Just out of curiosity, what gauge of strings do you use, and what is the climate like where you live? A couple out of four means that you have at least a 50% fail rate with jazz bass necks, which is intriguing. I wonder what outside factors may be at play.
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Are jazz bass necks too small?
- Thread starter Mantis Tobaggan
- Start date
On those basses, the 1972 Jazz Bass was wearing XL 220 - 40-95, the '03 AV '62 Jazz Bass was wearing TI Jazz Flats.
Typical midwestern NEOhio weather.
Typical midwestern NEOhio weather.
For me, that's where it starts... 42-45mm.
Between the two of us we could share all the basses in the world and not fight about it
A good tech (good) can adjust any neck. They can adjust the neck whereby the rod can be considerably easier to turn to create a straighter neck. As far as a jazz being thinner, for some reason its easy to get use to any neck once you start playing it for a few hours. I have a American Pro Jazz and that neck is slim yet it feels comfortable with time. I also have a American pro P bass and the same goes with that bass.
Can't wait to get my Pro J (it's on the way). I remember liking the neck, I remember it felt better than the Fender Road Worn or Flea Jazz series. Slim, but comfy. I'm alright with both J and P necks though (and ray necks). I'm curious how I'll dig the narrow tall frets. Hope I can set the action well.
Indeed... personal preference, although I am not sure it relates to hand size. It may be so for some but definitely not all. I'm not a big guy, but I somehow find the wider necks more comfortable, and I can play Jazz necks but I avoid them. However, it was not always so: when I started out, I preferred Jazz bass necks because they were slimmer.
I think that as I got used to the wider stretches (I was playing guitar for years before I touched a bass) I developed a preference for the chunkier necks.
Yet countless other slim neck instruments are ok...
Whatever is wrong with yours is just about your own particular instrument. However... I'm still unconvinced there's anything wrong. I honestly think the whole thing needs set up properly, which may or not involve a little shim in the neck pocket...
Ask your buddy to get a second opinion from a reputable luthier... he may be pleasantly surprised (there are ways to bring a truss rod that appears ineffectual back to life... it's a pretty simple mechanism, but like with most things, it does require a little expertise to troubleshoot it properly)
I did - I asked my tech about it and he said that he could get more life out of it through one of various techniques (with the price varying accordingly, depending on what was necessary). I told my buddy and gave him my tech’s phone number, and hopefully he remembers when the time comes for the next adjustment (he’s not exactly on top of these types of things - could literally be years before it gets so bad that he feels he has to do something. But, he was the one who asked me to ask my tech for him, so hopefully he keeps it in mind)
I owned an American Pro Jazz for a brief time, and I found that the neck was not as comfortable for me as necks that are bigger around.
My fingers are double-jointed, and can bend backwards pretty easily. I find that with a thin neck, the fingers on my left hand feel kind of “spidery” and unsupported. They feel more prone to getting worn out or strained. (It’s possible that I just have poor technique.)
I traded the American Pro Jazz for a Stingray, and the Stingray neck feels just about right for me. I feel like my fingers get more support with the wider, deeper neck.
I also own a 2006 American Standard Jazz. Its neck is a little deeper than the ones for the current American Pros, and I find the deeper neck more comfortable, even though it is probably the exact same width.
My fingers are double-jointed, and can bend backwards pretty easily. I find that with a thin neck, the fingers on my left hand feel kind of “spidery” and unsupported. They feel more prone to getting worn out or strained. (It’s possible that I just have poor technique.)
I traded the American Pro Jazz for a Stingray, and the Stingray neck feels just about right for me. I feel like my fingers get more support with the wider, deeper neck.
I also own a 2006 American Standard Jazz. Its neck is a little deeper than the ones for the current American Pros, and I find the deeper neck more comfortable, even though it is probably the exact same width.
Sounds like the bass needs to be looked at by a good tech. Otherwise FWIW neck shapes I believe are very much down to personal preferences. I like my hand 'filled' so I'm more in p bass / stingray territory.
TOO SMALL, no.
Smaee Than a standard 40mm nut pbass? Yes.
Your frets may be medium as well, I know my pbass has large frets, my p/J has medium /I wanted specifically, and the slightly slimmer neck)
. It's also lily if your pbass is older, it's the "old" C shape, vs the "modern" c shape, which is flatter...
PERSONALLY, I think *my* particular neck, which is a typical jbass size) is really fast and I love it.
.dus to the strings being SLIGHTLY closer together, and the frets being either jumbo or large, to now medium, and my lack of skills, I HAD JUST relearned my dang fret layout, and having to make my fingers stop going to d# instead of d on E string IE if I'm not paying attention (I'm still very knew after a nearly 2o year hiatus, and I (can I say opposite of blew?) wasn't very good, as I rarely practiced. But I find my jazz neck with medium frets a MUCH better fit for me, and much more comfortable .
