As a metal guitar material 6061 aluminum is the sweet spot for durability, overall cost & machinability. I too would love to hear and play on a titanium bass guitar but there is no way for that sort of instrument to be produced in a cost or time efficient manner. When I worked at EGC we started to use 7075 aluminum as our metal of choice, but all of the programs had to be revised with the slightly harder aluminum needing to be cut at slower speeds with more passes to achieve the same results. It’s an art unto itself lol. Thinking about machining a titanium neck radius is making me sweat. Like I said though, I too would love to see it.I'm waiting for when the AI-driven metallurgy physics pros come up with some new ultra-light aluminum alloy. (much lighter than 6061-T6 but just as stiff).
In theory, someone could build a hollow, thin-walled TITANIUM neck with some kind of internal trusses to make it stiffer... I'd be onboard with that
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Aluminum Neck Club
- Thread starter oZZma
- Start date
For those interested, Allparts is selling some affordable bodies in some cool colors under the name Primo. Most bass bodies are $235 and made from Alder. When I talked to them, they said the average weight of the P bodies was about 4.5lbs. I had them send me the heaviest forest green body which came in at 4lbs 14oz. My Baguley and Aluminati neck bolted up perfectly, but my EGC neck bolt were off by about 1/4". I bought the neck new from EGC on Reverb as an "extra" that they had, so I'm assuming it wasn't drilled for FMIC pockets? Anyway, here's the forrest green body with the Baguley neck, one with the Schaller roller bridge, and one with a Jackson high mass bridge. The Schaller is 1.2 ounces lighter, and I get a tiny bit of neck dive with it, whereas the Jackson feels perfectly balanced. Schocking how about an ounce makes a noticeable difference
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I'm waiting for when the AI-driven metallurgy physics pros come up with some new ultra-light aluminum alloy. (much lighter than 6061-T6 but just as stiff).
In theory, someone could build a hollow, thin-walled TITANIUM neck with some kind of internal trusses to make it stiffer... I'd be onboard with that
It’s not titanium but the Obstructures Model 34 actually has a semi-hollow neck with a bolt-on fretboard. Here are some pictures where you can see the construction detail, which is pretty divisive aesthetically but I think quite clever. Id love to know in particular how thick the neck walls need to be to withstand the string deflection.
Model 34 bass guitar | European Product Design Award
www.productdesignaward.eu
They’ve evidently revamped that design somewhat and a new run of them is available this year. I am interested but $5850 is a bit rich for me
I've been on the waiting list for these for a long time but at almost $6k I don't think I can do it.They’ve evidently revamped that design somewhat and a new run of them is available this year. I am interested but $5850 is a bit rich for me
I’m snagging one. Because YOLO hahahaha and also I’ve been missing that prototype something fierce. The meanest sounding bass I’ve ever played. Can’t wait to have one again.
I think they’re saying less than 14 lbs as an overshoot, if that makes sense. The 2017 prototype I had weighed close to, if not 14 lbs and these new models weigh less than that for sure.
The latest, newer prototype I played on a few months ago had some heft to it but it felt more reasonable, not unlike a heavy 70s era Jazz bass.
Speaking of heavy Jazz basses, I’ve been putzing around with various bolt-on builds recently. Just put this one together the other day, it sounds snazzy. These Aluminati necks are so resonant and comfortable.
Letting the club know I have a 2025 Decibel Gripper III for sale in the classified.
Take a gander. Think is crazy, just have two Sereks being built and became a Music Man Fanboy recently. I’m sick with it. Down bad.
Thanks
Take a gander. Think is crazy, just have two Sereks being built and became a Music Man Fanboy recently. I’m sick with it. Down bad.
For sale 2025 Decibel Gripper III Custom
IL/WI
- Saetia (+44 /0 /-0)
- Updated
- Views: 667
- Reaction score: 8
- Comments: 14
- Category: For Sale: Bass Guitars
$2,000.00
$1,800.00
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Thanks
Been a while since I posted here! My Robot Graves neck arrived last week and I put it on! Feels really nice to play!
I’ve got my Aluminati bass neck up for grabs in the Classifieds here- $750 shipped! Crazy deal but I’m just trying to move it lol.
Super thin and fast! It's a 12" radius with a really thin D shape, which I really love!
Y’all. This sweet 1978 TB2000 now belongs to me. I didn’t know how much I needed a metal neck w/ a 1.5” nut width til I tried this one.
The bridge pickup’s getting sorted out but it still kicks as-is. Can’t believe how lucky I am to have this.
The bridge pickup’s getting sorted out but it still kicks as-is. Can’t believe how lucky I am to have this.
Hell yeah, that looks great! If you need help with that pickup, call my friend Rusty at Rockhaus guitars in Milwaukee. He repairs and rewinds pickups and I believe he used to make pickups for EGC.
Sick dude, thanks for the recommendation. I used to make pickups for EGC too (small world!)
I’ll hit him up for sure.
Had to repair a non-structural small body crack in my newly acquired Bean. Pulling the neck out of the body was way harder than it should have been. I cleaned up the excess paint on the inner body channel and neck receiver before putting it all back together. Pretty sure this is what caused the crack to begin with, but it was an easy fix and a relaxing afternoon, so no complaints.
And for the main event- I moved the functional neck pickup down to the bridge position. Sounds like a proper Bean now. Unbelievably powerful.
Also, my cat loves it- which is really all that matters tbh.
And for the main event- I moved the functional neck pickup down to the bridge position. Sounds like a proper Bean now. Unbelievably powerful.
Also, my cat loves it- which is really all that matters tbh.
Passinwind
I know nothing.
- Dec 3, 2003
- 23,079
- 46,042
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- Designer/Toaster Tech @ Passinwind Electronics
Nice, my Bean was originally white too. Did it come with a non working second pickup?
This one was refinished recently. I think it originally had a natural finish and there’s evidence of black Imron paint on the inner parts of the neck, which means the neck was painted and stripped at some point. Lots of unknown history with this one!
And it did come with what remains of its original bridge pickup, and also a very broken Aero replacement that had been installed. I’m talking to a guy up in Pennsylvania who says he can build me a replica set w/ the proper bottom bobbin steel plates included. We shall see! In the meantime I’m very happy with how this sounds and feels now.
I adore that bass and kinda jelly. So happy you were able to get it patched up satisfactory.
