Status Graphite Neck.

kylierider · #1 08-25-2011, 02:35 PM

I just puchased a Status lines fretless bass neck for a Stingray bass. I have two stingray basses and was woundering what thoughts people had on which bass to put it on.

The first is a 30th anniversary unlined fretless bass. This bass already sounds really good but I wish the board had lines. Besides the little extra weight this is the only disadvantage.

The other bass is a 92 trans white 3 band fretted with mute bridge. This bass also sounds good.

So it's either the mahogany body with thru body stringing of the 30th or the regular Stingray body with mute bridge. Will the string thru hog body make that much of a difference? Or would the regular body with mutes be better?

I'm not sure yet if I want to seperate the 30th from it's original neck though.

mikezimmerman · #2 08-25-2011, 02:59 PM

I'd put the Status neck on the regular Stingray body, for two reasons:

1) As you said, you really probably shouldn't separate the 30th anniversary neck and body, and

2) The Status neck is going to have a very significant impact on the sound compared to the stock neck, much more so than a standard vs. a mahogany body. Also, you certainly won't need any extra sustain, so the mutes might actually be pretty useful, whereas I can't see any particular benefit to going thru-body.

The downside is that it doesn't leave you with a fretted Stingray.

handofseven · #3 08-25-2011, 03:17 PM

MMMMmmmm... graphite + mahogany... Start there.

You can always switch back if you want to try your other option.

The Reff · #4 08-25-2011, 03:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by handofseven

MMMMmmmm... graphite + mahogany... Start there.

You can always switch back if you want to try your other option.

Subscribed - I'm thinking about doing the same thing with my Stingray 5'er. Mine has a piezo bridge though.

ricknote · #5 08-25-2011, 04:09 PM

I just put a Status 5r on my SR5. I love it. Amazing quality.
I documented the entire installation on my iPhone camera.
I can email some pics If you need a hand.

I'd go with the mahogany.

The Reff · #6 08-25-2011, 04:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ricknote

I just put a Status 5r on my SR5. I love it. Amazing quality.
I documented the entire installation on my iPhone camera.
I can email some pics If you need a hand.

I'd go with the mahogany.

How would you compare the sound to a wooden neck ?

ricknote · #7 08-25-2011, 10:34 PM

I was surprised at how "little" the Status neck changed the tone of my beloved Stingray 5.
I own a Zon Sonus bass with a graphite neck so I was expecting the usual graphite ups and downs like:
(A better Low B string, a little less Phat sounding,
more sustain, Clarity and punch, less woody, warm and forgiving.)
I love my Stingray but the original neck was really unstable.
I'd have to adjust the truss rod two or three times a week.
My Lull, Fender, and Godin are really stable. I just stopped playing it cause it almost never played great day to day.

Since I loved the sound of the bass so much. ( mine has the ceramic pickup that I absolutely love. Big giant SPLAT.) and I rather like the sound of Graphite as well as wood. Rather then sell the bass off I took the advise of a lot of posters here at Talkbass and bought the SR5 neck from Rob Green at Status. He's totally cool and always answered my emails.

Since installing the neck I'm playing this bass a ton lately.
It's still warm and punchy but the Low B is the bomb now.
Focused and natural like all the other strings.
A little more in your face, which is what I'm looking for in this
instrument anyway.

Everyone's idea of tone is different.
I got everything I wanted and more from the Status neck.
Hopefully you'll be just as happy.
Absolutely amazing Fretwork!

Rick

kylierider · #8 08-26-2011, 12:50 PM

Thanks for the info and ideas. Still deciding which bass to put this neck on. I'm leaning towards Mike's idea and try it out on the 92 fretted w mute bridge. The neck needs to come off anyway as it needs a neck shim. I've just been too lazy to do it. I've always thought the neck pocket was a little loose anyway so I may shim that up as well. The 30th has a really nice tight neck pocket like the 92 should have.

I can also A/B the two basses together and compare them. Stock 30th unlined fretless Stingray vs the modded Status lined fretless Stingray. Both have the same electronics as the 92 was sent back to MM for a new pickup and preamp. Both wear Ernie Ball group III flats and both are 3 bands. Should be a fair and honest comparison except for the body wood difference.

I'll post my results..

mikezimmerman · #9 08-26-2011, 12:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ricknote

I was surprised at how "little" the Status neck changed the tone of my beloved Stingray 5.

Interesting! I've owned lots of basses with graphite/composite necks (Steinberger, Moses, Zon, Modulus, many Curbow). Though they all sounded different, the necks always seemed to be a big contributor to the overall tone. But I've never compared the same bass with and without a graphite neck.

kylierider -- I'm looking forward to hearing the results of your side-by-side comparison!