What is the Best Neck?

[EagleMoon]

Anytime you see "best" in a thread title, you can pretty much figure it's going to be a bunch of people just posting their preferences, since there is no such thing as "best". But that's okay as long as the OP isn't wanting anything else.

Personally my favorite is the Sadowsky Will Lee neck. Best neck I've ever played.

[LanOsb133]

Originally Posted by boristhespider9

Lakland USA Bob Glaub with Joe Osborn neck. East Indian Rosewood and Birdseye Maple dots. If this doesn't make you like Rosewood fretboards on a Maple neck, nothing will. And yes, that's quartersawn maple.

Its a beautiful bass indeed, but that combo is just so... unoriginal... Like I don't mean to offend anyone but Its just so generic and stereotypical. Its a beautiful bass, but that color combo/neck combo just doesn't make my willy wiggle if you catch my drift :P

Originally Posted by EagleMoon

Anytime you see "best" in a thread title, you can pretty much figure it's going to be a bunch of people just posting their preferences, since there is no such thing as "best". But that's okay as long as the OP isn't wanting anything else.

Personally my favorite is the Sadowsky Will Lee neck. Best neck I've ever played.

I just wanted a title that would make everyone be pissed. Much like the MIA vs. Squire threads. Title to reel people in, and then a Preference based thread.


As for everyone else, I really love the variety that you guys are giving. makes me want to really search for the perfect neck once I get money :P

[boristhespider9]

Unoriginal...or classic and timeless so that it's a lifetime purchase that's hard to get sick of. In any event, it feels and plays like a top of the line BMW.

[PWRL]

The best, I don't think I could say, as I haven't tried them all yet. But unlined ebony fretless on satin-finished maple is mighty nice.

[4001]

The "best" neck is the one that stays straight, dosen't twist, has no dead spots and needs little to no adjustments.

[bootsox]

Can't beat aluminum.

[klejst]

Whatever feels and plays the best in YOUR hands.

[bassybill]

Status graphite necks are my own particular favourite. It's all about rigidity.

[Darren Low]

Always purpleheart! It's so pretty!

[chef wong]

I prefer a neck of quartersawn maple..with 2 truss rods, and an ebony fingerboard to go with it. This way, the neck can be as thin as I like. I need all the help I can get.

[MysticMichael]

Originally Posted by LanOsb133

So now that I have your attention... What is your personal favorite neck configuration and why? Fretted or Fretless?

Thank you. Because there's a world of difference between "best" and "favorite".

Thus far, my favorite neck configurations consist of maple/walnut or maple/maple multi-laminate neck-throughs, preferably with either ebony or phenolic fretboard/fingerboard - fretted or fretless: I like - and play - them both.

I would also be very much open to neck-throughs with graphite composite reinforcement bars...as well as to 100% graphite composite necks - such as with the Modulus TBX line, though I haven't actually owned or played one (yet).

I also love rectangular blocks (abalone or mother of pearl) on the fretboard, as well as binding along the fretboard or fingerboard (fretted as well as fretless).

MM

[Osprey]

Originally Posted by bassybill

Status graphite necks are my own particular favourite. It's all about rigidity.

+1. They look pretty darned good too, with all black fittings.

[JoZac21]

I don't care too too much about wood combos concerning fretboards - although I don't have any maple fretboard basses at the moment (hmm... that might have to change when I have some money... birdseye maple? hmmm....).

Also, while I do like/have fretless basses, I'm more about fretted in my every day use...

The thing I'm most concerned about, as I'm primarily a 5 string player, is that I tend to like wide string spacing (typically 19mm)... I also tend to like a slightly wider (diameter) neck... if I have one complaint about my Sadowsky, it's that the neck could do with a tiny bit more girth (haha, I said "girth"). I have big hands (ladies ) especially for a 5'7" dude... so thin necks/tighter string spacing just doesn't cut it for me usually...

Other than that - I'm very easy to please. If it's a bass, I'll play it, and I'll like it dammit!!!

[Espresto]

I'm in a minority here, but I'm a big fan of composite necks. I love them for clear, bell-like tone, and endless sustain. The fact that they never warp, keep perfectly in tune, can be pencil-thin, and are almost impossible to dent or otherwise damage helps though.

[SoVeryTired]

Asymmetric

[Roscoe East]

Originally Posted by LanOsb133

Personally I love an All maple neck. It just looks so right and so purty.

Personally I think an all maple neck only looks "so right and so purty" when it's a one-piece maple neck/fingerboard. As soon as I see a seam where a separate maple fingerboard was glued on to a maple neck, it loses the attraction for me.

And I'm speaking purely aesthetically, not performance- or stability-wise.

[phillybass101]

I'm really digging the slap tone available from this combo

ash neck
maple board
ash body

[steve_rolfeca]

Minimal dead spots first, stability and good fretwork second, finishing with lots of room. If it's even, stays in tune, doesn't feel cramped, and is attached to a bass that I can't put down, I'm there.

I used to be into neck through construction and a wood fanatic, but after finding killer basses in so many different configurations (and not being thrilled with about 90% of basses that I expect to like on paper), I just don't worry about it any more.

Like people, there's so much more to basses than the colour of their skin or the way they're dressed.

[Grateful]

I like maple (on anything) or rosewood (especially on a P bass) or ebony (fretless).

Cosmetically, my favorite is on my custom bass: 5 piece flamed maple with Cocobolo runners and a Cocobolo/sapwood fretboard: