Please Explain CONVERSION NECKS?

[mongoose]

As they pertain to JAGMASTERS, for instance (not baritone conversion necks or whatever). Original Vista Jagmasters had 24" scale, later versions had 25 1/2" and now they're back to 24"- but "conversion" necks. Please clarify.

Sorry for the confusion, but I'm a bit unclear here. The necks on my Vista and MIJ Jaguar are identical, and my favorite necks by far.

Thanks.

[Keegan]

Conversion means that the neck still fits on a 25.5" body(same taper/heel width/bridge placement/etc), but the nut is moved closer to the body(ie the headstock is brought closer to the body) to make the scale 24"

Normally, the neck is skinnier, shorter, and the bridge is in a different location than it would be on a 25.5" body.

Not sure the specifics of the differences, but a conversion neck wouldn't fit in the pocket and then if you reshaped the pocket to take the neck, the bridge would also have to be moved. No good for modding.

[mongoose]

Conversion means that the neck still fits on a 25.5" body(same taper/heel width/bridge placement/etc), but the nut is moved closer to the body(ie the headstock is brought closer to the body) to make the scale 24"

Normally, the neck is skinnier, shorter, and the bridge is in a different location than it would be on a 25.5" body.

Not sure the specifics of the differences, but a conversion neck wouldn't fit in the pocket and then if you reshaped the pocket to take the neck, the bridge would also have to be moved. No good for modding.

Ah, interesting. Makes sense when you explain it that way. Thanks!

Hmmm...

[blueavenger]

To put it in one sentence: The neck length (from the nut) and fret placement are engineered to make the scale length you want, and allow proper intonation at all the frets with the existing bridge location.

Oh and you can get longer necks for a baritone, or shorter necks for a short scale.

[mongoose]

How much different would a "real" 24" scale guitar feel versus one with the conversion neck (all other things being equal)?

[blueavenger]

How much different would a "real" 24" scale guitar feel versus one with the conversion neck (all other things being equal)?

No difference at all. The scale length is still 24 inches long from the nut to the bridge on both guitars. It would feel the same because it would be the same (sort of. I've seen people debate how you actually measure scale length).

Look at it this way. let's say you had a neck custom made to turn a jazzmaster (25.5 inch) into a 24 inch scale guitar. There's actually a formula for figuring out where to put the frets on the neck to make it work.

You couldn't then put that same custom neck on a jag and have it work because the bridge and the back of the neck pockets are in a different spot on the jag than they are on the jazzy. It would no longer be 24 inches from the nut to the bridge on the jag.

You could however put that custom neck on a strat, because the bridge placement and neck pocket are so close as to be interchangeable on a strat and a jazzy. It would be 24 inches from the nut to the bridge because the back of the neck pocket is the same distance from the bridge on both the jazzy and the strat.

I hope I didn't just make things worse with that explanation.

[mongoose]

I hope I didn't just make things worse with that explanation.

Not at all! You nailed it for me. I can put a Jagmaster conversion neck on a Jazzmaster and have exactly what I was looking for: a 24" scale jazzy.

Thanks a million!

Man this place rocks.

[blueavenger]

I hope I didn't just make things worse with that explanation.

Not at all! You nailed it for me. I can put a Jagmaster conversion neck on a Jazzmaster and have exactly what I was looking for: a 24" scale jazzy.

Thanks a million!

Man this place rocks.

I know nothing of jagmaster conversion necks. If the 25.5 jagmaster neck is the same as a strat or jazzy, then yes.