Eb or D neck

[timobee4]

G'day Lynn, in your opinion what is the most common neck Eb or D, I have been playing bass for 31 years owned several basses but only once at a jam session with Gil Askey someone handed me a DB and it had a D neck that made me dizzy I just told someone that Eb necks are much more common but if I am wrong I'd like to correct my comment.
thanks a million! Timó

[Lynn Seaton]

Hello,
I play a D neck. I don't know which is more common. It might be regional preference. Asking luthiers who see lots of basses might be a good idea. The answers would be interesting.

[arnoldschnitzer]

Hi Lynn,
D is much more common than Eb. Probably 80-90%.

[timobee4]

Thank you kindly! I asked David Gage and they told me that D neck is overwhelmingly more common these days with loads of instruments getting converted. Apparently 10 years ago the ratio was even!! I asked what the reason behind the frenzy, told me that it is a trend without explanation! Thanks T.

Originally Posted by Lynn Seaton

Hello,
I play a D neck. I don't know which is more common. It might be regional preference. Asking luthiers who see lots of basses might be a good idea. The answers would be interesting.

[GerardSamija]

I've had a few bassists ask me to convert from Eb to D necks, and I've refused. Never been that much interested in unnecessary surgery, especially when in my opinion the result is a likely devaluation of the instrument. I've encountered a few players over the years who are quite adamant in their distaste for Eb necks (or otherwise - there are some which fit neither of these definitions) and that's well enough, they're entitled to their feelings. But generally, when I see a player of any skill trying a bass for the first time and discovering it's an Eb (like my first bass, for instance) it takes them all of a second or two to adapt. Very rarely do they say anything or stumble because of this difference. It takes a special sort of stubbornness to make it a big issue... but that's just my opinion.

[lukaspearse]

I play Eb, my wife plays D, yet we're still married almost 10 years later... Playing both has made me come to stop relying on the bout to know where I am, but rather to try to feel where my hand is in space and compare it to what I want to hear, rather than feeling around for some kind of marker too much. Although initially difficult, I think it's helped me improve as an improviser, and as a husband. l let her take my bass out on classical dates while she let's me use her bass + a pickup at the club, as befit's their sound. ; )