Best thin neck electric bass?

[HardNHeavy]

piccolo bass.

 

[badinage]

Try some Ibanez SRs for sure. I've had several, the only one I have currently is a 1806e.

They feel really great if you like a shallow neck profile (I generally do). They are also consistently well made and very stable. The only thing I'll add to the "Yay for Ibanez SR" contingent here is my probably-not-very-popular opinion that while going up in series/price in the SR line may bring you a paint-job/finish you like better, it may not necessarily bring you pickups/electronics that you LIKE better, as in: being able to get a sound you want out of it without modification. So don't be be scared of lower-numbered series if you plug it up and like it. Sometimes I think the SR tone-usability "out of the box" seems to be inverse to the price.

 

[jimmydean]

Look no further than Marleaux basses .....the best necks I have ever touched .

 

[Kipp Harrington]

I'm with the Ibby SR series group. I have really small hands and short fingers and when I played a couple of the SR series basses, I didn't like the necks because they were just too thin and narrow for me. That should tell ya something.

 

[jk_bass]

like lots have said...Ibanez SR, it's also very easy to try, most music stores have them.

 

[jdh3000]

Another vote for the Ibanez SR series.

 

[Lowendchamp]

While I do not disagree with the Ibanez votes here I do feel my input is warranted here as another small handed bassist( same size as my wife). If you can afford it I highly recommend the Fender American Performer Jazz bass. I'm a P guy but this Jazz checked all the boxes for me as well as a smooth non glossy neck finish.

 

[Drummerboy2]

I am a small handed person, but decent at bass guitar.
I want to get an electric bass that has a smaller width on the fret board, a matte neck, and a thinner neck thickness as well.

I used to own a Schecter Stiletto, and I liked it, but I didn’t get one with a matte neck finish so I ended up sanding off the resin coat on my neck and putting a seal and matte finish on it. Alas, even the neck on that was a little too thick.

So, does anyone know where I might get my hands on one like this without having to fix a neck up myself or getting a custom?

I want it to sound decent, and don’t want to sacrifice quality. I just want to be able to play it properly.

My new Sterling Ray4 is the best I have played for small hands, the next best is my Fender jazz. The Ray4 really surprised me when I first picked it up and tried it out, very comfortable and I totally forget about it when playing (if that makes any sense). So this is the one of the reasons right now I always reach for my Ray4 first.

 

[Gilmourisgod]

It’s true about the SR finishes, particularly that god awful “brown mahogany” finish they used on the Sr500, which is otherwise a superb bass. They are more or less mandatory refin projects, so sometimes can be picked up cheap. The increase in quality roughly follows the numbering system, a 400 series being a little better than a 300 for instance, but above 1000 they have bewildering array of options.

 

[BOOG]

I am a small handed person, but decent at bass guitar.
I want to get an electric bass that has a smaller width on the fret board, a matte neck, and a thinner neck thickness as well.

I used to own a Schecter Stiletto, and I liked it, but I didn’t get one with a matte neck finish so I ended up sanding off the resin coat on my neck and putting a seal and matte finish on it. Alas, even the neck on that was a little too thick.

So, does anyone know where I might get my hands on one like this without having to fix a neck up myself or getting a custom?

I want it to sound decent, and don’t want to sacrifice quality. I just want to be able to play it properly.

With a four string I’m not picky at all but with a five string I figured out that I really like a thinner (front to back thickness) neck. After owning a Schector Stage 5 and not getting on well with the neck thickness or string spacing I sold it and kind of gave up on five strings for a couple of years.
At some point I got an itch again and tried the ESP-LTD AP-5. I absolutely love that bass!
My suggestion would be to try the AP-4 (or AP-5 if that’s what you want) model because I’m willing to bet that it’s proportionally the same.
Another plus about that bass is that ergonomically, it feels slightly compact even though it’s a full scale.
Let us know what you decide.

Don’t write off the Aerodyne either.

 

[Zooberwerx]

Another for Ibanez. I've had both Schecter and Ibby SR 5ers, big difference.
Fwiw the Warwick Streamer standards have a thinner neck(5 string anyway), a tad larger than Ibanez.

Good comparison. My 5 string SDGR 1405 (2012 / 3 piece wenge / purpleheart) smacks strongly of the Streamer ProM and LX 4's from the late 90's.

Riis

 

[39-Bassist]

MIJ Geddy Lee is right up there with the slimmest of them too.

 

[Ryno1330]

If you like jazz basses, the Fender Flea model jazz has an one of the thinnest necks I've ever played.

 

[Doctor Intrepid]

A Hofner HCT.

 

[marchone]

Spector Wimbish. USA or Euro.

 

[J-Bass RMR]

Fender Flea Jazz.
Thinnest Jazz neck (front to back) I own and have ever played.
(I have not played a MIJ Geddy, thought I have the US, and the US Geddy is NOT what you want.)

If you already have a Fender bass... For Sale - 2021 Fender Flea, Jazz Bass Neck, Loaded / Unused

 

[dkelley]

Ibanez SR series.

And for those who want to get a smooth matte finish from a sticky gloss neck, just use 000 or even 0000 steel wool. No need to refinish, and it'll be slick and smooth and fast in minutes. I use painter's tape to mask off transition point to the back of the headstock, and also to protect the body joint area.

yep. This is why I came into this thread to post also.

SR are amazing.

 

[M.R. Ogle]

Yep. Ibanez SR series. I put Ibanez SR necks on two different builds, The MOST comfy without paying boutique prices.

 

[B-Mac]

I am a small handed person, but decent at bass guitar.
I want to get an electric bass that has a smaller width on the fret board, a matte neck, and a thinner neck thickness as well.

I used to own a Schecter Stiletto, and I liked it, but I didn’t get one with a matte neck finish so I ended up sanding off the resin coat on my neck and putting a seal and matte finish on it. Alas, even the neck on that was a little too thick.

So, does anyone know where I might get my hands on one like this without having to fix a neck up myself or getting a custom?

I want it to sound decent, and don’t want to sacrifice quality. I just want to be able to play it properly.

I'm sure I'm gonna take a lot of heat for this, but a Dean Edge 09 or Dean Edge 1 from the 2000's are going to be the thinnest and narrowest necks with a satin back that you'll find. Both passive and very inexpensive and modifiable too.

testament to Dean Edge 09

 

[CaseyVancouver]

Welcome to Talkbass!

I recommend regular or long scale basses until you really know what you like.

Ibanez sr805am has great quality and a thin neck.

Alembic Essence has a thin neck, beautiful build quality and not crazy expensive used.

You may find happiness with either.

My Alembic is pictured.