Should I or Shouldn't I?

[OutSpoon]

So - I have a '78 Fender Jazz, well, it's a '78 neck on an 83 body and an 83 fingerboard (I think) - with Nordy pickups and a Schaller bridge; so already a bit all over the place - but what would make it 'perfect' I think would be block inlays.

I know a luthier local to me who already did a great job putting new inlays into an old Ibanez that I had, so thinking to trust him with the Fender.

I didn't pay big $$ for the Fender but wondering if it would increase, decrease or destroy the value of it...

What do you all think? Keep it original(ish) or continue the journey it has had, and make it personal...

[attachment=112250:IMG_1804.jpg]

[Happy Jack]

Destroy. Don't do it.

Buy another neck, with blocks already in place, and swop it over. Keep the original somewhere safe, and you can always revert to it, or replace it should you want to sell.

[discreet]

I'd leave it as it is, but then I generally favour the path of least resistance. YMMV.
No help at all really, but there you go. Only you can decide!

[Lfalex v1.1]

[quote name='OutSpoon' timestamp='1341490955' post='1719907']

continue the journey it has had, and make it personal...

[/quote]

This

[OutSpoon]

I guess buying another neck is an option... what sort of price for a '70's fender jazz neck?

[LukeFRC]

if it's just for the look... why not use the block/stickers you see people using?

[Lfalex v1.1]

[quote name='OutSpoon' timestamp='1341493788' post='1719969']
I guess buying another neck is an option... what sort of price for a '70's fender jazz neck?
[/quote]

As much as a s/h Squier VMJ and a decal?
Then you could put the '83 neck on the VMJ body, too.

[GregBass]

[quote name='Happy Jack' timestamp='1341492775' post='1719942']
Buy another neck, with blocks already in place, and swop it over. Keep the original somewhere safe, and you can always revert to it, or replace it should you want to sell.
[/quote]

This ^^. At least then you can go back if you don't like it.

[discreet]

[quote name='LukeFRC' timestamp='1341494100' post='1719984']
if it's just for the look... why not use the block/stickers you see people using?[/quote]

Because when I see people using them, I think, 'you pathetic cheapskate corner-cutting, backward-thinking git. You should be in local government, or possibly people-trafficking.' Then I rap them sharply on the cranium with my walking-stick.

[LukeFRC]

[quote name='discreet' timestamp='1341494286' post='1719989']
Because when I see people using them, I think, 'you pathetic cheapskate corner-cutting, backward-thinking git. You should be in local government, or possibly people-trafficking.' Then I rap them sharply on the cranium with my walking-stick.
[/quote]
and what do you think when you see a P bass with blocks?
how close do you have to get before you can tell?

[discreet]

[quote name='LukeFRC' timestamp='1341494811' post='1720006']
and what do you think when you see a P bass with blocks? [/quote]

It's just out of the question. Anyone found with blocks on a P-Bass must be lashed until they drop, kneecapped, hung drawn and quartered, then cremated in public on prime-time TV. Twice. Or until they agree to a neck with dots.

[BottomE]

Get yourself an active Squier Jazz bass and swap necks. Job done.

[lojo]

[quote name='OutSpoon' timestamp='1341490955' post='1719907']
So - I have a '78 Fender Jazz, well, it's a '78 neck on an 83 body and an 83 fingerboard (I think) - with Nordy pickups and a Schaller bridge; so already a bit all over the place
[/quote]

As you say its not stock anyway, and if its a bass you love, its what you want and its a professional job do it

MIght be nice to make a judgement on value with and without, just so you know, but I think thats hard to call anyway

[Dave Vader]

[quote name='discreet' timestamp='1341495014' post='1720010']
It's just out of the question. Anyone found with blocks on a P-Bass must be lashed until they drop, kneecapped, hung drawn and quartered, then cremated in public on prime-time TV. Twice. Or until they agree to a neck with dots.
[/quote]

I'll tell kate, but she won't like it.....

[discreet]

[quote name='Dave Vader' timestamp='1341495565' post='1720029']
I'll tell kate, but she won't like it...[/quote]

I have a slightly different punishment in mind for her.

Edit: Saw that pic a while back, it's a cracker!

Edited July 5, 2012 by discreet

[LukeFRC]

[quote name='Dave Vader' timestamp='1341495565' post='1720029']
I'll tell kate, but she won't like it.....


[/quote]
what are you talking about. It's a jazz bass clearly says so. :rollseyes:

[iiipopes]

[quote name='discreet' timestamp='1341495014' post='1720010']
It's just out of the question. Anyone found with blocks on a P-Bass must be lashed until they drop, kneecapped, hung drawn and quartered, then cremated in public on prime-time TV. Twice. Or until they agree to a neck with dots.
[/quote]
Unless you're Duck Dunn.

Edited July 5, 2012 by iiipopes

[KevB]

I think Duck's beyond worrying what anyone thinks of him now...

[OutSpoon]

Definitely not stickers... that is cheap - so is the idea of putting a 'new' neck on it.. I think that would also change the sound and the feel.. dots just don't look right for me - and as it's a '78 neck; it [i]should[/i] have blocks anyways. So in theory I am making it [i]correct. :-) [/i]

[Fat Rich]

[quote name='OutSpoon' timestamp='1341502044' post='1720149']
Definitely not stickers... that is cheap - so is the idea of putting a 'new' neck on it.. I think that would also change the sound and the feel.. dots just don't look right for me - and as it's a '78 neck; it [i]should[/i] have blocks anyways. So in theory I am making it [i]correct. :-) [/i]
[/quote]

Exactly this, a new fingerboard makes it less interesting to a collector, putting blocks back on it may even increase the value a little although it'll be obvious they're not the originals.

Can't see any harm in doing it, it's already a bitsa bass and 78s and particularly 83s aren't really so collectable.....yet.

But not black blocks

[chris_b]

This bass is so modded that "vintage" value is pretty irrelevant. The parts might be worth more than the whole!

It would be money [s]wasted[/s] spent on a bass folly, in my opinion.

[OutSpoon]

Good - so we are all agreed then. Blocks it is!

Now - I was thinking black blocks; but after seeing pearl blocks on a '77 recently I am more thinking pearl...hmmm...

[BottomE]

Black blocks of course

[mcnach]

[quote name='OutSpoon' timestamp='1341490955' post='1719907']
So - I have a '78 Fender Jazz, well, it's a '78 neck on an 83 body and an 83 fingerboard (I think) - with Nordy pickups and a Schaller bridge; so already a bit all over the place - but what would make it 'perfect' I think would be block inlays.

I know a luthier local to me who already did a great job putting new inlays into an old Ibanez that I had, so thinking to trust him with the Fender.

I didn't pay big $$ for the Fender but wondering if it would increase, decrease or destroy the value of it...

What do you all think? Keep it original(ish) or continue the journey it has had, and make it personal...

[attachment=112250:IMG_1804.jpg]
[/quote]

I personally love the neck like that... but if I wanted blocks I'd probably try to get a neck with blocks, and see if I am happy with that, before doing the surgery on this neck.

[Schnozzalee]

[quote name='OutSpoon' timestamp='1341509415' post='1720319']
Good - so we are all agreed then. Blocks it is!

Now - I was thinking black blocks; but after seeing pearl blocks on a '77 recently I am more thinking pearl...hmmm...
[/quote]

Black without question for me, unless, your looking to change the pickguard too?