Double Bass Considering thinning out the neck on my bass

[GuyMcee]

Yes? No?

I've played on a thinner neck before and I thought it felt more comfortable.

 

[Jeff Bonny]

Playing a log is no fun but I wouldn't go to a luthier just with a vague idea of just "thinner". I'd try to find a bass whose neck profile I really liked and take good measurements of it.

How long have you had this bass?

 

[JoeyNaeger]

There is no reason to not have the neck evaluated by a luthier. A poorly shaped neck can really ruin a bass. There are several things that could affect how a neck plays including thickness, width, profile, and evenness of execution.

 

[Ed Fuqua]

When I started out I liked a thinner/smaller neck profile, because it felt more like a bass guitar, with which I had more experience. However, the more I played DB, I came to the realization that the thin Kay neck was actually less "comfortable" when trying to keep my left hand in a natural C shape. When I had the chance on my current bass, I had a new, thicker fingerboard put on, so that the neck ended up with a nice fat profile. My speculation is that adding that much more mass to the neck gives the string a more stable platform which results in more vibration being transmitted to the bridge and then to the top.

 

[arnoldschnitzer]

What Joey and Ed said ++

 

[drurb]

One way a thin neck adds to fatigue can be understood by the following demonstration. Hold your left hand in the air and form the "claw" with your fingers separated by what would be a whole step in the lower positions. Now, fold your hand down smaller and smaller while trying to maintain that finger spacing. It becomes more and more difficult until it reaches a point where it simply can't be done.

Before you actually do anything, I'd follow the advice above and have it evaluated by a luthier in terms of your own needs.

 

[awp]

What a fantastic illustration of why to consider a thicker neck!!!