Necks

[Vaachek]

Hey guys,
I've been playing guitar for 30 yrs. and want to buy my first
Bass. I want something than has a thin neck, so it's less of a
transition for me. So, any suggestions??? Am I stuck getting
a 4 string to keep the neck small or are there 5 or 6 string
bases out there that have fretboards that don't feel like
holding a 2 x 6??
Thanks for the help!!

[Nick Patterson]

I have a Yamaha four string with a nice thin neck. All of the new Ibanez's I've played have fairly thin necks as well (even the five strings). Hope this helps.

[d7music]

I play a 5-String Schecter C-5 and it is very comfortable for me.
http://www.schecterguitars.com/spec.asp?id=87#

[908SSP]

Yea Parker Fly Bass. Sound great has piezo as well as magnetic available in humbucker or single coil. Probably lighter then your guitar at 7lbs.

http://home.comcast.net/~908ssp/ParkerFlyBass.jpg

[Brian Scherzer]

Many of the Modulus graphite necks are relatively thin.

[Denyle_Guitars]

Roscoe basses have the thinnest necks I've ever played. It's the reason I've passed over several through the years, even though they're wonderful instruments.

[cheezewiz]

If you are looking on the budget end, the Ibanez soundgear series do have very thin necks. Another reasonably priced thin necked, well regarded bass is the Fender Jazz Geddy Lee Signature.

If it were me, I would look into some sort of Fender Jazz. They are pretty much the standard for good reason. They look great, they sound great, and they are very comfortable. If you want something with a humbucker instead of single coils, a Musicman Sterling has a jazz bass sized neck and is a great bass.

I wouldn't neccesarily limit yourself to four strings though. Many five string necks are extremely comfortable, and although they are much larger than a guitar neck, it's not that hard of an adjustment. Some of the best five string necks in my opinion are the Lakland 55 series, the WONDERFUL Sadowsky 5 neck (my favorite by far), and if you like slightly tighter string spacing, a Musicman Stingray 5 neck is fairly comfortable.

[alanbass1]

Alembic Stanley Clarke Signatures have probably the thinnest necks I have ever come across, yet they felt as comfortable as any bass I have tried. Also have 30/32/34" scale options.

The cons - price

[2 Loud 4 You]

Roscoe basses have the thinnest necks I've ever played. It's the reason I've passed over several through the years, even though they're wonderful instruments.

And that's why I love mine so much. I can comfortably play my six string without feeling like I'm wrapping my hand all the around to China to hold the neck.

[Funky Chicken]

+1 on the Sterling. It can be set up to be incredibly easy to play.

[Ishouldbeking]

Another thing to consider is scale length. I tend to prefer long-scale because I'm used to it, but a short-scale bass (30" or 30.5"=short, 32"=medium) would be easier to transition to from guitar, rather than jumping straight to a 34" scale. And that also opens you up to the world of hollow and semi-hollow basses, which can be a whole world of fun. And as a 4-string player myself, I don't consider myself limited by the fact that I don't have that extra 5th or 6th string, it's just a matter of what feels right to you, and whether or not you have a use for them.

[The Golden Boy]

30" scale basses are so easy to play- more fun than anything to sit around and play on the couch while watching TV and stuff.

My first bass was/is a Gibson EB-0. It sounds like poop, but it feels so wonderful. The 1.5" nut width and the short scale are just so... easy. The trade off is that it's not as full sounding as a full scale bass.

[Bassomatic]

Old Guild Pilot. Killer sleeper bass when you've got a good one(especially with the EMJ PJ setup).

[agreatheight]

If you are looking on the budget end, the Ibanez soundgear series do have very thin necks. Another reasonably priced thin necked, well regarded bass is the Fender Jazz Geddy Lee Signature.

This is exactly what I was gonna say. These are solid basses are reasonable prices. For the Ibanez, the SR500 is very nice - mahogany body and active Bartolini pick-ups. It'll run you $550 new, less used. The Fender Geddy Lee will set you back $800 new, less used.

Shame on you guys telling him to get a Modulus or and Alembic. It's his first bass; should he really spend that kind of money (+2000 for the Modulus, +4000 for the Alembic)?!

