Eb vs D neck

funkadelickbass · #1 04-08-2010, 12:26 PM

I tried searching and couldn't find much...I am thinking this more of a survey rather than an actual "poll"

I'm wondering who plays what and what is more common.

uprightbass.com · #2 04-08-2010, 05:14 PM

My first bass in high school was a D, but it's been Eb ever since, including all three basses now.

TroyK · #3 04-08-2010, 05:29 PM

Mine has an Eb neck, but honestly that would not be a consideration for me if I were bass shopping. I'd buy the instrument I liked the best and then practice on it.

I played a 7/8th bass today that I freakin' loved and played in tune without any adjustment. Probably because the notes just popped right off of it, loud and clear. What note is aligned with the neck join is not at all important to me.

kreider204 · #4 04-08-2010, 06:42 PM

It's always been D necks for me. Eb's throw me off, though I'm sure I could adjust with a little practice.

Phil Rowan · #5 04-08-2010, 06:43 PM

+1 for what Troyk said about not letting that affect whether or not you buy or play a certain bass.

As for the poll, I can't fill it out because there's no option for voting "both".

funkadelickbass · #6 04-08-2010, 09:27 PM

I put it so you could pick both.

It not for my bass shopping venture, just curiosity...I was talking it over with a teacher and another student and we could figure out if one was more of "the norm".

uprightbass.com · #7 04-08-2010, 10:28 PM

You might want to do dig a little deeper. If I recall previous discussions right, the mix of Eb and D necks changes depending on the price range. Whereas a large number people here seem to have D necks, in my experience, I have run across far more Eb necks.

Eric Rene Roy · #8 04-09-2010, 09:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by uprightbass.com

...the mix of Eb and D necks changes depending on the price range. Whereas a large number people here seem to have D necks, in my experience, I have run across far more Eb necks.

While there are many exceptions to "rules", I think that is because Eb is an older European style and those basses tend to cost more. I think D is a more modern approach...so "cheaper" basses being new commercially available basses tend to be D with few companies offering a choice at lower price points. We build as a D neck by default and I often don't get the request for an Eb neck unless someone is looking to get a second bass for everyday/gig use and the older (more expensive) bass is Eb or they have always played Eb.

Once you get into handmade modern instruments (and thus higher values) I would be curious what others do, like Arnold, Nick, etc. I like D...but I make to order...so ultimately it's up to the person paying the bill.

arnoldschnitzer · #9 04-09-2010, 10:52 AM

My handmade basses were all designed with D necks. To turn one of these into an Eb neck would require moving the f-holes higher on the body and cutting a longer neck. Doing so would throw the entire design out of whack and mess with the ergonomics, especially as regards bow clearance in the c-bouts. You can't just cut away at the neck heel or there would be very little left, which would be weak and awkward-feeling. So I stay out of the Eb neck business.

off-topic · #10 04-09-2010, 12:25 PM

Mine is an Eb neck. I didn't know they existed (I'm relatively new to DB's) until the luthier who set it up told me. My son's bass has a D neck (modern German bass, fully carved).

Acrog · #11 04-09-2010, 09:40 PM

Considering that my bass is more of a D kinda sharp, I didn't know what to vote for. But the main bass I play at school is an Eb, so I guess I'll vote for Eb. Besides, D kinda sharp rounds up, right?

chancletarock · #12 04-09-2010, 11:53 PM

mine's a D, but I learned the first 4 years on an Eb. for what it's worth, as someone who came to DB from electric bass, i think being able to adjust to whatever really helps in the long run. it makes you focus on pitch as opposed to finger patterns and other crutches. whenever i'm out of town and i rent a bass, i make sure to run scales for a looong time just to make sure.

abaguer · #13 04-10-2010, 02:14 AM

D Neck. Although my Eminence EUB is an Eb neck.

Paul Warburton · #14 04-10-2010, 04:24 AM

D.
If I don't have that D harmonic right there where my left hand lands on the heel of the neck I get all weirded out. Partly the muscle memory thing, I would guess.

Oh, and to answer the OP's question, most basses I've known had D necks as well.

uprightbass.com · #15 04-13-2010, 10:50 PM

I stand corrected and am enlightened.

bejoyous · #16 04-13-2010, 11:07 PM

All 4 of my basses (Hofner ply post WWII, Giovanni ____?? 1840's (?), ____Marcologo 1820's (?)and Peter Chandler 2000) have turned out to be Eb necks.

I've tried two associate's basses and they are both D necks. I found the F# and G to have a "way up there" feeling.

But if I was given a $100 000 Italian bass that had a D neck, I wouldn't say no and I'd just get used to it.

longfinger · #17 04-13-2010, 11:15 PM

Just checking the standard for naming: when the thumb is in the neck heel, the note underneath the SECOND finger is the one we use to label the neck right?

(That's what I did when I put down Eb, second finger has the Eb, 1st finger has the D. 4th finger the E natural.)

MR PC · #18 04-14-2010, 01:53 AM

D seems to be the most common. I've got both.

Paul Warburton · #19 04-14-2010, 06:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by longfinger

Just checking the standard for naming: when the thumb is in the neck heel, the note underneath the SECOND finger is the one we use to label the neck right?
(That's what I did when I put down Eb, second finger has the Eb, 1st finger has the D. 4th finger the E natural.)

The best way for me, like I mentioned in my other post, is to lay the butt of your left hand (like you were pissed off and wanted to pound on yer desk

) in the heel of the neck.....that shoud be the D harmonic with your little finger. When you put your second finger over on the D string, that should be the unison D harmonic. Same deal with the other strings....A, E and B harmonics....the best way to tune the bass.

EDIT: The above relates to a D neck.

Bruce Lindfield · #20 04-14-2010, 06:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Paul Warburton

D.
If I don't have that D harmonic right there where my left hand lands on the heel of the neck I get all weirded out. Partly the muscle memory thing, I would guess.

Oh, and to answer the OP's question, most basses I've known had D necks as well.

I feel the same - so I have tried lost of other people's basses at Jazz Summerschool over the last 10 years or so and they were all D and then last year a friend who is on the same course as me, bought an old bass and realised it was an Eb neck - I tried it and I was completely lost and that was the first time I knew that such a thing existed!! It felt really weird...?