The Nordy Club (Part XIII)

[Saluki]

Originally Posted by smeet

I have an NJ5 which I believe has the 12"-20" profile, and it feels nice and comfy.

I'm also the new owner of dcr's hulk green P/J VJ5 Modern, so I'll be joining you cool kids in your cool club as soon as it arrives!

The hulk bass was in my hands before Doug. Nice score!

[Fuzzbass]

While I like flatter radii (my old Warwick Streamer Stage I 5 was 20", I believe my Benavente P-basses are 16"), I have no trouble on Fenders, either. I didn't think 9-14" would be a problem (I'm sure it'll feel great), but it'll be my first compound so I had to ask.

Thanks for all the feedback.

[KJung]

Originally Posted by Fuzzbass

While I like flatter radii (my old Warwick Streamer Stage I 5 was 20", I believe my Benavente P-basses are 16"), I have no trouble on Fenders, either. I didn't think 9-14" would be a problem (I'm sure it'll feel great), but it'll be my first compound so I had to ask.

Thanks for all the feedback.

If that is the case, you might ask for the more 'modern' neck, which is doable on any of Carey's models from what I understand. That 20" radius up top would then feel quite familiar to you.

[Fuzzbass]

Originally Posted by KJung

If that is the case, you might ask for the more 'modern' neck, which is doable on any of Carey's models from what I understand. That 20" radius up top would then feel quite familiar to you.

Thanks, Ken, I didn't know that was an option.

OTOH, I'm no longer a young pup, age is creeping in to my fingers. From what I've read, curvature is for comfort , flat is for enhanced string bending which I don't really do. I wonder if I should stick with 9-14"?

... or maybe I'm still overthinking. String spacing is crucial for me, but I've not yet been fussy about fretboard radius.

[KJung]

Originally Posted by Fuzzbass

Thanks, Ken, I didn't know that was an option.

OTOH, I'm no longer a young pup, age is creeping in to my fingers. From what I've read, curve is for comfort , flat is for enhanced string bending which I don't really do. I wonder if I should stick with 9-14"?

... or maybe I'm still overthinking. String spacing is crucial for me, but I've not yet been fussy about fretboard radius.

Probably overthinking a bit. I don't really notice the fretboard radius much until I get above the 12th fret (and of course, with a compound radius, that goes doubly so). Luckily, and to the joy of both my listening audience and my fellow band mates, I rarely cross that '12th fret danger line' any more

I must say the super old school low radius Alleva-Coppolo 5 string (10.5" all the way from top to bottom) is kind of cool if you are looking to get an 'old, vintage feeling' bass in a otherwise modern instrument (i.e., that 10.5" radius on the wide 5 string neck 'feel's like the vintage lower radius on the old 4 string Fenders IME). Otherwise, I don't notice much of a difference between the 12" non-compound radius of the Sadowsky basses for example, and the slight compounding of my Nordy classic neck (of course, the back of the neck is quite different, but the feel of the 'fretboard' is very similar).

[GRoberts]

I have both a VJ5 Modern and Vj5 Classic. I love both equally, but feel a little faster and cleaner when soloing above the 12th fret on my Vj5 classic. But how much of that is the Radius difference versus perhaps the difference in scale length? (Modern = 34.5", classic - 34"?) Small difference but slightly noticeable.

still, I LOVE both neck profiles of my Nordy's and find them to be among the absolute best feeling 5 string necks I've ever played. I like the Nordy neck profile MUCH more than Sadowsky's (for my hands). this is not a knock against Sadowsky. Nordy's just fit me better.

[Doug Parent]

Originally Posted by GRoberts

I like the Nordy neck profile MUCH more than Sadowsky's (for my hands). this is not a knock against Sadowsky. Nordy's just fit me better.

Interesting. Assuming the string spacing is the same, what is the difference, anything you can articulate or is it the intangibles?

[GRoberts]

Originally Posted by Doug Parent

Interesting. Assuming the string spacing is the same, what is the difference, anything you can articulate or is it the intangibles?

Sadowsky neck feels deeper fingerboard to back of neck for one thing. Sad neck simply is chunkier. At least it was for me.

[Chef]

Concur^^^^

And, actually, of the Nord, Alleva, and Valenti I've played, my Sadowsky Metros all feel deeper. Not so much so as to be "chunky," but "more substantial."

[Fuzzbass]

Originally Posted by GRoberts

Sadowsky neck feels deeper fingerboard to back of neck for one thing. Sad neck simply is chunkier. At least it was for me.

I've owned truly chunky necks (Benavente 51 model 5, Warwick SSI5). I don't consider the Sadowsky neck chunky, but I wouldn't call it "slim and fast" either -- I guess it's "medium".

Brings up a point, though: neck profile might be a bigger factor for comfort than fretboard radius. Regardless, seems like the Nordy neck will be a winner, I look forward to the experience.

[Modern Growl]

Originally Posted by Vic

Just a general comment about Carey's necks, rolling in the profile (shape of the back) as well as the radiusing (shape of the board)...

Carey's necks are among the best feeling and most stable necks I've played. They just "work".

