That's a beautiful THING!! What does it weigh, and what is the scale length?
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Aluminum Neck Club
- Thread starter oZZma
- Start date
Beautiful! Glad to see more stang necks out there from RGI
What bridge is that btw? I really like it and I kind of want a change for my own - I'm personally not a fan of the traditional Mustang bass bridge.
- May 2, 2004
- 2,862
- 244
- 38
- Disclosures
- owner/builder, ISLAND Instrument Mfg.
30" scale length. I'm not certain the weight...I guess I should've weighed it. I'm known for building really light instruments (I got a guitar down to sub-4lbs once) and this is definitely heavy by comparison, but I've also felt heavier basses before. My guess would be 9lb ballpark Alex's necks are solid which definitely adds to the weight. My understanding is the Aluminati ones are about the same as a wood neck. Looking forward to trying those!
- May 2, 2004
- 2,862
- 244
- 38
- Disclosures
- owner/builder, ISLAND Instrument Mfg.
It's a Hipshot Kickass adjusted for 18mm spacing
I ordered an Aluminati neck (carbon fretboard and blue Luminlay side dots) back in the middle of December, and they told me 90 day build time. Should be about 3 weeks out yet, and I'll keep y'all posted. I'm hoping is as good as my Alef neck
Hopefully that's an accurate timeline!! I ordered mine at a rough time for the folks down there, it took me nearly a year!! they at least kept good communication all the way through, and golly gee it was worth it.
How's the neck profile on yours? I'm hoping for a very thin neck like my Alef. I haven't seen or heard any reviews on the Aluminati other than straight from them. The uni grain carbon fiber should be interesting...
Well, that sounds like a fun neck, and I can't wait!
Hey, I wanted to add some info about the Hoxey aluminum necks. I don't see much info on them but I just bought a rando-parts jazz bass with a Hoxey neck. It was a mess, but I got it set up and playing great after some work. The main issue was the nut slots being slotted too low, all strings buzzed on the 1st fret so open notes were unplayable. The guy who originally put the bass together may have slotted the nut himself, as he had strung heavy strings for drop C. I emailed Hoxey and they got right back to me with the specific pre-slotted graphtech tusq nut that they use. I ordered that, and it was still too low, same issue. I had a tech raise the nut by machining a little slice of brass to go underneath and it plays fine now.
There are 2 other things that are weird design issues that are slight problems:
1) the string retainer on the head stock has 2 screws that the E and G strings rub up against, so when you're tuning those strings you can feel the resistance. I put some teflon tape I had lying around on those screws and that made it better. Still, weird that they didn't notice that issue and move them out of the way.
2) The profile of the neck has some weird angular 'shoulders' below the edge of the fretboard. I think it's to simulate a rolled fretboard edge... it's hard to explain (I can share pics of there is interest). It ended up not being an issue for me and I've played through some long sessions and just got used to it.
3) The neck is straight as an arrow, like no relief or curve like a wood neck under tension would have. I don't know if that's normal for aluminum necks. Ended up working out, my action is where I like it and no fret buzz.
I've never played any other aluminum neck brand, so I don't know what to compare it to. All in all, I'm very happy with it, but it took some work to get it the way I like it. The design issues are weird and I will reach out to them and see if they are at all interested in hearing what I have to say, I feel like at least the string retainer issue should be an easy fix.
Again, I can share pics when I get home if anyone wants to see.
There are 2 other things that are weird design issues that are slight problems:
1) the string retainer on the head stock has 2 screws that the E and G strings rub up against, so when you're tuning those strings you can feel the resistance. I put some teflon tape I had lying around on those screws and that made it better. Still, weird that they didn't notice that issue and move them out of the way.
2) The profile of the neck has some weird angular 'shoulders' below the edge of the fretboard. I think it's to simulate a rolled fretboard edge... it's hard to explain (I can share pics of there is interest). It ended up not being an issue for me and I've played through some long sessions and just got used to it.
3) The neck is straight as an arrow, like no relief or curve like a wood neck under tension would have. I don't know if that's normal for aluminum necks. Ended up working out, my action is where I like it and no fret buzz.
I've never played any other aluminum neck brand, so I don't know what to compare it to. All in all, I'm very happy with it, but it took some work to get it the way I like it. The design issues are weird and I will reach out to them and see if they are at all interested in hearing what I have to say, I feel like at least the string retainer issue should be an easy fix.
Again, I can share pics when I get home if anyone wants to see.
@Jart!, my friend bought one of the first Hoxey guitar necks (not bass) a while back, and it needed a little tweaking as well. The nut on his was cut a little high, and there weren't any side fret markers. We took care of that in no time, and the neck played great on his Tele body. That neck is what got me into full aluminum necks. I had a few Vaccaro basses before that, but they had wood surrounding the aluminum. I ended up selling them to friends a few years ago.
Another friend bought a Hoxey guitar neck recently, and it was flawless. I don't own any of them, but they seem like quality for the money.
Another friend bought a Hoxey guitar neck recently, and it was flawless. I don't own any of them, but they seem like quality for the money.
Yeah it’s always hard for me to describe the Aluminati CF neck when people ask, but this is pretty spot on. From memory it kinda feels like the neck profile my old Ripper bass had, but I can’t compare (sold that one 20 years ago lol.)
It’s got some P chunk to it but kinda Jazzy too.
The RGI was a hefty beast! Wasn’t unexpected though, with it being a solid piece of metal and all. The Aluminati with carbon fiber fretboard I have weighs in at 2.5 lbs. Pretty sure it’s the lightest aluminum neck on the market! I’m still waiting for the carbon fiber Ripper body that Aluminati is making for me to pair with my neck, should maybe have it by the end of the month (ordered it this past September)
They're doing a CF Ripper body? Heck yeah!
My Alef bass neck weighs in at 4lbs, and it's on an 8lb body, but it doesn't feel so heavy with a 4" strap
I seriously can't wait to see it. My body from Decibel is like... 8lbs, so hopefully yours is well under 5lbs being largely (or entirely) carbon fiber. Have they given you any progress pics?
Also, how's the new gig?! Breathing in any metal shavings yet? It's gotta be crazy being a part of the process.
