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"a" neck & "c" neck
- Thread starter iand
- Start date
Standard Fender nut widths... 1.5" = A (Jazz Bass)/1.75" = C (Precision Bass to late '60s)/1.625" = B (Precision Bass from late '60s forward)
There are exceptions, you can find P-Basses from many periods with a factory "A" neck. The transition from the "standard" "C" neck to the "B" I put as late '60s, but I've seen a few of the wider nuts after that.
There are exceptions, you can find P-Basses from many periods with a factory "A" neck. The transition from the "standard" "C" neck to the "B" I put as late '60s, but I've seen a few of the wider nuts after that.
I could not state that any better xsubs. I have 72 and 75 Precisions, both with B necks.
I love these 2 guitars to death and beyond. Too many Fenders.
I love these 2 guitars to death and beyond. Too many Fenders.
Mongo
Where did you hear this info?
Every Fender catalog I've ever seen (I personally have 1961-1974) makes no mention of nut width. It's generally the standard "slim neck" jargon, and no other specifics other than length, width, etc...
See here for examples:
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
I'm curious as to the origins of your comment...
Where did you hear this info?
Every Fender catalog I've ever seen (I personally have 1961-1974) makes no mention of nut width. It's generally the standard "slim neck" jargon, and no other specifics other than length, width, etc...
See here for examples:
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
I'm curious as to the origins of your comment...
What? You don't believe me?
Personal experience for one. I've measured many J necks over the last few decades. Everyone needs a hobby. I found that the neck width of older J basses was at or closer to 1-7/16" than 1-1/2" but never smaller than 1-7/16". At first I chalked it up to production variations but then...
What I found was confirmed in an early J Bass advertisement reproduced on page 204 of "Fender - The Sound Heard 'Round The World" by Richard R. Smith.
In the ad there's a picture of the nut with a caption that says:
"NEW! 1-7/16", that's the actual size of the Jazz Bass neck at the nut...more slender than most any guitar."
That 1/16th of an inch makes quite a difference in the feel of the neck for me. I've DIY'd several basses shaving the necks to a 1-7/16" width at the nut and reprofiling the back of the neck to fit the new width.
Outer edge to outer edge of the wood or binding, whatever the edge is made of. Bound J bass necks didn't yet exist when the early ad was written.
A friend has a '75 J (bound neck) and it too has the 1-7/16" neck width at the nut.
Yes, my '69 Jazz width is 1-7/16". That's outer edge of the wood/binding. Best feeling neck ever!
where is the "A" marked? i don't see a letter on my neck, but the neck pocket has a big "A" stamp. it's a '78 P bass, neck is certainly wider than 1 7/16...
1/8 is minute. 1/16 is splitting hairs.
Goldilocks said "this A-neck is too thin.....and this C-neck is too thick...but
this B-neck feels juuuuussssttt right"
Goldilocks said "this A-neck is too thin.....and this C-neck is too thick...but
this B-neck feels juuuuussssttt right"
I was doubtful too but though that little 1/16 of an inch difference between old and modern "A" necks seems inconseqential, in actual use I find it makes quite a bit of difference. It really changes the feel of the lower part of the neck. I find 1-7/16" necks much more comfortable to play than 1-1/2" necks.
Do you guys think about this stuff while you're playing? My neck could have the radius of a mop handle, but if I cramp up all this ABC talk goes right out the window.
You guys are right on about A,B, and C necks.
Fender also Made a D-neck.
For bass this was a C-neck with a thicker back of the neck.(More wood)
I had a 1962 P-neck with this profile.
It was my favorite neck.
Some Fender guitars suck as SRV Strat. and the Jeff Beck Strat neck.
Where D-profile.
It is a chunkier neck.
There's always been some real confusion caused by using letters to describe neck profiles AND using letters to describe the NOMINAL nut width. Fender for years used the A B C neck width terminology thought it wasn't commonly known. Even many dealers didn't know one could order a P with an A neck for decades.
The "D" neck describes a profile and has nothing to do with the neck width- you could wind up with a "D" neck with a 1.5" width or get that same relative profile on a full sized 1.75 P neck too. And to add to confusion, there's the C shape profile. The letters to describe profile developed among players and dealers and were never part of Fender's descriptions until they got so common that FMIC started using them. Just don't confuse the profile terms with the neck width terms.
jte
The "D" neck describes a profile and has nothing to do with the neck width- you could wind up with a "D" neck with a 1.5" width or get that same relative profile on a full sized 1.75 P neck too. And to add to confusion, there's the C shape profile. The letters to describe profile developed among players and dealers and were never part of Fender's descriptions until they got so common that FMIC started using them. Just don't confuse the profile terms with the neck width terms.
jte
a D neck would cripple me even further. I do notice the 72(rosewood) is a bit
thicker and rounder than the 75(maple) more baseball bat-like.
thicker and rounder than the 75(maple) more baseball bat-like.
