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Aluminum Neck Club
- Thread starter oZZma
- Start date
Planning on a NBD post but in the meantime, here’s a pretty solid (pun intended) aluminum neck for anyone interested:
And here’s the full frontal:
Can’t wait- been wanting a solid aluminum Obstructures bass for over a decade!
And here’s the full frontal:
Can’t wait- been wanting a solid aluminum Obstructures bass for over a decade!
Wow, beautiful!! drool
It's neck through, right? Like EGCs. drool
As far as I know Kramers and Travis Beans are all bolt on, correct me if I'm wrong...
Anyways I read now EGC also makes and sells the necks alone (bolt on necks), they cost about 800$
That's interesting news for those (like me) Who can't spend 3000+$ for a bass but would taste the thrill of aluminum fretboard
It's neck through, right? Like EGCs. drool
As far as I know Kramers and Travis Beans are all bolt on, correct me if I'm wrong...
Anyways I read now EGC also makes and sells the necks alone (bolt on necks), they cost about 800$
That's interesting news for those (like me) Who can't spend 3000+$ for a bass but would taste the thrill of aluminum fretboard
Travis Bean guitars & basses are assembled the exact same way as the Obstructures pictured above— the pickups and bridge assembly are bolted on to the neck, which, together as a whole, are bolted on to the body.
Travis Bean bodies are generally composed of a really dense wood though (usually koa) and not aluminum like EGC’s.
Makes for a very unique and intensely massive tone. The strings just don’t have a way to not stop ringing once they’re hit. This is some next level bass tone that most people are truly missing out on, IMO.
The bolt-on EGC necks are indeed a thing of wonder— they’re extremely affordable and really add a ton of character to any standard wooden body you’d attach one to as a mod.
I came really close to picking up an EGC necked Precision bass but decided to put that money towards an all aluminum Obstructures build. No regrets. I just picked up a Jazzmaster guitar and will probably most likely buy an aluminum neck for it at some point soon.
Travis Bean bodies are generally composed of a really dense wood though (usually koa) and not aluminum like EGC’s.
Makes for a very unique and intensely massive tone. The strings just don’t have a way to not stop ringing once they’re hit. This is some next level bass tone that most people are truly missing out on, IMO.
The bolt-on EGC necks are indeed a thing of wonder— they’re extremely affordable and really add a ton of character to any standard wooden body you’d attach one to as a mod.
I came really close to picking up an EGC necked Precision bass but decided to put that money towards an all aluminum Obstructures build. No regrets. I just picked up a Jazzmaster guitar and will probably most likely buy an aluminum neck for it at some point soon.
I didn't know about Travis Bean
I want a neck through so badly but they are out of budget for me
My bass is bolt on and sounds massive... Neck through must be UTTERLY massive
Funny you should say, I was at a show just a few weeks ago and the bassist was rocking a Kramer just like yours— it was indeed beyond massive!! Just incredibly clear and full. I had the opportunity to pick one up a few years ago but was hesitant due to what I’ve heard of the wood/aluminum necks. Perhaps you could share your thoughts on how they handle and feel? Definitely still on my radar.
I am just a beginner, so my opinion doesn't mean much and I feel a little inadequate to "review" anything
Anyways, I can say the feeling of the neck is very similar to any "normal" wooden neck bass, except for the fact it's damn heavy. I had to buy a 10cm wide leather strap to make the bass stay at its place and be playable. Weight and neck diving are the real issues here.
For me (not an "expert" player, plus small hands) the size was an issue too. I struggled to get used to the fretboard, loo large and too flat, not very easy to play for me. The strings spacing is HUGE too (I had a Fender Jaguar before, way more compact and comfortable), but most people will not find it's a big problem.
I never tried an EGC nor a Travis Bean nor an Obstructures but from the photos they seem all sooo slim in comparison... I bet the Kramers are the less comfortable to play.
If the legend that it doesn't stay in tune is your concern, in my experience it's not true at all. Al least my Kramer stays in tune for WEEKS, although I play with heavy hand and we have big and sudden temperature jumps in our practice space due to air conditioning.
Hi guys, I have a question for whom is more experienced than I am with this kind of instrument
My bass has a "buzz" (it's more like a "meow" sound to be accurate
) on the 8th fret, only on the E string (tuned in D, 110 gauge)
I already rised the action a bit, it has completely eliminated the buzz on the frets under the 8th but I still have problems on that exact point
If the bass had a truss rod I would try to loosen it a bit, but I can't
Can it be the problem is the fret itself? Maybe too worn out and I have to replace it?
