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I'm looking for a new neck for a '59 Jazzmaster, I'm on a low budget and it's a player - refinished, and currently sporting a Fernandes Strat neck and a Tune-o-Matic bridge. I came across a Fender rosewood slab neck from China, made in 2017, for $150 on ebay. It's got a 9.5" radius. Anyone know which model this neck came from, and is it good quality? (I looked at the 60th anniversary '58 reissue neck but I don't have $700 to spend.)

I understand you're on a budget, but putting a $150 neck on a vintage JM body is a pretty weird thing to do. Even if the Chinese neck is ok, It's unlikely to be any improvement over your Fernandes neck.

I'd recommend saving your money until you can afford something better - you can get something of very good quality for around $300 - go to The Stratosphere if you want something ready to bolt on, or get something custom-made by Musikraft.

J.

You can buy original Mexican Fender JM replacement necks (classic Player, Vintage 60s) for just a bit more. I think they are really a bargain for the price and also look much better.

The MIM Classic 60's is also the way I'd go if it were me... $279 new, 7.25" radius, nitro.

The fun thing about this is that you can go nuts with it if it's already been messed around with vintage value-wise, can I suggest maybe an Aluminium neck? I have them on both my guitars and they are just in a league of their own sound and playibility-wise http://www.offsetguitars.com/forums/vie ... p?t=110415 and http://www.offsetguitars.com/forums/vie ... r#p1436305

Save up a little bit more and just buy a vintage correct neck from Musikraft. I'm consistently blown away by their work and customer service.

Going the cheap route (and I don't consider $150 cheap for a Chinese made neck) is just silly considering a neck is half the guitar and the other half is a '59 body. Short cuts in life often mean long cuts to happiness.

StevenO wrote: ↑

Fri Apr 12, 2019 5:15 am

Save up a little bit more and just buy a vintage correct neck from Musikraft. I'm consistently blown away by their work and customer service.

Going the cheap route (and I don't consider $150 cheap for a Chinese made neck) is just silly considering a neck is half the guitar and the other half is a '59 body. Short cuts in life often mean long cuts to happiness.

Quoted for truth.

It'd be a quick fix that, initially, might work out but I'd imagine, sooner or later, you'd start having niggles with a cheaply made Chinese neck. The big concern for me would be the frets. If they're not level you'll be paying the same amount again to get them levelled (unless you can do it yourself).

Considering how much of a guitars "feel" is in the neck you'd be crazy to go the cheap route.

Absolutely.

A neck make or breaks a guitar for me. If any of the fit, finish, frets, radius, profile are off even a little bit, it can completely change the experience of an instrument.