oh...it's_a_squier

Not entirely relevant, but I have two "identical" HB basses (bought 5 weeks apart), and you can't swap the necks from one to the other due to slightly different size neck pockets. Wierd, but there are always going to be oddities on such low price instruments...

[quote name='Dom in Somerset' timestamp='1451685392' post='2942534'] If I ever went twin neck again I'd go headless like this: A conventional twin is very bulky , it really pinned me down on stage. I also found that I couldn't quite get a playing position that was perfect for both necks. [/quote] I've been thinking this is the way to go, but I think it would prove out of reach financially speaking. Also, trying to find double ball-end bass VI strings sounds tricky to say the least. [quote name='FlatEric' timestamp='1451727627' post='2942734'] One small tip - my Peter Cook twin has the strap button behind the bottom neck. For the one you have at the moment, try loosening one of the neck screws - top one, nearest to the bridge and have a trial run with the strap under the head of the screw (carefully) and see if that balances a little better. Worth a go. Keep us posted. Cheers. [/quote] I will certainly try this tomorrow, thanks for the tip! [quote name='PlungerModerno' timestamp='1451737534' post='2942908'] After thinking about the concept a little more - It's interesting what you're after (not that a regular double neck isn't interesting enough). A short scale bass VI style neck and a second bass neck (I assume the same or roughly the same scale - based on the shorty mockup above). For the 4 string neck a 2+2 headstock can be pretty compact: or the Bass VI I'd look to ibanez again: Although I'd try to use guitar tuners rather than bass tuners for lightness and compactness. Gotta figure out what will accept the string gauges well though! [/quote] With the one I have right now, there are three small Warwick bass tuners and three guitar tuners. Guitar tuners can be done though, as I have a Warmoth VI with regular Grovers on it, but then you're relying on strings with the correct scale/ taper. Love the look of both those Ibanezs, but I couldn't bring myself to saw those guys up! [quote name='paulnb57' timestamp='1451745004' post='2943015'] The necks too close issue could be solved using a Left hand PB Shorty neck for the bottom neck then the tuners would be underneath creating a bit more space to push the necks closer together………. [/quote] Agreed. It's really good to have honest opinions like these, I really think the headless idea could be the key, but looking at $700 in hardware (according to Hipshot's website) is dizzying. Also, the whole double ball-end string thing is worrying. I fear there's a good reason these basses don't exist.

Love the look of it, super clean design. Does it take double ball-end strings?

I've always had a love of the Bass VI, and I've had various experiences with them. Thing is, whenever I have played with one, I've reached a point where I longed to jump straight into a regular four string, especially when playing one within a band setting. Soooo, long story short, this is what I've been playing around with- [attachment=208396:doubleneck2.jpg] It's two Harley Benton Shorty P's melted together in a fairly shonky fashion. It's not very comfortable to play, being very neck heavy (though surprisingly not that heavy overall) and the necks being juuuuuust a little too far apart. One thing it certainly has achieved though is convincing me this is an absolutely worthwhile dream-build, and something I want to try and make happen this year. My problem is though I'm happy to try my hand at guitar building, I live in a small flat with no garden, let alone workshop space. In an ideal world I'd design and build a body to put everything from the existing double neck onto it, but I don't know how feasible that would be. I'm also aware that not many builders would be interested in this project, certainly at a price point I could afford. Right now, I'm considering my options, and would be really interested to hear what anyone has to say on the matter. Thoughts?

[quote name='Snifferxxx' timestamp='1451341128' post='2939757'] Just bought myself the Jack and Danny short scale jazz, pretty good for £69 including gig bag, couple of rough edges but sounds pretty good for the low cost. [/quote] Can I ask what the nut width on the jazz is? Probably the same as the p bass but if it's 38mm I'm buying one

I have a couple of the Harley Benton shorty p basses and they're not at all garbage. In fact, they're quite nice to play. Not as nice as a modern Squier, but along the lines of a late ninties Squier maybe. Very good for the money imho

Been gigging mine for over a year now and still love it. Swapped in some dimarzio pups but never had a problem with the tuners, they're rock solid (but feel a bit cheap, I admit). Seriously considering picking up a second one....

