Fitting a Jaguar HH Neck to a Tele Deluxe 72 Reissue - will they fit?

[geedo]

Hi Everyone,

Here goes my first post..

I want to fit a Jaguar HH neck to a Tele Deluxe 72 Re-issue. But I am concerned that the neck will not fit the pocket on the tele.

Any advice on the sizes of each, or where to find out? I have looked and looked but so far come up with very little information.

For anyone interested, here's what it might look like.

The Jag:

The Tele:

Together:

Thanks,
geedo

 

[A.B.Negative]

Hi geedo! I don't know if the Jaguar neck will fit the Tele body but, even if it does, you'll have intonation problems. Jags have a 24" scale length while Teles have a 25.5" scale length. You'd have to move the bridge a fair distance towards the neck for it to work. Looks great though!

 

[Telenator]

That's right. The bridge will need to move 1 1/2" forward and the you'll have to move bridge pickup the same amount or the guitar will not tune properly. You might also need a narrower spaced bridge. Oh, and a good set of pickups!

Looks plenty cool though.

 

[geedo]

Am I correct in thinking that the 12th fret should be the midpoint between the nut and the bridge?

I'm assuming on this basis that what Telenator is suggesting would achieve this.

How bad a problem would the intonation be do you think?

 

[Telenator]

The guitar will not tune at all!

A 24" scale means that the open string length needs to be 24" in order for the notes to be properly in tune.

Since the Telecaster body is intended for a 25 1/2" scale, you'd have to either move the bridge, or re-shape the neck pocket to move the neck closer to the bridge. Either way, you'll need to relocate one of the pickups.

 

[geedo]

what about replacing the fingerboard, using whatever new scale is created by the new neck/body combination to then work out the fret gaps.

Then the frets can be lined at the correct intervals..?

geedo

 

[Nick JD]

what about replacing the fingerboard, using whatever new scale is created by the new neck/body combination to then work out the fret gaps.

Then the frets can be lined at the correct intervals..?

geedo

That will work. It will also be a LOT of work.

I would suggest it is an exercise in futility ... a bit like replacing your car's body to change its colour.

It would be much, much easier to bring the bridge and pickup route further foward.

 

[Telenator]

It would be much, much easier to bring the bridge and pickup route further foward.

Yup. The controls can stay where they are but you'd have to alter the pickguard to accomodate the new pickup location.

 

[geedo]

I like the idea of leaving the body untouched. I've sent an email to my trusted guitar tech to check out what it might cost.

I'm sure a reroute and custom pickguard would cost less, but I fear it will make the guitar look unbalanced.

 

[930vet]

I don't think it is necessarily this big a problem. I just measured the length of the Duo-Sonic neck; nut to 21st fret is ~17 7/8", 1" less than a Tele, so the size of the problem is <.5" minus what you can make up with saddle adjustment, which I think will not quite get you there, but it might depend on bridge type and length of saddle screws. The Duo has a Stratish neck heel so if the Jag neck is similar you would have that neck pocket shape problem on a Tele.

 

[Citizen_Insane]

Time for a custom neck. Not worth the headache of matching that combo of neck and body.

 

[Nick JD]

I like the idea of leaving the body untouched. I've sent an email to my trusted guitar tech to check out what it might cost.

I'm sure a reroute and custom pickguard would cost less, but I fear it will make the guitar look unbalanced.

A "balanced" Tele doesn't have a 24" scale neck on it. It's 1.5" too short and looks a bit funny .

Your trusted luthier (unless he lives in China) will charge the same, if not more, as a Jazzmaster or Strat neck ... one that actually fits .

 

[Brendo]

A "balanced" Tele doesn't have a 24" scale neck on it. It's 1.5" too short and looks a bit funny .

Your trusted luthier (unless he lives in China) will charge the same, if not more, as a Jazzmaster or Strat neck ... one that actually fits .

Ho much do you reckon the Chinese one would quote. Might be a cheaper option.

 

[Telenator]

That fact is that the scale is wrong for the current layout of the parts on the body.

If you're going to put that neck on that body, the bridge and bridge pickup have to move. Or, the neck pocket and neck pickup location need to be altered, or both.

There's no such thing as being "a little off" on the intonation. We're talking a situation where 1/16" adustment can render a guitar untunable. It has to be right.

You can buy a Warmoth or USACG or any other brand neck at a decent price, in the right color and scale length that will fit the guitar perfectly with no alterations necessary.

Why re-invent the wheel when all the parts are right there and easily attainable?

Here's a sample quote for a custom neck that will exactly like the one on your photo:

Specifications
Style: CBS Stratocaster®
Construction: Vintage Modern
Scale: 25-1/2 in.
Neck Wood:
$182.00 USD•Shaft Wood: Maple
•Fingerboard Wood: Dark Ind. Rswd
Orientation: Right Handed
+ $0.00Nut Width: 1 11/16"
+ $0.00Back Shape: Standard thin
+ $0.00Radius: 10-16" compound
+ $0.00# of Frets: 22
+ $0.00Fret Size: 6130
+ $0.00Tuner Ream: Vintage Style (11/32")
+ $0.00Inlays: Mother Of Pearl Dots
+ $15.00Pre-Cut Installed String Nut: White Corian
+ $25.00Mounting Holes: Standard 4 Bolt
+ $0.00Finish: Clear Gloss
+ $75.00Price: $297.00

 

[930vet]

That fact is that the scale is wrong for the current layout of the parts on the body.

If you're going to put that neck on that body, the bridge and bridge pickup have to move. Or, the neck pocket and neck pickup location need to be altered, or both.

There's no such thing as being "a little off" on the intonation. We're talking a situation where 1/16" adustment can render a guitar untunable. It has to be right.

However there is a big difference between fixing a 1/16" difference and 1.5"; the former might be fixed by getting longer saddle screws, while the latter might be totally impractical.

The Warmoth or USACG necks are certainly options, but 24" is 2x the change of 24.75"

 

[Dave W]

That's right. The bridge will need to move 1 1/2" forward and the you'll have to move bridge pickup the same amount or the guitar will not tune properly. You might also need a narrower spaced bridge. Oh, and a good set of pickups!

Looks plenty cool though.

Keep in mind that about 70% of the difference in scale length is in the neck. The bridge would only have to be moved about .4 in. forward.

Still requires modification, of course. And in the end it won't sound much like a Tele anyway. Scale length is a big part of the Tele sound.

 

[Telenator]

Keep in mind that about 70% of the difference in scale length is in the neck. The bridge would only have to be moved about .4 in. forward.

Still requires modification, of course. And in the end it won't sound much like a Tele anyway. Scale length is a big part of the Tele sound.

You're right. My mistake, but I get closer to 1/2" difference as I figure it. If you look at the bridge pickup, it's gonna have to move or that'll be one bright sounding guitar!

 

[A.B.Negative]

I don't want to get involved with calculations but remember that the Jaguar neck has 22 frets. This would move the 12th fret (and thus the bridge position) away from the current bridge position even if both necks had the same scale length.

 

[Nick JD]

I don't want to get involved with calculations but remember that the Jaguar neck has 22 frets. This would move the 12th fret (and thus the bridge position) away from the current bridge position even if both necks had the same scale length.

The 25.5 scale with a capo on the 1st fret is a 24" scale.

If you fretted a 25.5" neck at a 24" scale you'd probably get 24 frets on it.

Man, I'm getting really confused!

 

[geedo]

Here goes,

The neck fits, it's pretty snug.. but it fits. As discussed above, there will be a serious intonation issue.

I still think this could be great. I'll be sure to post back when I've got some more info.

geedo