Dean Zone Bass Re-build

[JimC]

It seems to me that you'll be doing astonishingly well to fit those big tuners on there, but if you've got the facilities maybe you could consider gluing "wings" on the side of the headstock which would then give you as much real estate as you need. A piece of veneer on the front and paint the back as you'd also need to fill the existing holes.

[MusicStudent1]

It seems to me that you'll be doing astonishingly well to fit those big tuners on there, but if you've got the facilities maybe you could consider gluing "wings" on the side of the headstock which would then give you as much real estate as you need. A piece of veneer on the front and paint the back as you'd also need to fill the existing holes.

That is a great idea but....this bass guitar was and always will be a cheap piece of crap. It wouldn’t be worth it to dowel holes, re drill add wood, widen..it be better just to get a new neck....I might end up doing that eventually.

I have been pondering this dilemma for a day or so and here are two options with the existing neck:

1. Line the tuners up the best I can (they do all fit if rotated around just right but there are edges that stick out and look sloppy) and screw ‘me down. It’ll look passable, will be functional but wouldn’t win any GOTM contest if it were a kit, lol!!!

2. Do step #1 above except take a grinder to the tuners which have edges sticking out. If I could trim those edges, I could make it look better. I have cutting bits for my dremel....I don’t know, that metal is pretty thick.

I’m inclined to just do step #1 above. I’m really just making an abandoned junker bass useable so if it doesn’t look like a million bucks, it’s ok.

Thanks for the ideas, though!!!

[JimC]

... cheap piece of crap. It wouldn’t be worth it to dowel holes, re drill add wood, widen..it be better just to get a new neck.!!

The contrary view being that as a cheap piece of crap its an ideal platform to try out stuff which is pushing your boundaries... But I don't know your skills. If that kind of wood bashing is routine for you then yeah, not worth the effort. If not, well, what could be interesting... Splice on an angled headstock? Thin it so all the tuner holes are gone and add wings in stripes of contrasting coloured timbers... Just depends what sounds like fun to you... But if that doesn't sound like fun don't do it!

[MusicStudent1]

The contrary view being that as a cheap piece of crap its an ideal platform to try out stuff which is pushing your boundaries... But I don't know your skills.

That’s it exactly. This is a practice run. And...my skills are minimal. I really don’t own any tools yet other than a coping saw and a drill.

My “rebuilding” this thing is definitely pushing my boundaries.


Oh, if I had the tools, I could cobble together my dream instrument. (Baseball bat thick neck, 2” thick body, massive headstock, etc.)

I retire soon and can get the tools then, I’m just not there yet. You have good ideas though. Thanks!!!