1, DZ2, etc."

So, do I have to understand that my P-Bass isn't a real Deluxe ???? This is really strange because all features match (tuners, bridge, 3 bands EQ) but the model number on the tag I've received doesn't match any on Fender site, this is really strange...Though I bought it new ! I can also see the oval golden tag, behind the headstock, near the S/N that reads "50th anniversary"...

I'm confused...

I wish it was not a real Deluxe, that would mean I could get a Warmoth neck !!!

 

[Nando Vallart]

Is it 22 frets or 21??? get the measures on Warmoth site about the neck pocket of their bodies and compare with yours... If it matches, it'll work. If don't, so you better sell it and buy neck and body from Warmoth

 

[Wyliee]

The challenge here is the Deluxe model is 22 frets with no overhang.  The heel is slightly longer.  In order to accomodate the longer heel, and maintain the same scale length, the neck pocket is deepened.

 

[Soylent]

I'm about 99% sure my Jazz Bass Deluxe 60th has 21 frets.. it's a MIM.. that might be why.. and I'd love to put a new neck on it..  :icon_scratch: :icon_thumright:

 

[Wyliee]

I'm about 99% sure my Jazz Bass Deluxe 60th has 21 frets.. it's a MIM.. that might be why.. and I'd love to put a new neck on it..  :icon_scratch: :icon_thumright:

Fender has been very inconsistent in their naming conventions and the models can be confusing.

Best to double check the specs on 'Will it Fit my Bass?'  Compare your bass against those.  Measure twice, buy once!

 

[Soylent]

I'm gonna pull the ruler out at some point soon.. because that bass could be so much better.. thanks wyliee.

 

[bendeg]

I've been talking with my instrument maker here and, I think, I understand why now :

My neck has 22 frets. The scale is the same as the W one : 34".

The 2-1/2" heel width spec of W neck (at approx. 20th fret, correct me if I'm wrong) is the same as my PB neck, but mine occurs at 22th fret.

=> the W neck can "enter" my PB pocket but the W neck will be WAY too close from the bridge (~ 1-5/8", this is the distance measured from my 20th fret to the end of my neck heel)

2 solutions (well, if one can name that solutions...) :

1) recess the W neck position away from the body => W neck heel surface won't touch my body pocket by quite a big amount => that's bad...Without allowing for neck sanding OR body routing (because the 2-1/2" W heel witdh won't match the pocket width if neck is recessed away from the body, it's smaller than 2-1/2"...)


2) let the W neck at its maximum position in the pocket and then :

a- my pocket is shorter than 3-7/8" (length of W neck heel, correct me if I'm wrong), it's only 3-6/8", not much though...W neck heel will be "ouside" my body by ~1/8"...

b -recess my bridge by 1-5/8" (reminder : that's the distance between my 20th fret and the end of my neck) => this will move the bridge almost at the edge of my body

c- no bridge pickup anymore ! it's like my humbucker was moved toward the neck by 1-5/8"...That's too much...

d- spacing between the W neck and my body pocket, not much though but...

e- my bridge holes AND holes for string-thru-body will show off...

Correct ?

 

[Nando Vallart]

Man, you write so many things and makes a big confusion... :tard:

If your neck is 22 fret with NO overhand, than W neck won't work....

 

[baskruit]

Man, you write so many things and makes a big confusion... :tard:

If your neck is 22 fret with NO overhand, than W neck won't work....

Period.

 

[bendeg]

Man, you write so many things and makes a big confusion... :tard:

If your neck is 22 fret with NO overhand, than W neck won't work....

Period.

It can but it's going to be a little mess...

 

[dNA]

Assuming you CAN modify your guitar to fit a Warmoth neck, it's
1) not going to look good
2) not going to be as structurally sound as a production item that's designed to fit that kind of neck
3) going to be a lot more trouble than it's worth

Why bother? With the time and money you spend on it, you might as well sell your bass and buy something that will at least be a better starting place for you to work with

 

[Nando Vallart]

I've told you before, sell it (or BURN it, if you like fire :laughing7 and get a neck and body from Warmoth, way easier ^^

 

[dNA]

I've told you before, sell it (or BURN it, if you like fire :laughng7 and get a neck and body from Warmoth, way easier ^^

+1 (minus the burning part. If you're gonna do that, just give it to me instead)

 

[bendeg]

I've told you before, sell it (or BURN it, if you like fire :laughng7 and get a neck and body from Warmoth, way easier ^^

I must confess : you're all of you right !

Well, I wanted to understand the underlying problems and I get i now : IT IS NOT POSSIBLE ! F...fret #22...

Are you sure maple burns easily !?  :laughing7:

Thank you all for you replies.

I consider this topic closed.

 

[Mor Paul]

Just to make things more difficult...

If the neck fits in the neck pocket, you could relocate the bridge to get the thing to play.

 

[bendeg]

Just to make things more difficult...

If the neck fits in the neck pocket, you could relocate the bridge to get the thing to play.

You push it man  :laughing7:

Yes, relocating the bridge is possible but : my bridge pickup won't be a bridge pickup anymore because the bridge would have to be recessed from about 1-5/8" (the edge of the body) ! This is way too much...

Moreover, old bridge mounting holes AND string-thru-body holes will show off nicely  :laughing7: