51 p body with jazz neck

[hooky_lowdown]

I’ve been thinking of putting a jazz neck on my HB PB50, because the single coil pup has a fast attack I thought having a thin jazz neck would be super fun to play.

 

I know the tone will change slightly, but has anyone done this?

[therealting]

I have a Jazz neck on one of my Precisions. Some might argue that it changes the tone, but I’d say it has more of an impact on the way I play... which then changes the tone. 

[Delberthot]

Both of my Warmoth '54 single coil precisions had jazz width necks. I much preferred that size to the regular Fender '51 reissues which were a bit chunky for me

[hooky_lowdown]

So I put a jazz neck on my p bass - totally works. Tone seems little affected, still deep and fat. Happy days.

[Tweedledum]

On 2/21/2018 at 20:06, hooky_lowdown said:

has anyone done this?

I did. I put a lefty HB Jazz neck on my PB50 body. Sounds good!

 

[NJE]

You guys that have modded your Harley Bentons, did you have any issues with the neck pockets with replacement necks? I have a HB Fretless Jazz and I have been keeping my eye out for a HB Precision neck or other P bass neck so that I can get more use from the bass. I just cant get on with Jazz width nut and fretless is of limited use in my current band.

Edited February 26, 2018 by NJE

[Tweedledum]

 

37 minutes ago, NJE said:

You guys that have modded your Harley Bentons, did you have any issues with the neck pockets with replacement necks? I have a HB Fretless Jazz and I have been keeping my eye out for a HB Precision neck or other P bass neck so that I can get more use from the bass. I just cant get on with Jazz width nut and fretless is of limited use in my current band.

I swapped necks on different HB basses: put a fretless Jazz neck onto the PB50 body, the fretted PB50's neck onto the Jazz body, then I got a lefty Jazz neck for the PB50, as mentioned above. I found the neck heels and pockets do fit, but the neck bolts are not aligned. You need to fill the holes in the neck heel drill new ones.

[hooky_lowdown]

I’ve had two different HB p basses and both had standard Fender / Squier neck size pockets. So guess any Fender spec neck will fit HB basses.

[hooky_lowdown]

Also had a third party neck (Fender spec) and fitted perfectly in HB neck pocket.

[NJE]

That’s really interesting about the neck pockets and now I’m googling replacement necks 😄. Just need to keep an eye out for something solid but inexpensive, I don’t really want to be paying warmoth prices.

[Tweedledum]

You can get a complete HB bass for less than what you'd pay for a Warmoth neck. Only problem is what to do with the spare HB body...

[Jus Lukin]

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Edited February 25, 2022 by Jus Lukin

[Tweedledum]

16 hours ago, Jus Lukin said:

Very cool! Very Dusty, if you know what I mean!

I do know what you mean. Dusty was the idea ...

[DarkHeart]

19 hours ago, Tweedledum said:

You can get a complete HB bass for less than what you'd pay for a Warmoth neck. Only problem is what to do with the spare HB body...

Sell it complete to someone who likes P basses with a jazz width neck!

[NJE]

19 hours ago, Tweedledum said:

You can get a complete HB bass for less than what you'd pay for a Warmoth neck. Only problem is what to do with the spare HB body...

I have been keeping an eye out for HB basses secondhand but had the same thought, I then have a fretless neck on another body that won’t get used very much taking up room.

I could have worse problems though. 😄

 

[Maude]

On 27/02/2018 at 12:25, Tweedledum said:

You can get a complete HB bass for less than what you'd pay for a Warmoth neck. Only problem is what to do with the spare HB body...

Whizz all the lacquer off, give it a good rub down with beeswax and mineral oil, stick some little rubber pads on front and chop yer cheese uo on the back. 

Works best with a slab body.