two piece neck?

**nostatic** · #1 04-26-2008, 08:19 PM

The brief usual story - guitarist for almost 40 years, bassist for the past 15, have doubled on upright in the past, looking to get another beast as there is no substitute. Playing jazz and variants. Looking to get something that doesn't break the bank, but I'm spoiled as I love my Zon fretless lightwave 5 string (and a partner 5-string fretted Zon).

Looked at an Eastman 95 today and it was nice (a lot nicer than the old plywood beaters I had in the past with marginal setup). But it looked like the neck was 2-piece - split down the middle. I seem to recall reading some discussion of that here (couldn't find the post). Is this a non-issue?

I'm in LA so I'd prefer to buy local, but the Upton seems like a ragin' deal for about the same price range ($2-3K).

Mike Goodbar · #2 04-26-2008, 08:59 PM

My bass, Chinese-made Christopher, has a two-piece neck, and I've have no neck issues in the five years I've owned it. I think as long as the joint is solid and well-crafted, you'll be in good shape.

KSB - Ken Smith · #3 04-27-2008, 01:34 AM

The existing Neck graft in my Storioni is 2-pc laminated as well;

I know it doesn't show all that well but it's there. I was not thinking of showing the 2-pc Neck when the shots were taken. When the Bass gets restored sometime in the future, there is a good chance that the Graft will be re-done anyway in order to shorten the string length.

**Matthew Tucker** · #4 04-27-2008, 04:03 AM

I think its a non-issue!

Steve Swan · #5 04-27-2008, 08:07 AM

Properly glued, a two-piece neck joint will be stronger than the surrounding wood. The old Epiphone basses that I've had in the shop have them. I think that it's a nice feature on a studdent bass. Banjo neck makers using maple often prefer a two-pice neck to counteract any side to side warping that the Maple might want to do.

**nostatic** · #6 04-27-2008, 11:35 AM

I think "properly glued" is the operative term there, and I always wonder about lower-end instruments.

I emailed Lisa Gass based on the recommendations here (as I'm in LA) and I'll see what she's got.

robobass · #7 05-02-2008, 05:43 PM

I think I may be the one who posed this question. With so many reports of low end basses having broken necks, snapped scrolls, warped necks, etc., why not make two or three piece necks like they do with slab basses? They should be stiffer, stronger, and would yield more necks from available wood stock. I didn't know it had already been done. Seems like a good idea to me...
Robobass

KSB - Ken Smith · #8 05-02-2008, 06:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by robobass

I think I may be the one who posed this question. With so many reports of low end basses having broken necks, snapped scrolls, warped necks, etc., why not make two or three piece necks like they do with slab basses? They should be stiffer, stronger, and would yield more necks from available wood stock. I didn't know it had already been done. Seems like a good idea to me...
Robobass

When I first me Lew Norton back stage around 1973 or so at Lincoln Center his Italian Bass (Gagliano family or school I think) had a two piece maple neck with a thin (1/8" maybe) dark Center Strip. Paul Warburton's Bohmann c.1888 has a 5-pc neck like we do on BGs today. Two outer wide maple strips, one thinner center of maple and 2 darker strips bordering it (3/16" or 1/4"?).

Multi-piece Necks serve more than just one advantage and maybe one disadvantage being 1 or more glue joints where your hands slides up and down in the back of the neck. With a Neck this big though I should not be much more of a problem in the long run as compared to other neck related issues.

I am playing My Storioni this week and the 2-pc Neck feels like steel, warm woody steel..