Is it possible to increase the scale length of a guitar?

[Nadz1lla]

I was watching a guitar construction video a while back and the dude presenting it mentioned as a small side note that he was working on a longer neck for a customer's guitar.

Is this a simple and effective way of increasing the scale length of an existing axe? If so this could be a really nice short-term solution to my guitar woes, as I want an extended scale guitar but won't be able to afford on for quite some time. I believe my axe is a 25.5" and I'd like to extend it to 27" scale, anyone here ever done this and if so, any idea on the costs involved in such an endeavour?

[shobet]

I would have thought the existing frets would be limiting factor. If it's had the frets put in the correct places for the scale length you state, my ikkle brain - note I'm in the pub so judgement may somewhat impaired - thinks you'd have to entirely refret it for the new scale length.

--- Edited as I am pissed ---- ;)

[Nadz1lla]

Yeah it would be a completely new neck, so the fretting shouldn't be a problem as long as the measurements for the whole thing are done right I guess.  :/

Forgot to mention in my original post, it was a brand new neck the guy was making for a customer's guitar, rather than trying to modify the existing one. In theory it sounds like it should work, just wanted to know if anyone here had any experience with this kind of thing.

[Frank]

Don't Warmoth do long scale replacement necks?

[Nadz1lla]

Yeah, that would be fine if my bridge and body were set up to be an extended scale guitar. Just chucking on a neck that is meant to be put on to an extended scale guitar will probably have a negative effect on intonation and other factors. I am guessing a "conversion" neck would have to be custom measured to sit properly at the appropriate intervals (fret-wise) on a 25.5" scale body.


Or am I being completely absured? Heh.

[Frank]

As long as the new 12th fret is halfway down the scale and all the other frets are in the correct relative positions it'll intonate correctly

[Nadz1lla]

Frank, my apologies, I just found the tiiiiny little button on the Warmoth site that says "conversion necks". They don't make it very obvious, which is a shame. Their "neck builder" is also really limited, so I think I'd have to actually call them up to get something made.

$475 for a neck....is that an average price? :?

[JacksonRR]

I bet a local luthier could set you up with something for cheaper or at least WITH a real nice fret dressing. Maybe one of the guys on here? Couldn't hurt to request prices, but now they know you'll go for $474. :lol:

[Nadz1lla]

Hehe, nah I really wouldn't go for that $475 price, seems really steep for just a bolt-on neck (and not to the spec I want either, waaaaaay too expensive for something I wouldn't be happy with). Plus add to that shipping and import tax and I might as well just buy a new guitar altogether, heh.

[Frank]

Just keep bumping this thread until one of this forum's incredibly skilled luthiers takes notice

[Nadz1lla]

Yeah, good call.   :D

If any of the luthiers here would like to send me a PM with a quote, that would be super-duper-dandy!

Looking for these specs:

Bolt-on

27" scale

Korina or Mahogany neck (please advise of price differences...)

Rosewood or Ebony fingerboard (also please advise of price differences)

Basic dot inlays (don't need anything fancy looking, this is just a functional neck more than a bit of eye-candy)

Graphtech TUSQ nut (I do have a floyd rose, but I will be getting a tremel-no or similar for more sustain, better tone and because I have really come to HATE floating bridges. Please advise if a normal or graphtech would be unsuitable for this application. If so I guess a locking nut will have to do, heh)

24 frets

Wizard profile neck

Satin black finish for smoother play.

Not so worried about headstock shape...as long as it's not Fender, ugh! My guitar has the Widow headstock, but something simpler like an ESP head or Jackson or something will do fine. Something that wouldn't look out of place on a Warlock.

Cheers! 

[Transcend]

Nadz the tremelno is a great idea i was sceptical about the tone & sustain improvements but found it really is quite a large difference.

Also earvana do a compensated floyd nut which should just drop in.. then again if you are locking it this is completely unneccesary

[Nadz1lla]

Yeah just trying to convert the axe into a fixed bridge basically, so messing around with different strings and tunings isn't such a pain in the butt, heh. I have just ordered a trem blocker (the little "L" plate with the adjustable thread), a brass big block and a set of heavy duty springs which I'm going to tighten right up (and add as many springs as I can from my spares) so that the trem basically can't go anywhere. That way I think I'll be safe just getting a normal nut on the new neck. It also means I can take all those parts off and sell it on as a normal FR later on if I decide to get rid of the axe.

[Transcend]

Yeah just trying to convert the axe into a fixed bridge basically, so messing around with different strings and tunings isn't such a pain in the butt, heh. I have just ordered a trem blocker (the little "L" plate with the adjustable thread), a brass big block and a set of heavy duty springs which I'm going to tighten right up (and add as many springs as I can from my spares) so that the trem basically can't go anywhere. That way I think I'll be safe just getting a normal nut on the new neck. It also means I can take all those parts off and sell it on as a normal FR later on if I decide to get rid of the axe.

that definitely sounds like a plan.

what is this trem blocker l plate you speak of?

[Nadz1lla]

This:
http://www.floydupgrades.com/catalog/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=70&products_id=215
I could probably source something similar for cheaper in a DIY store here in the UK, but I'm a lazy $hit, heh. Plus I know this one works, whereas my home-made remedy might just bugger up the wood inside my guitar and not do much else. I don't trust my DIY improvisation enough.
I also ordered the heavy duty springs and this:
http://www.floydupgrades.com/catalog/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=66&products_id=189

Cannae wait for them to get here! I checked my email yesterday about an hour after I ordered them and it said they had already gone to the dispatching process, which was impressive seeing as it was Sunday yesterday, heh.