"Fast" neck bass

pyrohaz · #1 03-07-2011, 05:26 PM

Hey guys, the time has come for me to ask about basses again!

After a long time with my EQ pedal, I have figured out a really tasty tonee on my Warwick Rockbass Streamer (I was moaning about it earlier :P).

Now its come to a fact of playability, my warwick is absolutely brilliant for playing "smooth" stuff but im now in a new band that requires much more skilled playing than my old band, this new one is more of an alt metal band, im gonna need to do some tasty bass tapped sweeps and tapping, so!

My question: Can anybody recommend me a bass that has quite small string spacing (useful for tapped sweeps) and a fast (thin in this case) neck, i've been looking at the hagstrom FXB220, im just having trouble finding one in the UK, can anybody recommend me any?

One thing I have to stress is that it doesn't have precision pickups mainly for the fact that they just get in the way of my finger picking technique (the fact they split means my fingers travel further after the string attack etc, it means I can't finger as fast :P) Hopefully either jazz or soapbars please

Cheers!

msb · #2 03-07-2011, 05:46 PM

Dano longhorn !

syndrome666 · #3 03-07-2011, 05:59 PM

Warwicks sound amazing, but they're definitely not the best for faster paced stuff, unless you're willing to drop $6000+ USD on a custom shopped one. From my experience, if you want a good 5 stringer, get the Music Man, they all have great tight B strings with 0 signs of floppyness. I set up mine with a very low action, feels awesome to tap on, slap on, or just do any style of music from big band to Cannibal Corpse. One of the thinnest and fastest 5 string necks I've seen to date, comes in 1 or 2 soapbar/humbucker configs or a soapbar and a J pup config, string spacing is a tad bit wider than a warwick standard spacing of their 5 string couterpart, but is very comfortable, width at nut is just as slim if not slimmer. If you're looking for a 4 string, again I'd say a MM or you can even try out an Ibanez soundgear for their awesome fast necks (some of the simmest I've played on). I'd say the Jap ones are the ideal soundgear, but if it's out of your range I'd say go with the alternatives of the regular Soundgear line wich is just about as good, typically try not buying one under SR500 series as they tend to sound a bit dull. As for a Music Man alternative, go with a Sterling by Music Man series which is about a 1/2 to 1/3 the price of the US made Music Man series. Good luck with your find...hope this helps...and of course...cheers!

Ursus Tyrannus · #4 03-07-2011, 05:59 PM

Alright, I'll say it...Ibanez SR basses.

Kipaste · #5 03-07-2011, 06:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pyrohaz

One thing I have to stress is that it doesn't have precision pickups mainly for the fact that they just get in the way of my finger picking technique (the fact they split means my fingers travel further after the string attack etc, it means I can't finger as fast :P)

I was a bit puzzled at first.. Do you mean you use the pickup as a ramp? That sounds a bit limiting when it comes to differend tones from differend playing positions. How about making yourself a ramp?

HaMMerHeD · #6 03-07-2011, 07:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ursus Tyrannus

Alright, I'll say it...Ibanez SR basses.

Yessir.

5string5fingers · #7 03-07-2011, 07:27 PM

SR,ESP and peavey. Peaveys are often left out of this category, but they have insane thin, fast necks.

Hipnotic2005 · #8 03-07-2011, 08:12 PM

Alright, I'll say it...Fender jazz bass

splitcoilsenior · #9 03-07-2011, 08:14 PM

Ibanez Sr series.

namraj · #10 03-07-2011, 08:19 PM

Ibanez is a very good suggestion for thin fast necks, however I completely disagree with Warwicks being bad for fast, mine has perfect string spacing for fast with control, I could see one of the BN warwicks being a little difficult, but also just train your hands to play with what you've got.

Juan Count · #11 03-07-2011, 08:24 PM

... It has to be the Fender Geddy Lee Jazz Bass... before moving to Lakland basses (predominately), Juan Alderete used Geddy Lee signatures as the corner-stone of his bass rotation in The Mars Volta... that 'stuff' is pretty technical... let alone Geddy's own riffs from Rush...

... In combination with an outpoard Sadowsky 'pre' I've been using a Geddy Jazz to muscle my way through some technical metal...

... but to be honest I think with improved technique, a bass with a 'slower' neck (if there is such a thing) can still be utilised... I think I've just become lazy... I used to play the same music on a very 'chunky' Stingray...

ghostdog93 · #12 03-07-2011, 08:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ursus Tyrannus

Alright, I'll say it...Ibanez SR basses.

+1.

Kawai-chang · #13 03-07-2011, 08:41 PM

Pedulla Rapture

pyrohaz · #14 03-08-2011, 01:27 AM

Hi, thanks a lot for all the replies guys! I will take a look at the Ibanez soundgear basses (they seem within my price range!) i'll be having a look around tonight to see if I can find any in my preferred rice range

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kipaste

I was a bit puzzled at first.. Do you mean you use the pickup as a ramp? That sounds a bit limiting when it comes to differend tones from differend playing positions. How about making yourself a ramp?

Hi, sorry what I meant was:
Because the P pickup is split, if i have my thumb on the top half, say i'm trying to pick the G at quite a fast speed, my finger will go past the string and the only thing to stop it is the body (this may sound a bit weird :P) so with my pickups on my warwick correctly adjusted, the pickup just stops my fingers

Osprey · #15 03-08-2011, 01:42 AM

Another thread where the real solution is about technique rather than buying a different instrument?

Wild_Cat · #16 03-08-2011, 01:42 AM

You can't go wrong with an Ibanez SR 500 or above. Thin neck, narrow string spacing, excellent upper-fret access... They practically play themselves

Sartori · #17 03-08-2011, 01:51 AM

Rickenbackers have infamously tight string spacing, and many years of them have thin necks.

I've actually found that Peavey basses have pretty fast necks, too.

Same with the Schecter stiletto I played and the scorpion.

Need2KnowBasses · #18 03-08-2011, 02:22 AM

Dean Edge Bartolini

darkstorm · #19 03-08-2011, 02:40 AM

ESP Ltd F series or if youd prefer more conventional body shape and 34 scale the B series. Alternately Ibanez SR series.

AntekStalich · #20 03-08-2011, 02:56 AM

If we talked another price, I'd say - go for Sandberg Basic or a Terrabass (for 4-string BEAD tuning).

In Sandberg Basic 4, the neck+ fingerboard thickness at the whole 24-fret, 34" neck is around 18 mm. The total string spacing at the nut is 30 mm, and it is 60 mm at the bridge. You can further modify the string spacing at the bridge if you like.

For me, it is a very fast neck, tight string spacing. Only the price is high, but since Sandberg are a German company, ordering to UK should be simple and no extra duties than the German VAT.

Width at the nut

Side view of the neck at the nut

Width at the bridge

Side view of the neck close to the body.