Tricking out my short scale, advice needed.

[LBS-bass]

Good morning, cats and kittens! I've got a wild hair to trick out my Gretsch Junior Jet.

G2220 Electromatic® Junior Jet™ Bass II Short-Scale, Black Walnut Fingerboard, Torino Green
^^^^^ that is a link, just doesn't look like one. Takes you to the product description.

I want to do two things to it.

1) replace the electronics
2) replace the neck and make it fretless

Someone in my distant past suggested I put TV Jones pickups in it, but I have really very little knowledge as to why I'd choose those over something else. Help me understand. Basically what I'd like is something clean and punchy that would accentuate the fretless vibe.

I know I will most likely have to have a neck made, but maybe y'all have other thoughts on that.

 

[4strings]

The pickups are an oddball size, so, yeah, TV Jones/Filtertron pickups fit but not much else without cutting wood or filling the gap. If you send me exact dimensions of the pickup I can see if there are any good options that I'm aware of.

Here's something interesting I found a long ass time ago- those pickups look like humbuckers but are actually skinny single coils:

Gretsch Jet bass: replacement pickups?

Here we go again. No. These have NEVER come with a TV Jones pickup. They've always had a Gretsch pickup. It's an import pickup that was designed for Gretsch by TV Jones. Big difference. I LIKE THIS GUY! I have been trying to get this point across for years on the other forum. The other part I...

www.tdpri.com

 

[LBS-bass]

Yes it's pretty clear when you play it that they are not humbuckers! I'll pull it out of its case later today and let you know what size they are.

 

[LBS-bass]

Sooo.... the Gretsch has a 30.31" scale, Warmoth SS necks are 30". I don't think this is going to make a difference on a bass I have to intonate as I play. Is there anything I am missing on that?

@4strings Pickups are about 7cm wide (2.75 inches) by 3cm.

 

[4strings]

Those pickups are goofy sized. Limited choices unless you cut wood.

 

[4strings]

Sooo.... the Gretsch has a 30.31" scale, Warmoth SS necks are 30". I don't think this is going to make a difference on a bass I have to intonate as I play. Is there anything I am missing on that?

@4strings Pickups are about 7cm wide (2.75 inches) by 3cm.

Sounds like something you can work with. You might be able to pull the bridge saddles back far enough to intonate, and you could move the bridge a hair if you really wanted to.

 

[LBS-bass]

Sounds like something you can work with. You might be able to pull the bridge saddles back far enough to intonate, and you could move the bridge a hair if you really wanted to.

The saddles are pretty high right now, so plenty of wiggle room. I don't have a problem cutting into this thing; I'm not planning to put the old pickups back in. Also the pickup surrounds on these things are huge, so if I wanted to I probably could.

 

[LBS-bass]

The current status.

 

[4strings]

Looks like you have room to grow.

Does the Warmoth SS heel fit the body?

 

[LBS-bass]

Looks like you have room to grow.

Does the Warmoth SS heel fit the body?

That's a good question. I looked at a Gretsch and a Fender today at GC and eyeballing it they looked similar, but I need to find out for sure.

 

[4strings]

Well, if you have a 4 string fender hanging around you do a quick pretend-swap just to see if the heel hits the pocket. I'm assuming the Warmoth heel is Fender sized, since that seems to be their MO.

 

[NSYMCE]

Well, if you have a 4 string fender hanging around you do a quick pretend-swap just to see if the heel hits the pocket. I'm assuming the Warmoth heel is Fender sized, since that seems to be their MO.

Dunno if they still are, but Warmoth at least used to be officially licensed for Fender compatibility.

 

[LBS-bass]

Unfortunately the only fenders I have are elites with the contoured heel.

 

[LBS-bass]

I am sure I know someone with a regular old Fender though. I can make this happen.

 

[4strings]

FYI, in case it helps:

• 2.375" (60mm) neck pocket fits all Warmoth Short Scale necks
• Fits standard-size pickups and hardware
• Neck mounting holes and wiring channels pre-drilled for easy assembly
• Front or rear-routed control cavity options
• Many pickup routs available
• Several bridge rout options
• Wood, Laminate Top, and finish options
• Solid or chambered body options
• Forearm Contour and Tummy Cut are standard
• 3/8" edge radius
• 1-3/4" thick
• 30" or 32" scale, depending on which neck you choose

 

[LBS-bass]

Excellent info. Thank you. Now I just need to measure the Gretsch pocket and see how it compares. I suppose if push comes to shove I buy a Warmoth body and just make this a total DIY.

 

[4strings]

Excellent info. Thank you. Now I just need to measure the Gretsch pocket and see how it compares. I suppose if push comes to shove I buy a Warmoth body and just make this a total DIY.

Warmoth makes a couple of cool short scale bodies. I personally think the Moonstone is pretty sweet!

 

[4strings]

 

[LBS-bass]

Warmoth makes a couple of cool short scale bodies. I personally think the Moonstone is pretty sweet!

I am really shitty with power tools so probably need to pay someone to properly assemble. Could be fun to try it myself, though. Not sure if I'm up to the task. I can screw up just about anything, given a chance.

 

[Morrighan]

Good morning, cats and kittens! I've got a wild hair to trick out my Gretsch Junior Jet.

G2220 Electromatic® Junior Jet™ Bass II Short-Scale, Black Walnut Fingerboard, Torino Green
^^^^^ that is a link, just doesn't look like one. Takes you to the product description.

I want to do two things to it.

1) replace the electronics
2) replace the neck and make it fretless

Someone in my distant past suggested I put TV Jones pickups in it, but I have really very little knowledge as to why I'd choose those over something else. Help me understand. Basically what I'd like is something clean and punchy that would accentuate the fretless vibe.

I know I will most likely have to have a neck made, but maybe y'all have other thoughts on that.

Likely I who recommended TV Jones replacements in the distant past. Why not just defret the neck?