+1

[Modern Growl]

Originally Posted by Chef

Concur^^^^

And, actually, of the Nord, Alleva, and Valenti I've played, my Sadowsky Metros all feel deeper. Not so much so as to be "chunky," but "more substantial."

+2

More meat from fretboard to back of neck.
&
The nut is about 1/8th wider on a Sadowsky as well, so ever so slightly broader. Overall, just a slightly bigger more substantial neck.

[Doug Parent]

Interesting. Sometimes I feel like my Sadowsky MV5 is fighting me a little bit. Lately I have noticed that the combination of width/depth/radius = factors in and two basses with similar string spacing specs can feel SO different to my hand. Maybe it's time to try a Nordie VJ5. Anyone got one they wanna swap for a nice vintage tint Metro V ?

[GRoberts]

To be clear, I was not saying Sadowsky necks are "chunky" per se. I was saying they feel bigger and deeper than the Nordy necks. I am sure I could play a Sadowsky and be happy and lay down perfectly good bass lines. But if you ask me which neck is friendlier (for MY hands)? Which neck feels better (For ME?) ...The Nordstrand necks feel better and play faster and more effortlessly for ME.

[gillento]

I've been a diehard Sadowsky (MV5, UV5, M5-24, NYC PJ, NYC BS)player for years and mainly ordered my first VP5 because Roger wouldn't do a passive P (and I didn't) care for the passive/bypass sound of my Sados.
But as soon as I got my VP5 I just knew that thsi neck fits my hands better than the Sado neck. I even got rid of my Sado w Nordy BS (in 60's position) to get a similra spec'ed Nordy. Finding one was impossible at the time. So I got a VJ5C.
The VJ5C is quite similar to the VP5.... although I prefer the VP5 neck feel wise. I am wondering if there is a difference between the VP5 and VJ5C neck...

[GRoberts]

Originally Posted by gillento

I've been a diehard Sadowsky (MV5, UV5, M5-24, NYC PJ, NYC BS)player for years and mainly ordered my first VP5 because Roger wouldn't do a passive P (and I didn't) care for the passive/bypass sound of my Sados.
But as soon as I got my VP5 I just knew that thsi neck fits my hands better than the Sado neck. I even got rid of my Sado w Nordy BS (in 60's position) to get a similra spec'ed Nordy. Finding one was impossible at the time. So I got a VJ5C.
The VJ5C is quite similar to the VP5.... although I prefer the VP5 neck feel wise. I am wondering if there is a difference between the VP5 and VJ5C neck...

hey Gillento, Yes. The VP5 neck I owned for about a year felt wider to me than the Vj5C. The String spacing on the VP5 felt wider. Maybe someone else can confirm that. I loved the VP5 neck but I actually prefer and play much more easily on the VJ5C neck that I have now.

[KJung]

Originally Posted by gillento

I've been a diehard Sadowsky (MV5, UV5, M5-24, NYC PJ, NYC BS)player for years and mainly ordered my first VP5 because Roger wouldn't do a passive P (and I didn't) care for the passive/bypass sound of my Sados.
But as soon as I got my VP5 I just knew that thsi neck fits my hands better than the Sado neck. I even got rid of my Sado w Nordy BS (in 60's position) to get a similra spec'ed Nordy. Finding one was impossible at the time. So I got a VJ5C.
The VJ5C is quite similar to the VP5.... although I prefer the VP5 neck feel wise. I am wondering if there is a difference between the VP5 and VJ5C neck...

I'm surprised at how much I love my VP5 neck. Big but not chunky, feels like a P (in a good way). I love that feeling of 'mass' even though the bass is lightweight. You really feel like you are 'playing the bass' with that neck

I still dig the unusual neck profile of the Alleva-Coppolo (since we are comparing necks). Almost the opposite of the VP5. Very flat back of the neck profile and thin front to back, and really wide (LOTS of room/wood outside the B and G strings, if that makes sense). That feels good to me also, and that very round, low radius freboard is unique on a 5 string, and again, feels like an old 4 string.

[Modern Growl]

I think it all really comes down to what you get used to.

I played a Sadowsky MV5 and it fit like a glove.
I then had the opportunity to check out VJ5 Classic and that felt great under my hands... an instant "at home" feel to it.

I owned both for a period of time and couldn't decide which I liked better. Getting picky, sometimes the Sadowsky would feel chunky... then sometimes the VJ5 would feel too thin/small. So it's all relative IMO.

At the end, I decided I overall liked the VJ5 a bit better, so that stayed.

[Fuzzbass]

Originally Posted by Modern Growl

The nut is about 1/8th wider on a Sadowsky as well, so ever so slightly broader.

No change for me: 19mm ctc spacing at bridge, 1.875" wide at nut (my Goldilocks specs)... but I believe you're referring to the four stringers.

[Modern Growl]

Originally Posted by Fuzzbass

No change for me: 19mm ctc spacing at bridge, 1.875" wide at nut (my Goldilocks specs)... but I believe you're referring to the four stringers.

No - the Sadowsky 5 is ever so slightly wider at the nut vs. the Nordy VJ5. It's about 1/8th wider.

The 4 stringers are both 1.5" on the dot.