Spectrum replacement neck.

Hopefully this isn't an idiot question.

I have a Westone Spectrum ST, and wondered if there is any replacement neck available that can bolt right in?  After all these years, it's not exactly the straightest neck in the world and I would like something that has larger frets as well.

Anybody?

Generally not without a little work on the pocket and the heel. I'm pretty sure any other Spectrum/Phoenix bolt neck will fit, though..

Is your neck twisted, or does it just need the truss rod tweaked? If it is just got a back bow, a visit to your luthier might be in order if you don't fancy adjusting it yourself; he will also be able to tell you how much it will cost to put jumbo frets in!!

corsair wrote:Generally not without a little work on the pocket and the heel. I'm pretty sure any other Spectrum/Phoenix bolt neck will fit, though..

Is your neck twisted, or does it just need the truss rod tweaked? If it is just got a back bow, a visit to your luthier might be in order if you don't fancy adjusting it yourself; he will also be able to tell you how much it will cost to put jumbo frets in!!

Slight twist I think, i.e it will have slight back-bow or flat on the treble side and be bowed or concaved on the bass side of the fretboard.  I usually setup my own guitars.  Haven't really had something refretted for quite a few years, but usually it's cheaper to replace a bolt-on neck.

I kinda figured the sizing would be different from the usual Fender bolt-on types.

Eek.  First luthier I found online charges $500 AUD for a re-fret.  Don't think I'll be doing that to this guitar.

Hee hee hee... no, suppose not!! Whereabouts in the Shaky Isles are you?? I know a very good luthier in Dunedin....

There's this....

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Aria-Pro-11-Guitar-Neck-/191131735559?pt=AU_Instrument_Accessories&hash=item2c8056d607&_uhb=1

... not Westone but it is Matsumoku? You could ask the seller for heel measurements and compare them to what you've got, eh....

Heh.

I should point out that we both have NZ flags on our thingy, but I am now located in QLD as well

That neck looks interesting (although I can see the indents on the frets from here).  I might just soldier on as it is, since I just snapped up a new (old) Aria Pro ii on the 'bay.  *woohoo!*

Ah, right... and whereabouts is ye?

There is a process for getting a minor twist out of a neck, but I cannot find my information on it presently!! Hopefully one of the real experts will hasten along with some sage advice...

And the new (old) APII is....??

Pix or it never happened!! 

Brisbane.

Guitar in the post is... dun dun DUUUNNNNNN :



Last of the V8 Interceptors... oops, I mean a CS-400.

Ahhhh.... a Cardinal!! Noice!! I don't think I realised they had a carved top, eh!!

corsair wrote:Ahhhh.... a Cardinal!! Noice!! I don't think I realised they had a carved top, eh!!

They don't show up very often. 

Waiting for shipping is hard.  


edit:  Only the 400 has the carved top/set neck.

That's a beautiful bird right there!
I've always lusted after one but seldom come across them here, and when they do show up they tend to be "walnut" finish.   

Sorry to hear about the neck on your Spectrum. It takes some doing I would think to get solid maple into that state! I have 6 Spectrums (Spectra?) and the necks are all dead straight.

Our pal Racing over at the Matsumoku.org Forums has had some experience straightening out a warped neck, so it can be done. IIRC he managed to do it simply with weighting (in the right place) + humidity + time. Personally I think the easiest solution is to grab a replacement neck off eBay. There have been a few parted out instruments there for some time now.

Or....and this involves a refret....but you could have it reprofiled with a radiused sanding block...always an option.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/1980s-Westone-Electra-Spectrum-LX-Electric-Guitar-Neck-Matsumoku-Made-in-Japan-/271363515021?pt=Guitar_Accessories&hash=item3f2e86a28d

corsair wrote:http://www.ebay.com/itm/1980s-Westone-Electra-Spectrum-LX-Electric-Guitar-Neck-Matsumoku-Made-in-Japan-/271363515021?pt=Guitar_Accessories&hash=item3f2e86a28d

Thanks for that - it looks good.  I think I'm just going to leave it for now - on further inspection I think maybe I'm being a bit too fussy.  It's only the tiniest amount of warp.  See if I can get used to the fret size.

That 400 is gorgeous.    

I've gotten somewhat used to smaller frets.  I was a jumbo only guy for a long time, but now I'm almost equally at home on smaller frets.  Just takes time.

The Chad wrote:That 400 is gorgeous.    

I've gotten somewhat used to smaller frets.  I was a jumbo only guy for a long time, but now I'm almost equally at home on smaller frets.  Just takes time.

Cool.  Good perspective.  I should spend some more quality time with the Spectrum I think.

Badmotor wrote:...I should spend some more quality time with the Spectrum I think.

Yesh!  

Alright.  I finally got my Aria today.  It is WAY darker than the photo up there, bit of enhancement going on there by the seller.  Such a great sounding guitar - fat and sustain-y.  Also been doing some comparisons here and it has helped me appreciate my Spectrum so much more as well.  I may have been under-rating it... need to get the right pickup combination into it, that's all.

stop teasing and post pix....

.... and Spectrums are indeed great!!

No disrespect to the Spectrum, but that Aria looks the dog's danglies - lovely guitar!

It sounds great too.  Very happy.