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I'm making a bass guitar using an old neck of an economic replica of a Jazz bass, it should be mahogany
I removed the fretboard, replacing the truss rod and removed a lot of material because I wanted a slim neck, but now I realized that it is too flexible! I'm afraid that it can't stand the tension of the strings ...
Is there a way to measure the flexibility? I thought something like putting a certain weight above (or below?) the nut, and then measure how it changes.
If it really is too flexible I could put two bars of aluminum or carbon or something, cause i didn't glue the fretboard yet.

Thanks a lot!

Well, it should be mahogany? If it's a Jazz Bass, It should be maple, for sure. And, if you removed the fingerboard and recarved the neck, you should be able to say wich wood IS it.

For the flexibility thing... A cheap model bass neck is often too flexible or unstable, when you buy it. If you removed wood from it, it only can go one way... You can chose to put 2 bars aside the truss rod, but, you already removed wood, you'll have to remove more to insert the rods. Won't left much wood on this neck.

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Francis Richer, Montréal
Les Guitares F&M Guitars

@verhoevenc: I didn't glue the fretboard on the neck, so i'm can't really try to string it...

@Ti-Roux: Yes, the neck come from a cheap bass... It SHOULD be mahogany, i'm not sure at all, this is my first work... Anyway it's been cut in a bad way, no flat, no quartersaw
What kind of material for the bars?

Well just string it up anyways and call her a "wammy bar" type of neck...who knows you might start a whole new building style.


blessings
Padma

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If it's a cheap bass and SHOULD be mahogany, it's probably Phillipine Mahogany, aka Nato wood,
Of which there are severalspecies in common use in the korean and chines factories, all with similar characteristics.

It's mainly britlle, not flexible although it does flex.

BTW I've adjusted many super flerxible bass necks on these cheap guitars, some with 1/2 inch or more between the strings and neck, they always feel like they're going to break but they seem to hold up pretty good.

Might just glue her back up and try it out.

You might also replace the fretboard with some kind of quartersawn super stiff fretboard wood, make the fretboard 5/16 thick, and don't cut the fret slots deep, that will add stiffness as well.

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Old growth, shmold growth!

Well, a new truss rod, 2 carbon fiber rods, a lot of job, that will give you an uncertain result, for a cheap neck, that will be more metal than wood, after modifications...

If you want my opinion...
[url]http://www.stewmac.com/shop/Bodies,_necks,_wood/Bass_Necks/Replacement_Neck_for_Fender_Bass.html
[/url]

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Francis Richer, Montréal
Les Guitares F&M Guitars

Oh ya ...me just remembers...
take a mortar and pistol to some viagra. Grind it up real good, mix it with some shellac and apply to the neck...that should stiffen her up real good.

Lasts a long time me hear. Works on floppy tops too!


blessings
Padma

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is that good for a rattling truss rod to?

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Um...no actually for a rattlin truss rod, me here tell of injecting hot melted honey, letting it cool down and solidify...supposedly stops the rattle and you end up with a really sweet neck.


blessings
Padma

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Audiences and dispensations on Thursdays ~ by appointment only.


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Are You Sure You Didnt vote For Prop 19 ole fella ???

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Whats Prop 19...is that some sort of American thing?

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You are the man!
I will put a 5/16 quartersawn Ovangkol fretboard!...

Let us know how it turns out!

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Old growth, shmold growth!

It works!

Thanks!

Take a look: http://s1107.photobucket.com/albums/h390/MatteoMarziali/My%20Carl%20Thompson%20Tribute%20Bass%20-%205%20Feb%202011/

Wow! That's a great Carl Thompson style bass! Really nice stuff. Just out of curiosity, why did you choose to screw that wooden nameplate into the headstock instead of just gluing it on? Does Carl Thompson do it that way, or do you just prefer that aesthetic?

Also, did you end up putting carbon fiber into the neck or was the extra thick fretboard enough? Again, really great work. Congrats!

I screw the nameplate cause Carl do in this way!

The 5/16 fretboard is enough

Thanks

Remember if you do this to your neck - you can't play more than four hours.

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It's this new idea from recent decades that everyone gets a participation award. - MUX

Remember if you do this to your neck - you can't play more than four hours.

_________________
It's this new idea from recent decades that everyone gets a participation award. - MUX