Turning a P neck into a J neck?

[richardjmorgan]

Ok, bear with me, but, theoretically, would it be possible for someone who knew what they were doing to carve a neck with a P-bass nut width to J-bass dimensions? Obv a new nut would then be required, but unless I'm overlooking something, it'd be do-able right?

Only thing I can think of that might cause problems is the positioning of the truss rod, but maybe someone wiser than me can confirm whether this is the same regardless of the shape of the neck.

Suspect the answer might be "it'd be cheaper and less hassle to just buy a Jazz neck and bolt it onto a P body", but I'm kind of thinking out loud here.

[Lw.]

It's doable - there was a bass for sale on here maybe a couple of years ago with this exact mod done.

But yes, completely pointless when you can just buy a jazz neck so easily.

[Grangur]

"it'd be cheaper and less hassle to just buy a Jazz neck and bolt it onto a P body",

Just think of the cost of all the labour and the re-fret. If a re-fret costs £100-200... you can buy a neck for £200.

[Ian Davies]

I asked a luthier this very same question and he said that it would be possible but it would be much cheaper and easier to just buy a J neck and put it on a P body.

[hamfist]

[quote name='Ian Davies' timestamp='1497540432' post='3318981']
it would be possible but it would be much cheaper and easier to just buy a J neck and put it on a P body.
[/quote]

This.

[ZilchWoolham]

If we're just talking about a normal P-bass with a normal heel, then certainly a neck swap would be cheaper and more convenient. If the neck doesn't have the usual Fender dimensions and can't easily be replaced (or is a set or thru-neck) then a re-carve would be an option, but I'd really only do it on a bass that is otherwise perfect, and one that I'd want to stick with for a long time. I know Kev Hopper had his Wal trimmed to a neater profile. That's a pretty good example of when it could be a nice idea.

[richardjmorgan]

Thanks all, looks like my initial suspicions about this being kind of a daft idea were correct.

[Paul S]

I had one done for a Shergold Marathon bass. Stock neck was 44mm at the nut and I managed to find a NOS Marathon neck which I persuaded Andyjr1515 to turn his not inconsiderable talents to. That meant I still had a Shergold neck but a slim one. Worked a treat.

But for a Fender I don't see the point.

[prowla]

It'd be cheaper and less hassle to just buy a Jazz neck and bolt it onto a P body.

[hubrad]

Yup, swap the neck, then you can get a few quid back by selling the P neck on Basschat! :-)

[prowla]

[quote name='hubrad' timestamp='1497546562' post='3319053']
Yup, swap the neck, then you can get a few quid back by selling the P neck on Basschat! :-)
[/quote]
Or maybe buy a J-bass body and put the P-neck on it.

[fretmeister]

I should have done it to a Yamagha Att3.

The neck is massive. Would have been great to slim it

[drlargepants]

Speaking of which, there is a web site that sells lots of secondhand USA jazz (& p) necks

Can anyone remember what it is ?

[prowla]

[quote name='drlargepants' timestamp='1497685317' post='3319990']
Speaking of which, there is a web site that sells lots of secondhand USA jazz (& p) necks

Can anyone remember what it is ?
[/quote]
ebay?

[Skybone]

I bought a P bass neck for my old MP Jazz brand new off eBay for about £50-60. It was a very nice & smooth, well made neck. Shame I made an arse of fitting it. No matter what I tried, I couldn't rectify my mistakes.

Definitely far easier to buy a new neck.

Edited June 17, 2017 by Skybone