Jazz bass neck on a P-bass

Question:

I have a ‘77 Precision that I’d like to slap a different neck.  I prefer the width and feel of a jazz bass neck (or close to a jazz, I have an Alembic with the "perfect" neck for me and a Maton which is similar to the Alembic). Does anyone know of any issues with sticking a jazz neck on a precision?  I was contemplating getting one of the Fender replacements so I get the decal but that’s not that important. Playability is the key. Obviously other necks could be better and cheaper at the same time (but you don’t get the bag with Fender written on it, oh no There is the possibility I could a get a luthier to make one especially but I don’t know how much I really want to spend on it. Opinions?

Response:

Both P-Bass and Jazz Bass necks are 2.5" wide at the heel and you should not have any problems. I’ve done this many times with no problems. Steve "Dude" Barr http://www.TheDudePit.com http://www.VintageBass.com http://www.schoolofbass.com Another one coming soon!

Response:

The replacement Fender necks ain’t cheap – the last time I looked it would have been a LOT cheaper to get a luthier to make one up. Or check out the Warmoth stuff. Coz you mention Maton I assume you’re here in Australia. Thump

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> I have a ‘77 Precision that I’d like to slap a different > neck.  I prefer the width and feel of a jazz bass neck > (or close to a jazz, I have an Alembic with the "perfect" > neck for me and a Maton which is similar to the Alembic). > Does anyone know of any issues with sticking a jazz neck > on a precision?  I was contemplating getting one of the > Fender replacements so I get the decal but that’s not > that important. Playability is the key. Obviously other > necks could be better and cheaper at the same time (but > you don’t get the bag with Fender written on it, oh no > There is the possibility I could a get a luthier to > make one especially but I don’t know how much I really > want to spend on it. > Opinions?

Response:

> The replacement Fender necks ain’t cheap – the last time I looked it would > have been a LOT cheaper to get a luthier to make one up. Or check out the > Warmoth stuff.

I’ve seen one place wants $288 for it which isn’t that much more than a Warmoth, at least the one’s I spec’d.  It’s silly I know but the little decal on the headstock means something. > Coz you mention Maton I assume you’re here in Australia.

Yep. Fender Australia charge a whole lot more than the USA. I haven’t asked the luthier what he’d charge though.  He does the work for Alembic here and also makes his own basses (he’s a bass player) and his work is good. PS. Dude, yes, I assumed the jazz neck would bolt straight on.

Response:

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text ->I have a ‘77 Precision that I’d like to slap a different > neck.  I prefer the width and feel of a jazz bass neck > (or close to a jazz, I have an Alembic with the "perfect" > neck for me and a Maton which is similar to the Alembic). > Does anyone know of any issues with sticking a jazz neck > on a precision?  I was contemplating getting one of the > Fender replacements so I get the decal but that’s not > that important. Playability is the key. Obviously other > necks could be better and cheaper at the same time (but > you don’t get the bag with Fender written on it, oh no > There is the possibility I could a get a luthier to > make one especially but I don’t know how much I really > want to spend on it. > Opinions?

In that era of Fender bass guitars, you will have absolutely no problem with the swap. I can’t speak for what is available now. When I began playing bass, my hands were very, very weak because of polio that I had at age five. I tried to play a Precision Bass, but I just couldn’t handle the width and the pressure. I traded it in on a Jazz Bass. I played that for a few years, dropped out of music and sold it (biggest mistake I ever made in music). I didn’t realize that the Jazz Bass that I had was "special" in that it had a rosewood fretboard, binding on the neck and pearloid insets. Try to find one now at an affordable price. Years later, when I had built up my hand strength, I actually wanted a Precision Neck (maple fretboard) on a Jazz Bass body. The local dealer let me do the swap in the store as long as I paid the full price for the Jazz Bass. I did, was happy and he made a couple more bucks selling a Precision Bass with a Jazz Bass neck. Everyone was happy. Why the Precision Neck on the Jazz Bass body? Because I had switched over to using heavy flatwound strings and the cramped nut area of the neck on the Jazz Bass just did not feel right. The Precision Bass maple fretboard neck was perfect using the heaviest "bridge cable" strings that I could find. You have to go with what feels right to you for your circumstances. I don’t know if anyone will let you perform a swap such as you want, but the worst thing that can happen is that the dealer will say no. Big deal. Frankly, while the Precision Bass is a classic standard, I would abort the whole process and buy a Jazz Bass right from the start. The Jazz Bass will do everything that the Precision Bass can do, plus a bit more. You won’t be able to hear the difference between the two from a few feet away from the amplifier, if both are adjusted to generate  a similar tone. Yes, the Precision Bass is a tad lighter, but not worth the loss of versatility. to me. To each his own. Good luck in your quest. Ed Cregger

Response:

> Frankly, while the Precision Bass is a classic standard, I > would abort the whole process and buy a Jazz Bass right from > the start.