I never went to a luthier before (I always made the setup myself) but now I haven't find a solution to this little (but annoying
) problem, I'd like to ask for possible solutions before I spend money on that
My bass has a "buzz" (it's more like a "meow" sound to be accurate
) on the 8th fret, only on the E string (tuned in D, 110 gauge)I already rised the action a bit, it has completely eliminated the buzz on the frets under the 8th but I still have problems on that exact point
If the bass had a truss rod I would try to loosen it a bit, but I can't
Can it be the problem is the fret itself? Maybe too worn out and I have to replace it?
I never went to a luthier before (I always made the setup myself) but now I haven't find a solution to this little (but annoying
) problem, I'd like to ask for possible solutions before I spend money on thatAre you tuned in Drop D or D Standard?Hi guys, I have a question for whom is more experienced than I am with this kind of instrument
My bass has a "buzz" (it's more like a "meow" sound to be accurate
I already rised the action a bit, it has completely eliminated the buzz on the frets under the 8th but I still have problems on that exact point
If the bass had a truss rod I would try to loosen it a bit, but I can't
Can it be the problem is the fret itself? Maybe too worn out and I have to replace it?
I never went to a luthier before (I always made the setup myself) but now I haven't find a solution to this little (but annoying
Could be a nut / string gauge issue, if the nut’s not filed for heavier gauge strings.
I’m running 50-105 and the nut’s been filed to accept slightly heavier gauges as well.
Part of the aluminum appeal for me is the wild random buzzy nature but I can see your situation being annoying, especially if it’s one note on one string.
I'm tuned in drop D, I use stainless steel roundwounds and I love a slighly buzzy sound but the fact is it's not normal "buzz", it's a crazy, stupid "meow" noise, on a single fret, like if you step on a cat's tail
If it's the nut, I'm afraid I can't adjust it by myself... I'll have to ask a luthier. Mine has an aluminum nut and I'm wary to make any mod because I have no idea if I can find a replacement for it if I ruin it
I could try with a lighter gauge to see if the problem is indeed the nut not filed.. thanks a lot for the advice!
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No problem- I’d definitely pick a gauge that’s comfortable and have a new nut installed.I'm tuned in drop D, I use stainless steel roundwounds and I love a slighly buzzy sound but the fact is it's not normal "buzz", it's a crazy, stupid "meow" noise, on a single fret, like if you step on a cat's tail
If it's the nut, I'm afraid I can't adjust it by myself... I'll have to ask a luthier. Mine has an aluminum nut and I'm wary to make any mod because I have no idea if I can find a replacement for it if I ruin it
I could try with a lighter gauge to see if the problem is indeed the nut not filed.. thanks a lot for the advice!
I’ve heard aluminum nuts can be problematic. No experience with them myself though. Worst case scenario- have the luthier replace it with a new custom filed brass or bone nut and make sure to hold on to the aluminum one if you’d like to keep your instrument “stock.”
I’ve owned one for years- it’s basically my always on amp tone.. so much growl & clank. Highly recommended!!Anyone here uses the Rusty box? I'd like to add some growl to the bass signal, but keeping it clanky...
my amp does not growl even at maximum gain
That’s the way I’ve been using mine, with great results- straight into the effects return of my amp.. really wanna pick up a straight power amp of some sort (Crown or Crest) and just run it that way.It would be the first time I buy something I can't try from the USA... that's why I'm still a little unsureBut seems to be the closest to the sound I like. I mean to use it as a preamp instead of the SVT3 pro preamp.
I bought and sold my first Rusty Box around the time they were somewhat new (and harder to come across!) but I missed it so much that I had to buy a second one. It’ll be on my board til the day I die, there’s really nothing quite like it.
Passinwind
I know nothing.
- Dec 3, 2003
- 23,078
- 46,035
- Disclosures
- Designer/Toaster Tech @ Passinwind Electronics
1977 Travis Bean fretless, bought brand new in '77. It was originally white but turned pink from the case liner within about 5 years. For about a twenty year span it was my only bass and it survived some very harsh years climatically. Once I bought a more comfortable bass in 2003 the Bean was relegated to slide/stunt bass duty, mostly at open mics where I'd typically only play for an hour or less. SIT Silencers were my favorite strings in the latter era.
Last year I finally decided to pass it along to someone else who might use it more. It certainly deserves that, as it's a really fab sounding instrument. Another TB'er owns it now.
Here's a sound clip featuring the Bean on both the rhythm and lead (slide) tracks:
Amazing. I think I recall seeing this in the classifieds a while back. It was TEMPTING!
Passinwind
I know nothing.
- Dec 3, 2003
- 23,078
- 46,035
- Disclosures
- Designer/Toaster Tech @ Passinwind Electronics
I ended up shipping it to The Netherlands last spring, which was a monumental hassle because of the rosewood fingerboard and CITES regulations.
