Part one of the saga of re-necking my jazz bass copy outlined the details and spec of the new neck. This post will try to capture the new bass, compare it to the old fretless, and review the finished product.
Side by side view of before and after the next change. Fretless on top, new fretted on the bottom.
 Warmoth 5 string jazz bass with the new fretted neck |  Warmoth 5 string jazz bass with the new fretted neck |  Neck close-up of the roasted maple neck wood. |
The new neck is very smooth. I thought the wenge neck of the Warwick Thumb was smooth. This roasted maple neck is the smoothest neck I've felt. The width is a little wider then the Thumb but I'll get accustomed to it.
[I remember when I played this bass with the fretless neck - and I played it as my main bass for a few years. Whenever I picked up the Warwick Thumb, the Thumb's neck felt too small and the frets felt like little bumps - it felt odd. My take away - it just takes time on the instrument to make it feel like home.]
The tone is very versatile. I can get the typical jazz modern tone, a P-bass tone, a fantastic slap tone, and an old school low-end rumble R&B tone. The pickups I chose for this bass were the Steve Bailey Active Jazz Bass System pickups. Great for fretless and just as good for fretted necks. The system has a fretleess harmonics and mid-range boost which works great for a fretted neck as well.
The smell. I read about this and can concur - the roasted maple neck smells of maple syrup. I have found I get a draft of maple syrup when I am playing and it always brings a smile to my face.
I have a distant memory, back in the early days, when I picked up an Alembic bass in a music store. The only thing I remember from that day was the feeling of the neck - it felt smooth and so playable. I think I have been on a hunt for that same feeling since then. My Warwick Thumb comes close with the raw wenge, but this roasted maple neck is dead-on the same feeling.
I've had a few rehearsals with the new bass and the first gig is tonight. I'll try to get a recap after the gig. So far, I am very pleased with the new neck.
