What to do with expensive bass with warped neck?

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[funkyjimbob]

Have a read of my old thread here in regards to a Warwick Infinity that I got that turned up with a severely twisted neck. It ended up being fixed and came back flat as a pancake. John Williams of Noiseworks was the guy who fixed it. not sure whether he is still going

https://www.basschat.co.uk/topic/243973-want-to-see-what-an-ebay-seller-regarded-as-a-small-neck-twist/

Edited November 6, 2019 by funkyjimbob

[AngelDeVille]

It's only wood and wire, bend it to your will!

[ped]

Hold on are we talking about a twisted neck or one that’s got too much relief? 

[GuyR]

21 hours ago, Al Krow said:

Heat treatment - Bass Gallery Camden. 

I have had that done to a jazz bass neck. It was great for a while, then bowed again, less than before but still not able to get my preferred action. It was a 1 piece neck. Understand that a separate fingerboard neck can give a better long term result.

having said that if it has worked for others it’s worth a punt as you have nothing to lose.

if that doesn’t work, you do see 70s neck for sale occasionally. I would keep the finish as is. A neck solution can be found, even if it takes time. Best of luck.

[attackbass]

6 minutes ago, GuyR said:

I have had that done to a jazz bass neck. It was great for a while, then bowed again, less than before but still not able to get my preferred action. It was a 1 piece neck. Understand that a separate fingerboard neck can give a better long term result.

having said that if it has worked for others it’s worth a punt as you have nothing to lose.

if that doesn’t work, you do see 70s neck for sale occasionally. I would keep the finish as is. A neck solution can be found, even if it takes time. Best of luck.

Yeah, this neck is a one piece maple neck and my tech did mention heat treatment but wasn't convinced about it. 

I'm trying to remember but I think he did put in spacers. He is a well respected tech/luthier but I am going to see who else is local who may be able to have a look and offer another opinion. 

I would be concerned about the fingerboard being leveled without somebody making a mess of it, I would have to be 100% happy that they were going to restore it. It would require the binding being repainted, blocks reseated in the neck and the lawyer re-applied. 

Right now, im edging towards just getting an all parts neck. If anyone can recommend any South Wales guitar Luthiers/techs please let me know 

 

Thanks for all your feedback

 

[EMG456]

Ah - if one piece I suspect the heat treatment may not do so well as I believe that the heat softens up the bond between neck and fingerboard allowing them to move slightly against each other.

What could work is a refret using fret wire with a slightly thicker tang - the bit that goes into the fret slot. the cumulative effect of 20 frets with oversized tangs may be enough to bring the relief back down.

[GuyR]

11 hours ago, attackbass said:

Yeah, this neck is a one piece maple neck and my tech did mention heat treatment but wasn't convinced about it. 

I'm trying to remember but I think he did put in spacers. He is a well respected tech/luthier but I am going to see who else is local who may be able to have a look and offer another opinion. 

I would be concerned about the fingerboard being leveled without somebody making a mess of it, I would have to be 100% happy that they were going to restore it. It would require the binding being repainted, blocks reseated in the neck and the lawyer re-applied. 

Right now, im edging towards just getting an all parts neck. If anyone can recommend any South Wales guitar Luthiers/techs please let me know 

 

Thanks for all your feedback

 

Looking on eBay sold items just now, there was a 70s bullet truss rod maple neck with tuners removed, worn looking, sold for £275. That would be problem solved, with ready-made wear & tear.

[Stub Mandrel]

On 06/11/2019 at 08:56, attackbass said:

The neck is maple with block inlays, I don't think planing will be an option as the neck is coated in a thick poly coating, without stripping the neck of the finish and refinishing

Then that's what must be done!

[White Cloud]

Oh dear, sorry to hear this. The curse of the skinny jazz bass strikes again! Lots of good advice here though.

[durhamboy]

I'd seriously investigate the heat treatment option, especially if, (as seems to be the case from the posts so far) there is a specialist outfit in the UK who do this work.

Many years ago I had an early production Warmoth neck that had been stored n my workshop unused for a few years, when I finally found a use for it I discovered it had developed a significant spiral twist, serious enough that I thought the neck was  beyond saving. Anyway, long story short, the neck ended up in the back of my van with a heap of scrap and off cuts destined for the tip. It was summer in South Australia, very hot and low humidity, temperatures in the van during the day regularly reached 60 degrees C for hours on end and the neck lay there for a couple of weeks. When I finally took it out to throw it away I took one final look, thinking (hoping?)that perhaps the twist wasn't that bad... The neck was now strait again! I took it home and kept in in the house under more stable conditions. The neck was still strait two years later, so became part of a guitar I have kept for the last twenty years. (I didn't dare sell it, just in case the twist returned, but it never has.)

While I'm not recommending such random rough treatment as a cure, I certainly recommend exploring the the option of controlled heat treatment as a possibility.

Good luck with saving the neck and retaining a much loved bass.😉