But I also drove 3 hrs round trip, spent 2 hours in 1 shop, and hour in another going back and forth (even between almost identical basses) to find thethe one that FELT the best (as a n00b all over again, and my ancient beast having been a pawn store buy, this wasn't a luxeryy I had)
On a whim I decided I NEEDED a new bass, walked intointo podunk store, had a choice of 2 China squires. Picked the jbass, as old is a pbass. No one bothered to explain the pbass was a j/p and so I'd get both sounds)! (in a week I went from 4 strings and tuners, a vukume knob, and extra knob, and jack, to making a nut, adjusting every little thing possible, changing action on nephews acoustic, knowing what to get in a new bass after took POS squire back, it just.... Felt WRONG, Due to setup sound want even a factor there) I'm on obsessive researcher I now have MY perfect bass at my price point, with every goodie I need for now.
If ya just it bought it retail w/in 30 days, take it back. Try every dang model at your price point.
But jazz necks ARE fast necka
Oh, and mine is a 220 bass. It's known for never needing the truss adjusted, as the neck is made so well. Look for the RIGHT woods, and check alignments. Don't be afraid to ask for a key to see how tight store has it set up (or as for a tech to show you how tight it is. Usually they know which brands/models have more bowing issues. An keep in mind, it's summer. Humidity can mess with your neck, depending on how it's sealed.
Like I can't play my A/E right now, b/c won't stay in tune. So I set it aside until it dries up.
. I have as heavy strings as my bass can handle, w/o changing out stuff. (weird nut size, already broke one cause I'm an idiot) which I my know off hand E is 1.15.
Ive seen others use heavier.
No neck issues. This is a Yamaha trbx174 I think
Read reviews, they'll tell ya if it's got a good neck.
P OR J bass.
. Both have models with issues. My P Baz needs a new neck it's so messed up!
Like I can't play my A/E right now, b/c won't stay in tune. So I set it aside until it dries up.
. I have as heavy strings as my bass can handle, w/o changing out stuff. (weird nut size, already broke one cause I'm an idiot) which I my know off hand E is 1.15.
Ive seen others use heavier.
No neck issues. This is a Yamaha trbx174 I think
Read reviews, they'll tell ya if it's got a good neck.
P OR J bass.
. Both have models with issues. My P Baz needs a new neck it's so messed up!
I think too small is incorrect. Smaller, yes. Jazz necks are usually smaller/narrower than p necks. I think it's just what you're used to will work out best.
The answer to that question lies within yourself. There is no Pat answer for everyone because everyone feels the neck differently and plays differently. So I would say, if you're comfortable with it then it's great, and if not, then maybe you should find another neck.
Having played and studied both DB and electric bass, proper technique is a must, especially if you have small hands (which I do).
To be able to play a huge neck, your left hand must maintain the "C" shape, with your thumb anchored in the middle of the neck. That "C" shape is a very relaxed state and a natural shape for the human hand.
When I play small bass necks, like a Jazz or Ibanez, I have to collapse my left hand beyond my normal resting state which adds stress. It feels fatiguing to me. If I played with a different technique, with my thumb hanging over the top of the neck or wearing the bass by knees, maybe it might feel more comfortable, I don't know.
I have that proper technique thing drilled in and find beefier necks faster and more comfortable.
Obviously, a different opinion than many bass players but worthy of consideration.
To be able to play a huge neck, your left hand must maintain the "C" shape, with your thumb anchored in the middle of the neck. That "C" shape is a very relaxed state and a natural shape for the human hand.
When I play small bass necks, like a Jazz or Ibanez, I have to collapse my left hand beyond my normal resting state which adds stress. It feels fatiguing to me. If I played with a different technique, with my thumb hanging over the top of the neck or wearing the bass by knees, maybe it might feel more comfortable, I don't know.
I have that proper technique thing drilled in and find beefier necks faster and more comfortable.
Obviously, a different opinion than many bass players but worthy of consideration.
I own a 66 jazz a pj mustang and just recently bought a Birdsong designed tbass with a 1.75 neck. Am also a professional upright (symphony and jazz) player and have no problem with the p size neck. However the tbass contour is very thin and makes navigation easy. That being said, the technique for playing upright and electric basses is quite different so a comparison of electrical and acoustic necks may not be valid. Personally the difference between 1.5 and 1.75 is negligible for me. The only potential problem I can see is the thickness of the neck, the diameter could interfere with hand facility on a wider fingerboard
