Swap necks on Stingray? Anyone?

[AlecS]

Hi guys-

OK, I've got a few (four I guess) Stingrays 4-string basses. I'm a very lucky guy. I've come to the conclusion that I really like the double pickup versions (HH) and I REALLY like this maple neck I have on the one bass I have with the single pickup. All of these basses are in near perfect condition. What I'm considering is putting the maple neck on one of my basses with the double pickups. The only problem is the one I'd like to put it on has a painted headstock. (Sunburst) So then that headstock and neck would go on the blueburst guitar creating a horrible frankenstien of mismatching bursts. That's not cool for the blue burst guitar.

The real question though is, is it OK to move these necks around? I like that maple neck so much I don't want to take it off and then it's never the same again, you know?

thanks much!
alec

 

[PeteDuBaldo]

I've done a ton of neck swaps on my EBMM guitars, and even a customer's vintage 1976 Sting Ray 4H. With a proper professional level (complete) setup and making sure the neck angle is correct (check for shims & adjust if necessary) you should be fine.

 

[nurnay]

I've swapped Ray necks before, no issues. Be sure to note how the shims are placed when you remove the original neck!

 

[AlecS]

I've swapped Ray necks before, no issues. Be sure to note how the shims are placed when you remove the original neck!

Ah, see? That's what I'm talking about. I didn't even know they had shims. How do I check that? Is there photos online somewhere?

thanks guys-

alec

 

[nurnay]

Ah, see? That's what I'm talking about. I didn't even know they had shims. How do I check that? Is there photos online somewhere?

thanks guys-

alec

When you remove the neck, you will see them in the neck pocket. Just take a pic or something so you don't forget how they're situated.

 

[Golem]

Necks are fully swappable, but the shims are a cut-and-try thing.
You can't assume that the shim stays with the neck nor with the
body that it originally shipped with.

Shims are the final tweak for neck angle, and I've even found it
necessary [for personal set up preferences] to re-shim basses
that still have their original neck and body. Shimming is not very
difficult to understand nor to execute, but it's tedious cuz you
hafta fully string up and tune up to check out each "try" of the
"cut-and-try" procedure.

Clear plastic from retail display packaging comes in various
thicknesses. So does disposable aluminum bakeware. I try to
avoid paper cuz it's less stable than metal or plastic.