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April 2004
Posts: 13303
Location: Latitude 39.56819, Longitude -105.080066 | Just curious if I could take a Viper and put a Fender style neck on it.
What problems would I have (if any) going from a 24 fret to a 22 fret neck? |
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May 2002
Posts: 3005
Location: Las Cruces, NM | It was done by none other than Moodypi using an Ovation 22 fret neck. Look at his gallery photos, or search on "Viper Deluxe", the story should enlighten you and shame the Privet Eye for thinking a Viper could be improved and bragging about it after it was defiled. If you can do it, I might try taking the neck off my Fender Mustang, it is a great feeling neck. See how one rotten Privet Eye can spoil a whole barrel of Viper owners.
Bailey :rolleyes: :rolleyes: |
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Posts: 8307
Location: Tennessee | I think you have to move the bridge a bit to get the scale length and intonation right. |
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June 2002
Posts: 6202
Location: Phoenix AZ | Viper, Preacher and Breadwinner necks are interchangable. Fender is not without a lot of issues. The Fender neck block is a lot "thicker" than Ovation, meaning the Fender neck will be raised a lot higher from the face of the body. Could be compensated for by also raising the pickups and bridge. Alternatively you could route out a deeper neck pocket, but this would weaken the neck attachment. The location of the bridge would also have to be moved and the old screw holes covered. But, by far the biggest problem in my opinion would be the actual neck attachment. The Ovation and Fender necks have different bolt on spacing. You would have to make new holes in common, not something I would like to do. So, all things considered I would say it's technically possible, but hardy worth the effort. It would be a lot easier to just take your Fender body and cut it into the shape of a Viper! Btw - Moody did not out a Fender neck on a Viper. He took a stock Viper and upgraded it with Ovation parts, not Fender. |
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December 2003
Posts: 13997
Location: Upper Left USA | Choices:
Viper and Preacher necks are different by 1/2" and may be changed using the approximately 33/64" of adjustment left in the bridge.
Contact Customer Service and see what is still on the shelf (yes, there are some parts).
Laboriously comb eBay for pockets of stockpiled or resced part.
Wait a couple of years and see if the Breadwinner is put back in production.
Order Warmoth, StewMac, etc. necks (without fretboards) and head out to your local wood shop to "massage" it into correctness. |
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Posts: 14127
Location: 6 String Ranch | Try #2, then #5 and as always #3. #4 ain't ever gonna happen. |
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April 2004
Posts: 13303
Location: Latitude 39.56819, Longitude -105.080066 | Did the Big O switch to 22 fret necks down the road? My Preacher has 24 frets but I noticed that the Preacher Delux neck that Moody used had block inlays and 22 frets?
I guess the purpose of this exercise was to be able to take a shorter scale neck and maybe put it on a Viper / Viper III to better replicate the Tele/Strat sound w/o having to go the Fender route. |
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Posts: 15682
Location: SoCal | It's got 24. I just counted. Even the Preacher 12 has 24 frets. |
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Posts: 6202
Location: Phoenix AZ | I think all preachers, vipers and bwinners had 24. |
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August 2002
Posts: 8307
Location: Tennessee | I guess the purpose of this exercise was to be able to take a shorter scale neck and maybe put it on a Viper / Viper III to better replicate the Tele/Strat sound w/o having to go the Fender route.
The Fenders and the Vipers both had a scale length of 25.5", even though the number of frets are different. A serious question: will the number of frets change the tone if the scale length stays the same? Just curious as I am working a project, with kind encouragement and parts support from our resident p.i.
The Preachers, B'Winners and Deacons are all 24.75" scale length, matching that typical of Gibsons.
Paul M -- how much work did you have to do to get the intonation right when you put the P-Deluxe neck on the Viper? |
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May 2002
Posts: 3005
Location: Las Cruces, NM | My reccollection of Moodypi's conversion is that it went very well with few complications. There were many speculations at the time of terrriblen problems, none of which happened.
I think Fender cuts their neck short even though the scale length is very similar so they can mount the neck pickup an inch or so closer to the head. They may think there is a sweet spot there?
Bailey |
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January 2002
Posts: 970
Location: Atlanta,Ga. | Stephen,i have lost your email address.Please email me or call me..Sam 404 409-6242 |
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March 2002
Posts: 15682
Location: SoCal | Bob:
I've got a guitar tech out here in Tustin, Paul Stebner, who runs Guitar Remedy in Tustin CA (he's an authorized O repair guy), who put the neck on and adjusted the bridge. The intonation is spot on. It does appear that the end of the fretboard is up against the neck p/u, but I don't believe it's caused any problems. |
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Posts: 13303
Location: Latitude 39.56819, Longitude -105.080066 | A serious question: will the number of frets change the tone if the scale length stays the same?
That's what I was trying to say!
Thanks! |
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April 2004
Posts: 13303
Location: Latitude 39.56819, Longitude -105.080066 | Sam,
I left you a voice mail with my phone number.
I will try to reach you again later |
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Replacing necks