[Thor]

Take a look into Carvin. Very comfortable necks and on the thin side. Very well built and a great value to boot (and even better if you pick one up used). Owned a Carvin for many years - glad I did - ended up giving to a good friend who's son was taking up bass - still miss it a bit - easiest neck I've ever played.

Cheers,

Edward

[Tapp]

By thin do you mean a flatter neck profile or thinner at the nut?? Something like a Geddy Lee Jazz will be thinner at the nut but a more rounded back feel. A Peavey Cirrus will feel flatter on the back and thin at the nut. Both feel very nice, it's just a matter of preference. An Ernie Ball Stingray will feel clubby; like a P bass.

Tapp

[walterw]

as a rule, thicker necks will be more stable and will sound better than thin necks. as a rule.

more important, don't make the mistake of thinking that you have to somehow "settle" for a 4-string. 5's and 6's are not "better" than 4's, and in some ways don't sound as good, so choose wisely.

[lowendgenerator]

Yea Parker Fly Bass. Sound great has piezo as well as magnetic available in humbucker or single coil. Probably lighter then your guitar at 7lbs.

http://home.comcast.net/%7E908ssp/ParkerFlyBass.jpg

That bass does play great, one of the local mom n pop stores carries Parker.

Too bad God beat it with the ugly stick. :crazy

[countandduke]

I used to like thinner necks but now prefer a larger neck. It just seems more comfortable to play. I would shy away from shorter scale lengths as the low end can start to become unclear. I have played a few Ibanez basses and they are indeed comfortable to play, but I just scored a Warwick Thumb bass that was on layaway for 6 months or so and I LOVE it!!!

Good luck...

Chris

[jyee]

as a rule, thicker necks will be more stable and will sound better than thin necks. as a rule.

more important, don't make the mistake of thinking that you have to somehow "settle" for a 4-string. 5's and 6's are not "better" than 4's, and in some ways don't sound as good, so choose wisely.

+1... also consider why you want a thinner neck. i know a lot of guitar players want thinner necks because they hold it the same as a guitar... which really isn't how it's supposed to be done. your thumb should be centered behind the neck, not all the way around it. in otherwords, you know how some guitar players wrap their thumb around the neck to hit bass notes in chords like a D/F# (200232)... that's a really bad way to hold a bass.

[BPlexico]

Yea Parker Fly Bass. Sound great has piezo as well as magnetic available in humbucker or single coil. Probably lighter then your guitar at 7lbs.

http://home.comcast.net/~908ssp/ParkerFlyBass.jpg

Hi Alex - Do you still have your Parker Fly Bass? Mine should be arriving Wednesday.

Barr

[Soiva Puu]

Jazz bass has smaller nut width compared to presicion bass. so i would recommend trying those in comparison.

there are many factors to that easy playing-feeling neck, and my favourite is smaller nut width and round not too slim neck.

-----------------------
http://uudetlaulut.blogspot.com (http://uudetlaulut.blogspot.com/)

[Zounds Perspex]

Mustang bass. It sounds great, too, don't let people BS you into thinking short-scales can't sound good. the Gibson EB/SGs often sound like crap because of the crummy pickups and pickup placement in 'em, but that doesn't mean shorties can't sound good. Mustang bass into an SVT will sound god-like.

[CavePassivePedals]

the Gibson EB/SGs often sound like crap because of the crummy pickups

The SG reissues don't have "crummy" pickups at all. They have the TB-Plus pickup that Gibson also put in current Thunderbirds and the non-Bartololini long scale Les Paul basses since the early 1990s. The TB-Plus is an excellent high output full range pickup, a very different pickup to the old EB-0/2/3 "mudbucker"

[Pantone 333]

I just sold my Jazz bass and bought a brand new Hofner '63 Violin bass (30"). I love it so much more it's crazy. I have small hands and was not able to work it out on the Jazz. The Hofner neck is the most comfortable I have ever played.

Some people think that Hofner basses are a one trick pony. Those individuals are wrong. If I play just the neck pickup I'm in Paul McCartney heaven. If I play the treble pickup and adjust the EQ, I can get it to sound pretty close to a Rick. Those of you who say "impossible", in my opinion, have not tried.

Try a Hofner.