I know I'm far from alone in having a couple of health issues which make playing heavy instruments a problem, so I won't bang on about them here. Long story short, I had to give up my precision when I started gigging again about 18 months ago and have since been playing a Yamaha which weighed a lot less (not hard as the precision was close to 12lbs ). As nice as the Yamaha is, I never really clicked with it, so when I saw a Swamp Ash P body on guitarbuild.co.uk with an advertised weight of 1.7kgs I couldn't resist. The next few months were a process of slowly applying tru oil and buying bits and bobs as money allowed (ie, very slowly indeed), until I could finally put her together. I went with a Mighty Mite neck, Schaller BM Light F-type tuners, wilkinson BBOT bridge and some skanky old SDQP pickups I had in a drawer. I realise the Fender logo is not cool, but it was there when I bought the neck and is under lacquer, so I decided "sod it". If it helps, I used a Squier engraved neck plate to ensure it's not going to fool anyone if it gets nicked and taken to a pawn shop.... This bass, no jokes,[size=5][u] weighs under 7.5 lbs [/u][/size]all in. Closer to 7.3 but I don't have super accurate scales and don't want to exaggerate. No neck dive either. (Please excuse dreadful photos- I only have a crap phone camera) [attachment=192409:IMG_20150520_133503.jpg] [attachment=192410:IMG_20150520_133548.jpg] [attachment=192411:IMG_20150520_133703.jpg] I literally only strung her up 30 minutes ago, so there's still a lot of setting up to be done, but so far I'm pretty happy. To be honest, I'm still euphoric from the fact it didn't explode when tuned up to tension (I was very careful when putting her together but have never drilled a neck before, so was pretty scared). No obvious dead spots, good sustain and nice feeling neck. Excited to see how she plays with a truss rod tweak and full setup. I know it will never be a boutique beauty, and I'm sure it lacks the sublime tone of many of the fantastic basses I love to drool over on this forum, but this bass is my creation and I love it more than anything I could have bought it a store. I will gig it until one of us breaks! If any of you have dreams of building a bitsa-bass but never have, I strongly recommend it. It's really good fun and at the end of it you have something you can call your own.

guitarbuild.co.uk seem to offer what you want, maybe drop them an email? I have a p bass and strat bodies from them and have always been pleased with quality and value.

[quote name='Annoying Twit' timestamp='1428077275' post='2737883'] £395 for a USA Fender neck. [url="http://www.stringsdirect.co.uk/bodies-necks-c5/necks-c585/fender-fender-american-medium-jumbo-rosewood-jazz-bass-neck-099-3700-921-p3827"]http://www.stringsdi...-3700-921-p3827[/url] Not that I'm going to be buying one, but I wonder if it's possible to buy Modern Player Chinese made Fender necks. When I tried one, it played find as far as I can see. [/quote] I saw those USA necks, but way out of my price range I'm afraid. Like you, I find those cheaper necks play just fine, but you just can't buy them!

[quote name='bigjohn' timestamp='1428074443' post='2737827'] I'd just buy a used Fender neck. [/quote] [quote name='umcoo' timestamp='1428074448' post='2737828'] Check out the for sale threads here too...something will come up pretty quickly and you'll get a good deal [/quote] I have been looking the last couple of months, I just haven't seen anything yet. I was beginning to think they don't come up very often. [quote name='umcoo' timestamp='1428074448' post='2737828'] Mighty mite neck are pretty good and can get one for about £100. The internet suggests they may need a bit of fret work etc to be ok, but I imported one from the states and it was fine. I wouldn't buy a Fender neck if I were you, most of the cost is going on the name. [/quote] I did actually buy one of these, great quality but it was REALLY thin so ended up exchanging it for a precision neck, which is also lovely but I've decided I do want a Jazz neck after all. Maybe if I put that precision neck up as a potential trade I could find someone with a spare Jazz neck... [quote name='MrWalker' timestamp='1428074618' post='2737831'] How about a Status neck? They are lightweight and extremely stable and with an action to die for. Don't know the price, though, but I'm sure it's on their Web page. [/quote] Around £300. Which doesn't actually seem bad for what it is... might research this a little more, despite it being more than I was hoping to spend. No idea what the profile is like though.

Hi everyone, I'm currently putting together a p/j bitsa and have everything I need either in hand or on order except the neck, which is where it's all starting to cause a bit of a headache. I've seen that Fender now sell mexican made necks for around £200, which doesn't seem too bad considering it's a finished neck from Fender themselves. I could probably import something basic and unfinished from Warmoth for a similar price but I'm not too sure if I want those blasted heavy and unnecessary steel stiffening rods as I'm aiming for a lightweight bass and I fear neck dive. Allparts will sell me a rosewood-board neck for £206 (unfinished) or £320 (finished) which seems like a lot of money. Has anyone any thoughts on my best option of the three/ anything I haven't considered? Is an Allparts neck better than a MIM Fender? Am I an idiot to dismiss Warmoth because of those rods? Should I just buy a Squier and part the rest out? Any input would be really appreciated.