I already have a J.  The P-bass has a maple board on it and I really want rosewood (or perhaps ebony) for cosmetic reasons mostly.  If I’m swapping in a new neck I thought I may as well get one my hands like. > The Jazz Bass will do everything that the Precision Bass

 > can do, plus a bit more. I disagree with the first statement.  The J seems to lack a "roundness" to the tone.  Maybe its me but there’s sounds the P can get that the J can’t and vice versa.  I do prefer the J simply due to the ability to mix the two pickups to obtain a variety of sounds. > You won’t be able to hear the difference between the two

 > from a few feet away from the amplifier, if both are  > adjusted to generate a similar tone. In a live situation, yes, it can be hard to tell the difference however for some recorded work I’d like that "round" P-bass sound. I can get very close with the Alembic but it isn’t the quite the same, almost too good. > Yes, the Precision Bass is a tad lighter

Not my one!  Heavy beast it is.  I just took off a metal pickguard that added a whole lot of weight but its still far heavier than my jazz (which is a recent USA model). > Good luck in your quest.

Thanks.  It will all work out for the better.  Must talk to the luthier.

Response:

>> Frankly, while the Precision Bass is a classic standard, > I would abort the whole process and buy a Jazz Bass right > from the start. > I already have a J.  The P-bass has a maple board on it > and I really want rosewood (or perhaps ebony) for cosmetic > reasons mostly.  If I’m swapping in a new neck I thought > I may as well get one my hands like.

You must be as bad as me. I have a ton of basses and guitars too. But I’m always wanting some weird combination. 8>) > The Jazz Bass will do everything that the Precision Bass > can do, plus a bit more. > I disagree with the first statement.  The J seems to lack > a "roundness" to the tone.  Maybe its me but there’s > sounds > the P can get that the J can’t and vice versa.  I do > prefer > the J simply due to the ability to mix the two pickups to > obtain a variety of sounds.

In most of the bands that I played in, loud rock, the Precision couldn’t cut through the mix because of the roundness you are speaking of. It was just too soft and civilized. The audience could feel it, but they had a hard time hearing it. As if most folks gave a rat’s patootie about the bass anyway. > You won’t be able to hear the difference between the two > from a few feet away from the amplifier, if both are > adjusted to generate a similar tone. > In a live situation, yes, it can be hard to tell the > difference > however for some recorded work I’d like that "round" > P-bass sound. > I can get very close with the Alembic but it isn’t the > quite the > same, almost too good.

Okay, you got me on that one. You can hear a difference when recording. > Yes, the Precision Bass is a tad lighter > Not my one!  Heavy beast it is.  I just took off a metal > pickguard that added a whole lot of weight but its still > far heavier than my jazz (which is a recent USA model).

Good old variations in production and materials. Most Precision Basses were lighter than most Jazz Basses back when I was really into playing bass. One would expect this to be true because the Precision Bass body is physically smaller than the Jazz Bass body. Today, there are so many variations that there probably aren’t too many hard and fast rules any longer. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Good luck in your quest. > Thanks.  It will all work out for the better.  Must talk > to the luthier.

Response:

Suggestion:  get a Jazz bass with the P/J pickup combination.  Best of both worlds! –Steve – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Frankly, while the Precision Bass is a classic standard, I would abort > the whole process and buy a Jazz Bass right from the start. > I already have a J.  The P-bass has a maple board on it > and I really want rosewood (or perhaps ebony) for cosmetic > reasons mostly.  If I’m swapping in a new neck I thought > I may as well get one my hands like. > The Jazz Bass will do everything that the Precision Bass >  > can do, plus a bit more. > I disagree with the first statement.  The J seems to lack > a "roundness" to the tone.  Maybe its me but there’s sounds > the P can get that the J can’t and vice versa.  I do prefer > the J simply due to the ability to mix the two pickups to > obtain a variety of sounds. > You won’t be able to hear the difference between the two >  > from a few feet away from the amplifier, if both are >  > adjusted to generate a similar tone. > In a live situation, yes, it can be hard to tell the difference > however for some recorded work I’d like that "round" P-bass sound. > I can get very close with the Alembic but it isn’t the quite the > same, almost too good. > Yes, the Precision Bass is a tad lighter > Not my one!  Heavy beast it is.  I just took off a metal > pickguard that added a whole lot of weight but its still > far heavier than my jazz (which is a recent USA model). > Good luck in your quest. > Thanks.  It will all work out for the better.  Must talk > to the luthier.

Response:

There was a model of Precision that had a Jazz neck fitted – deluxe custom or some such name in around 73′ – I have one and just feels like any jazz to play…. i don’t even know how to slap though – so can’t comment on that side of things ! www.union-revival.com

Response:

>It will all work out for the better.  Must talk >to the luthier

You might ask him about an ebony fingerboard. I have a pair of early G&L’s with ebony boards. The "cosmetics" are a good match with the tobacco burst bodies. Sound/feel are subjects for debate. Let’s just say that the cachet of a dark ebony board translates well as regards the playing and listening experience <g>. Plus if it’s a custom job you can get picky picky picky about width, depth, taper, fret config, peghead shape (Tele? PBass?) etc. –TP

Response:

> Suggestion:  get a Jazz bass with the P/J pickup combination.  Best of > both worlds!

