Bound necks-yay or nay?

[5StringBlues]

Explain - bound neck.

blocks and binding

binding and dots

 

[Rogatien]

Hell yes.

 

[Derry Murbles]

It sure as hell does. Go Play a Gibson SG with a bound neck and then an Epiphone SG without the binding and tell me which is more comfortable. Same radius, same neck profiles, same fret sizes...Ive owned both, its a night and day difference.

Are the dimensions of the edge of the necks/FBs exactly the same between the two? I’m betting not.

If the binding changes the geometry of the aforementioned spec(s), of course it could be more comfortable. But if the dimensions are exactly the same (which seems to be what you’re suggesting- but I could be misinterpreting), then binding isn’t going to make it more comfortable.

Also, is it really a surprise that a $2k guitar is more comfy to play than one that’s a quarter of the price?

 

[Valsmere]

My 71 jazz is bound and I love it I guess to me it looks completed. If that makes sense. However my 2010 American Special is not bound I love it just the same. I guess I’m just weird

 

[walking Bass]

None of my basses and only my Gibson SG guitar has a bound neck. Never made a difference.

 

[bluesblaster]

Never saw the point, its like having those fake shutters on your house. Blocks are big and gaudy looking, I actually prefer nothing at all on fretboard except the frets and top markers ( little itty bitty dots)

 

[Bassosaurus]

...is it really a surprise that a $2k guitar is more comfy to play than one that’s a quarter of the price?

That's my thought. The feel of those two guitars has probably nothing to do with the binding. I've had guitars/basses with both, most without. I've never noticed playability difference one way or the other, though some look better with binding and some (most) without. YMMV

 

[cnltb]

Bound necks-yay or nay?
To me, bindings don't make a bass a better instrument, so: Nay.

 

[Groove Doctor]

I don’t register they are different to play.

I couldn’t even tell you how many of my 13 basses have bound necks. Maybe 2 of them?

 

[Ric5]

Binding protects your hand from protruding frets

 

[fretlessguy]

I like the looks of bound necks, but really, if it sounds good and looks good, it is not a priority one way or another.

 

[walking Bass]

Binding protects your hand from protruding frets

None of my basses - Gibson, Fender, Rob Allen or Sadowsky have protruding frets, nor do any of my guitars.

 

[micguy]

Heck no. Every piece of wood fiber you can get on a neck makes it stiffer and more stable, and the fibers on the periphery do the most good. No bindings or inlays on any of my necks.

 

[JTE]

Blocks and binding on a Fender-ish neck remind me of the absolute nadir of being a Fender dealer.

 

[Koog]

Cosmetic in my opinion, so depends on what one likes.

Getting "your look" and feel might just make you inspired enough to make your fingers work some extra magic despite all the opinion about stiffness, don't want anything extra besides wood, etc....etc....and all the debate back and forth.

We're all different. Me, I like necks fretless, naked, and plain, but that's just me....and it is what inspires me.

 

[Resonance129]

Definite yes for me. I love bound necks.

 

[MMiller28]

I thought I liked them until I actually played the Fender Elite Jazz. The black on maple is okay, the white on rosewood is enough to prevent me from buying the bass.

 

[dan1952]

I had a 74 Jazz bass with bound neck and pearl blocks that I should have kept.

 

[BigBigGuy44]

I love the look of binding, especially with blocks but prefer the feel of nicely worn rolled edges.

 

[Stevorebob]

Binding protects your hand from protruding frets

Well, binding does, indeed, protect the hand from a protruding fret tange, but not always from the fret end. In both cases, simple maintenance is all that’s needed.