On/Off each pickup with the last switch being a coil tap on the BS-DS
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Aluminum Neck Club
- Thread starter oZZma
- Start date
Woot! It has finally arrived!
After some past research and scoping out builders, I contacted RGI for a potential short scale aluminum neck for my Mustang bass. Originally a Fender JMJ Signature Mustang that I had modified/custom-routed by Equilibrium Guitar Repair out of Boston (when I was living up there) with a Curtis Novak BS-DS and a Serek B90 (plus a Jaguar-style pickup selector switch plate). I wanted an aluminum boi on it bad as I had become very use to and comfortable with my past 34" RGI neck on my past P bass project, and my Mustang had quickly became my #1.
For what it's worth, there was nothing wrong with the original neck on the JMJ - one of the best necks I've ever played. I just wanted the same feel back that I had with the RGI neck.
A little less then 4 months later with an initial brief back and forth with RGI on specs, it's here
View attachment 4834250
For anyone familiar with RGI necks, its the same awesome fit and finish. I went with a flat brush finish on both the top and back. It definitely added a little bit of weight but nothing crazy, still very comfortable to play with a wide quality strap. Still lighter then the boat anchor that was my old Gibson Ripper. I still want to get a few more customizations done on the bass, but those can wait. Notably a nitro refin in probably a Big Muff-Green
This is one of the most beautiful things I have ever seen... just glorious.
I'd be all over one of these necks if Canadian money weren't toilet paper and they didn't cost more than I'd spend on a bass... one day!
DUDEWoot! It has finally arrived!
After some past research and scoping out builders, I contacted RGI for a potential short scale aluminum neck for my Mustang bass. Originally a Fender JMJ Signature Mustang that I had modified/custom-routed by Equilibrium Guitar Repair out of Boston (when I was living up there) with a Curtis Novak BS-DS and a Serek B90 (plus a Jaguar-style pickup selector switch plate). I wanted an aluminum boi on it bad as I had become very use to and comfortable with my past 34" RGI neck on my past P bass project, and my Mustang had quickly became my #1.
For what it's worth, there was nothing wrong with the original neck on the JMJ - one of the best necks I've ever played. I just wanted the same feel back that I had with the RGI neck.
A little less then 4 months later with an initial brief back and forth with RGI on specs, it's here
View attachment 4834250
For anyone familiar with RGI necks, its the same awesome fit and finish. I went with a flat brush finish on both the top and back. It definitely added a little bit of weight but nothing crazy, still very comfortable to play with a wide quality strap. Still lighter then the boat anchor that was my old Gibson Ripper. I still want to get a few more customizations done on the bass, but those can wait. Notably a nitro refin in probably a Big Muff-Green
please let us know what you think of the neck! I want to go further into short scale bass
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Neck is awesome! Pretty much what I expected from my old RGI neck. Only thing similar I can think of to compare to is probably a 4001-style profile - maybe less of a taper (or lack of) and a tad thicker? Definitely not a Gibson SG-like neck profile. Nut width seems to be a sweet spot between a P and a J (I haven't measured it yet, just going off the feel of my J bass).
I recently about year or two ago got into the idea of owning a short scale. Had an interest in trying one out and this JMJ popped up online used at stupidly good price that I couldn't pass up. Fell in love with it, mostly the ergonomics of the body and how it sat really well with my personal playing style.
Alex (RGI) is great to work with too btw. Super awesome dude. He has a tester plate available for this neck pocket in case anyone wanted to see if it fit their Fender-style neck pocket for these types of basses.
It’s gonna be 3D printed carbon fiber.. the few examples I’ve seen of theirs look very matte black, no frills. Though he did mention that the pickguard would also be printed and that he’d get in touch at some point to sort out what color I’d like it to be! Still undecided on that. Maybe orange?
BTW those single coils look AWESOME!
Also how are you liking the neck? I’m still amazed at how great it feels. I really wish I could play it right now lol
So how is the girth or the backside thickness on these? How would you compare it to the RG necks?
It’s beefy! Lots to hold on to. But nothing crazy.. if you’re used to a P neck it’ll have a comparable feel size-wise. It’s been a couple of decades since I’ve played a Grabber bass but that’s where my muscle memory went when I first played my Aluminati. The anodized finish is silky and it’s truly effortless to dig into IMO.
The RGI neck I have is polished so it’s got that poly-slick vibe.. and it’s got a unique profile & taper that may or may not be to your liking. Noticeably “flatter” all the way up the neck. It has a similar feel to the 4003 I had, but less chunky than that & easier to play IMO.
Hope this helps. It’s hard to explain some things in words but they’re both awesome feeling necks w/ very different feels!
It does help. Thanks for your review. Despite working in NH and wanting to support RGI, I feel like the Aluminati will be more of what I'm looking for. I don't like necks that have flat backs or fretboards. I prefer a narrowish baseball bat. Kind of like some old jazz basses that were super chunky. If I'm going to drop that kind of money on a neck I want it to not only sound great, but feel great.
I did a thing today. Alef bass neck on an afterfmarket Iceman body. The body was rattlecan sprayed in grey and black primer, then sanded down randomly to bare wood in some spots . A gloss clear was painted over this, then sanded down to a flat finish for an aged look. Pickups are P bass rails from a Reverend bass, and it sounds and plays great!
Totally forgot to post this here and didn’t realize until now. Here’s a video of my punk band from last Friday with the aluminum bass in action!
bass highlights:
9:05
11:33
13:00
18:12
24:30
I asked Kevin at EGC if he could build a Bass VI version of their Chessie, Bigsby and all. He said yes and 22 months later it arrived! I owned a Gretsch Duane Eddy Bass VI a few years back that I loved but it felt very delicate to me. I don’t gig and I’m very careful with all my gear but I was terrified something would happen to it. (I also have 2 young kids and accidents happen) so all all aluminum version seemed like the way to go. It’s got three single coil pickups that Kevin explained to me are a cross between P90s and Travis Bean single coils. 3 volume, 1 tone, 3 way switch.
Wow. I could live without the Bigsby myself, but that is gorgeous.
Any chance of some clean soundclips?