[Grun]

By thin do you mean a flatter neck profile or thinner at the nut?? Something like a Geddy Lee Jazz will be thinner at the nut but a more rounded back feel. A Peavey Cirrus will feel flatter on the back and thin at the nut. Both feel very nice, it's just a matter of preference. An Ernie Ball Stingray will feel clubby; like a P bass.

Tapp

I am looking for a bass with what I would call a flatter neck profile. Kind of like the Ibanez wizard guitar necks. Most basses that have 'narrow' necks are still 'clubby' with respect to the neck (nut) width.

Does anyone make a bass with a flat neck? Would not necessarily need to be as thin as some of the Ibanez or other narrow necked basses, just 'flatter'.

[Jeff Michael]

Get a Schecter Hellcat VI. Great bridging instrument from guitar to bass.

JAM

[booj]

I don't get this "transition" thing. I love my faded SG for guitar, but when it's time to lay a bass groove down, A 34" scale length with 45 - 105 strings does not phase me. It's just a matter of where your heads at. There's a transition all right, but it's entirely in your head.

[The Golden Boy]

I don't get this "transition" thing. I love my faded SG for guitar, but when it's time to lay a bass groove down, A 34" scale length with 45 - 105 strings does not phase me. It's just a matter of where your heads at. There's a transition all right, but it's entirely in your head.

No, there generally is a real physical difference in a bass neck and a guitar neck. You really have to approach each differently physically and mentally.

[walterw]

I don't get this "transition" thing. I love my faded SG for guitar, but when it's time to lay a bass groove down, A 34" scale length with 45 - 105 strings does not phase me. It's just a matter of where your heads at. There's a transition all right, but it's entirely in your head.

No, there generally is a real physical difference in a bass neck and a guitar neck. You really have to approach each differently physically and mentally.
i think you guys are saying the same thing, that you have to play bass "as a bass player", using a different part of your brain. physically it is different, but that should follow what's going on mentally.

[The Golden Boy]

i think you guys are saying the same thing, that you have to play bass "as a bass player", using a different part of your brain. physically it is different, but that should follow what's going on mentally.

I think there's much more of a shock going from most any guitar to going to a 1.75" or 1 5/8" nut width neck- even larger for other basses. Sort of like going from, say, a Les Paul to a gut stringed flamenco guitar with a 52-54 mm nut width.

Even if you're mentally "on," there's the physical issue of being physically able to do what you want to do. I can't get along on those old P necks- and only marginally better on a regular P neck. While it is about "practice, practice, practice," the point is I'm naturally better suited and more comfortable going to a 1.5" nut- and I think that's a common issue, especially with people that are used to common electronic guitar necks.

Looking back at the original post, the OP seemed to be asking about fancy pants 5-6 stringed instruments- and you'll see some of those nutty things with close to a 2" nut width. I guess to some people that is a bass.

[walterw]

i like the modern american standard P-bass necks; fatter than the jazz (a recipe for better tone) but still fairly round and narrow. the vintage P-basses and the reissues have this weirdly wide and flat neck like an ibanez shred guitar.

as for playing those 7-string "aircraft carrier" basses, the key is to wear the thing so high you could add a chin-rest to the upper horn!

[The Golden Boy]

i like the modern american standard P-bass necks; fatter than the jazz (a recipe for better tone) but still fairly round and narrow. the vintage P-basses and the reissues have this weirdly wide and flat neck like an ibanez shred guitar.

as for playing those 7-string "aircraft carrier" basses, the key is to wear the thing so high you could add a chin-rest to the upper horn!

Like "Gerry And The Pacemakers" high...

As far as neck size/shape... If I could have kept my old EB-2- that was the ultimate neck for me. It's still a treat playing my EB-0. The Gibson necks don't fan out towards the body as much as the Fender necks. It's handy for some things- and I'm sure something is going to be changing- I've been messing with strap height more- which means the angle I play at changes, which means I'll be changing my hand position...

[walterw]

oh yeah, my '60s EB0 had the best neck ever, fat but not too fat, and very little widening all the way up.

too bad it sounded like butt.

[The Golden Boy]

oh yeah, my '60s EB0 had the best neck ever, fat but not too fat, and very little widening all the way up.

too bad it sounded like butt.

Yeah- they do what they do- you'll never get it to do anything else.