Ys, my Maton has a P/J set.  Played it for about 15 years as my main bass and was never unhappy with the sounds it could pull although it couldn’t get the growl of the back pickup of a Jazz.  It has EMG Select pickups.

Response:

> You must be as bad as me. I have a ton of basses and guitars > too. But I’m always wanting some weird combination. 8>)

I’m getting pretty bad  But its not an obsession, merely happenstance.  Been playing for quite a while now and the collection just grows over the years. Not really that many though. > In most of the bands that I played in, loud rock, the > Precision couldn’t cut through the mix because of the > roundness you are speaking of. It was just too soft and > civilized. The audience could feel it, but they had a hard > time hearing it. As if most folks gave a rat’s patootie > about the bass anyway.

Precisely.  I’ve done a lot of loud (very loud) rock as well as some funk fusion, blues and more melodic stuff. The only way those precisions cut through is with a heap of distortion.  That’s fine where its warranted but you may as well play anything. > Good old variations in production and materials. Most > Precision Basses were lighter than most Jazz Basses back > when I was really into playing bass. One would expect this > to be true because the Precision Bass body is physically > smaller than the Jazz Bass body. Today, there are so many > variations that there probably aren’t too many hard and fast > rules any longer.

Yeah, I don’t know what is in this precision but it must have lead added to the wood. According to its serial number its a ‘77 or ‘78 while my jazz is only a few years old.

Response:

  > You might ask him about an ebony fingerboard. I probably would. Two of my basses have ebony. I like it. I just don’t like the maple on the precision. Never had. Picked the bass up cheaply so I can’t complain.

Response:

>Two of my basses have ebony. I like it. >I just don’t like the maple on the precision. Never had. >Picked the bass up cheaply so I can’t >complain.

’scuse me, I misunderstood that you were asking about ebony. FWIW, I have a (Fender) 70’s P and a 71 Jazz, both maple, both "nice"– although there’s something about ebony I like, no hurry to change anything on those. A friend has an early stock 70’s PBass with rosewood, which sure seems to work on that bass, which was bought with a truss rod problem and repaired because it was obviously "special" (unplugged "acoustic wood test") even when the neck was out of control. Whatever fits, I guess. Happy hunting.  –TP

Response:

Three words:  Bartolini, Bartolini, Bartolini! And before you aks:  I DO NOT have a business relationship with Bartolini.  I just like the pickups! –Steve – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Suggestion:  get a Jazz bass with the P/J pickup combination.  Best of > both worlds! > Ys, my Maton has a P/J set.  Played it for about 15 years as > my main bass and was never unhappy with the sounds it could > pull although it couldn’t get the growl of the back pickup > of a Jazz.  It has EMG Select pickups.

Response:

New side-topic in the J vs P discussion follows: I play on a P-type bass (Ibanez) in loud rockbands.. If I want more growl out of my play would you advice me to get a Jazz insted of using plentiful distorsion on my current bass to get my tones more audible and less general bass whoomp? /Johan

Response:

> New side-topic in the J vs P discussion follows: > I play on a P-type bass (Ibanez) in loud rockbands.. > If I want more growl out of my play would you advice me to get a Jazz insted > of using plentiful distorsion on my current bass to get my tones more > audible and less general bass whoomp?

How about slapping a J pickup in the bridge position? That just might do it.

Response:

> > New side-topic in the J vs P discussion follows: > I play on a P-type bass (Ibanez) in loud rockbands.. > If I want more growl out of my play would you advice me to get a Jazz insted > of using plentiful distorsion on my current bass to get my tones more > audible and less general bass whoomp? > How about slapping a J pickup in the bridge position? That > just might do it.

Sure, but I would’nt wanna drill a new mounting hole for the PU.. I wanna get a new bass anyway, looking at Jazz or musicman alternatives. /Johan

Response:

I haven’t bought from them yet, but am looking REAL close: www.usacustomguitars.com The think the offer that is very important to me is radius options.  The Warmoth necks and many others are a fairly large radius.  I don’t care for that at all and parted with my Warwick for that reason.  The Fenders and my Alembics are small radius and that’s what I like.  You may or may not want to consider this criteria also.

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> I have a ‘77 Precision that I’d like to slap a different > neck.  I prefer the width and feel of a jazz bass neck > (or close to a jazz, I have an Alembic with the "perfect" > neck for me and a Maton which is similar to the Alembic). > Does anyone know of any issues with sticking a jazz neck > on a precision?  I was contemplating getting one of the > Fender replacements so I get the decal but that’s not > that important. Playability is the key. Obviously other > necks could be better and cheaper at the same time (but > you don’t get the bag with Fender written on it, oh no > There is the possibility I could a get a luthier to > make one especially but I don’t know how much I really > want to spend on it. > Opinions?

Response:

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