D versus Eb necks

[RD]

Builders seem to be trending toward Eb necks, where D necks seemed to be more popular in the past. Am I mistaken? Why is this?
I find an advantage in D necks because of the relationship between the open strings and strings stopped at the heel of the neck. It helps a poorly trained bassist like myself to remain oriented on the fingerboard?
Any input on this is apprechiated!
RD

[drurb]

There is quite a bit of information here on this topic. I suggest you do a search and start reading.

I certainly am not aware of any trend toward Eb necks. While I am used to and prefer a D neck (most likely because I'm used to it), I don't know see why one type would be easier to play than the other. That seems to be the consensus around here.

[RD]

I've done more than one search, from several angles and got very little. Part of the problem is that "D" and "Eb" are not allowed search terms.
RD

[Matthew Tucker]

Originally Posted by RD

It helps a poorly trained bassist like myself to remain oriented on the fingerboard?

Yeah I'm interested too why you say builders are trending towards Eb necks??

As far as the difference goes, a D neck might help you in reference to your open strings, but what if you are playing in Bb or Eb - VERY common, if not MORE common in Jazz than open string keys - then perhaps your Eb neck might be nicer?

I don't find it makes lots of difference. You get used to either.

The radius of the thumbstop at the heel varies quite a bit for each bass and this changes the feel of the stop. The thickness of the neck and the width of the FB also affects this. Different players stop their thumb in a different part of that radius. What feels like a D neck to you might feel like and Eb or somewhere in between to others.

Where do you have your thumb in D position? At the top of the radius, before the curve? Right in the middle of the curve? Do you have a long thumb? Short thumb? What finger are you using as a reference?

If is was a right-angle, there really would be a STOP point with no argument. But there's a curve, so its a bit of a moving target!

(and yeah that "Short word" search restriction drives me nuts, too! Can't search for "nut file" or "G string" or anything useful!)

[robgrow]

While I've owned a couple of basses with Eb necks in the past, the majority of basses I've played have D necks.

[TroyK]

Originally Posted by RD

Builders seem to be trending toward Eb necks, where D necks seemed to be more popular in the past. Am I mistaken? Why is this?

RD, homeboy! How come we don't know each other? Seattle Doublebassists, yo.

For what it's worth, my bass was made c~1900 and it's got an Eb neck.

Come by and play it, if you like.

[Matthew Tucker]

From a builders perspective, if you have a D neck with enough meat on the heel, you can always make it an Eb, but you can't really do it the other way around. So it depends a bit on your design, too. I cut down a 44" neck to around 42" and the stop became Db-ish. One day I'll take it back to Db but it doesn't particularly bother either the owner, or me!

[ROCKWOOD]

Originally Posted by RD

.....Part of the problem is that "D" and "Eb" are not allowed search terms.
RD

Found this thread tonight, took drurbs' suggestion, settled on
'neck shape' for lack of a clue, got distracted by other topics
in the 35 pages of results & ended up right back here to find
the answer!!!! Thanks Matthew!

[BigOldHarry]

Okay, help a n00b out here: D vs. Eb neck??? Does this refer to the tuning scheme or WHAT? I thought a double bass was E A D G like an electric - - am I just ignant?

[RD]

Hey Troy,
You were at my apartment to try out an EA amp once, remember?
Yeah, maybe it's just my inexperience. It seems that I keep running into Eb necks on newer basses. But my frustration with the TB forum search leads me to ask.
It seemed that the D neck helped me when I finally got one. Maybe for well trained and experienced players it doesn't matter so much.
My understanding Harry, is that on a D neck if you stop the G string when your left thumb reaches the heel of the neck you have a D note, and an Eb note on an Eb neck. It seems archaic, but that's it as far as I know.
RD

[TroyK]

Of course I remember, R****. I just didn't recognize your monikor!

D necks are more logical to me, but I've never owned one, somehow. You get used to what you practice on, then you play someone else's bass and get lost. My first DB teacher said "playing someone else's bass is like driving someone else's car. You spend all your time trying to dim the lights and figure out how to turn the windshield wipers off."

I've reached the conclusion that my bass is the single greatest one on the planet. I think he may have had a point.

[drurb]

Gee, do I have to do everything?

Found this via the search.

The quotes are a powerful tool in the search function. I searched for "Eb neck"

[TroyK]

Originally Posted by drurb

Gee, do I have to do everything?

Yes, please!

[Greg Clinkingbeard]

Originally Posted by drurb

Gee, do I have to do everything?

.....

Grab me a beer while you're up........

[drurb]

Originally Posted by clink

Grab me a beer while you're up........

Ok, here you go:

[RD]

Originally Posted by drurb

Gee, do I have to do everything?

Found this via the search.

The quotes are a powerful tool in the search function. I searched for "Eb neck"

Thanks drurb!
I had tried the quotes as "Eb" neck, but not "Eb neck" so browbeat me, I deserve it.
Tried "D neck" and got 23 pages of BG threads!
RD

[RD]

I'm still wondering why Eb and D necks exist? Are they historical accidents, or are there logical reasons for them? If so, what are said reasons?
Sorry for my poor communication skills.
Randy

[drurb]

Originally Posted by RD

Thanks drurb!
I had tried the quotes as "Eb" neck, but not "Eb neck" so browbeat me, I deserve it.
Tried "D neck" and got 23 pages of BG threads!
RD

No browbeating. I knew to use that search technique after playing with such search functions here and elsewhere over the years. As to the origin of those necks, I have my guesses but the luthiers around here would likely have better info.

[arnoldschnitzer]

Originally Posted by RD

Builders seem to be trending toward Eb necks, where D necks seemed to be more popular in the past. Am I mistaken? Why is this?
RD

The main change is that nowadays people are paying attention to the neck heel. I think in previous times whatever happened at the neck heel was sort of arbitrary, and few players really cared. But nowadays, with the explosion of available information out there, players and makers are trying to adhere to a standard. I don't believe you are correct in your assumption; every maker I know is aiming for the D neck in their bass making.

[Marc Piane]

Originally Posted by arnoldschnitzer

The main change is that nowadays people are paying attention to the neck heel.

...and I think that is a problem. Whenever a student brings that up to me my standard response is "doesn't matter." I think you should be learning the bass based on position studies and your ear. Using reference points (I played trombone when I was younger... same thing) is just going to make for bad habits, intonation problems, and the inability to play any bass but your own.