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Fender American Vintage '74 Jazz: Neck Question

soxhats

soxhats

Supporting Member
Jan 4, 2011
2,063
1,103
Raleigh, NC
#1
Doesn't seem that I'll find one of these basses around here to try myself, so I'll ask anyone out there who owns or has played one of these new basses: What's your opinion of the U-shaped neck?

I don't care for U-shaped necks that, despite the 1.5-inch width at the nut, still feel like half a baseball bat. A little fullness is fine, however. To give more perspective on my own preferences, I love the neck on my Road Worn Jazz, though I also adore the one on my 2009 American Standard Precision (1.625" at the nut). Even the rather fullish neck on my 2012 Ric works for me. I just don't like too much of a pronounced "U."

Thanks for any guidance. (And of course feel free to offer any other opinions about this bass.)
 
#5
I had a 74 and did not like the u neck (maple inlays). I like rosewood boards much better which is why i sold the bass, but really prefer the older 60's A necks, even the very early ones which were wider and flatter.
 
#11
The 74 RI necks a plenty beefy, nut width doesn't matter. There is much variance in the profiles of actual 70s basses, probably due to the poor quality control of the time (or at least lack of consistency). The '74 RI mimics the thickest necks of the era, and the production standard is much more consistent these days. So, you are looking at a pretty thick neck, a world apart from a Road Worn.
 
#14
My 2004 American Standard P has the same neck profile as the ’74 P I played for so long in the seventies, and it is a joy to play. It is NOT thick. It is a sort of ‘flattened’ U shape. My Jazz is more rounded with a narrower nut. I prefer the wider nut and flatter neck. YMMV.

Also……I took some 0000 steel wool to the neck recently, which GREATLY improved playability. A bassist friend of mine does this routinely. In fact, his preference is to take all the finish off, down to the wood. I have to admit, he’s right. I can’t bring myself to do something that drastic, but his necks have zero ‘sticky’ feel.
 
#16
soxhats said:
Interesting on the steel wool.
Click to expand...

There are plenty of threads here on that. After reading, you will be quite tempted. The super high gloss finish is removed now from my neck, but I'm pretty confident there will be no questions raised if I ever decide to sell the bass. It is as if the bass was born with a satin finish rather than a high gloss finish. Much more playable. I removed the neck to avoid getting iron dust into/onto the pickups. I also ran the steel wool over the frets, which made them shiny, and I lemon-oiled the fretboard. Glad I did it.
 
#17
Years ago, my great-uncle (whom was quite experienced as a luthier) shaved the neck down a smidge on one of my mid-70's J-Basses. And, I have to say, it turned out very, very well. Well enough to the point that he gave one of my other basses (J-Bass Special) the same treatment.
I love that flat "feel" on the back of any bass neck. I firmly believe that's why I prefer my Carvin LB75 neck, as opposed to the neck on my on my pre-Gib Tobias Classic 5'er. And, that's sayin' something!! Sorry Tobias fans..... BUT..... And, that's a b-i-g "but". I like the tone slightly better on the Tobias, as the electronics on the mid/late 90's Carvin Basses were considered "weak". IMHO, they're not what I would call weak, they're just a little short tonal "character", if that makes any sense. But, don't get me wrong now, I'd STILL put a Carvin up against ANY, and I do mean ANY BASS out there. She's a smoker, for sure.


TO THE OP: BTW, I think a chisel 'n file would be a more adequate tool for an ever so slight neck shave....... :hiding:

Happy Butchering!!
Steve
 
#18
Pet Sounds said:
It's a matter of preference. I have a real '74 with a very similar neck to th reissue at my local GC, so I can vouch for the authenticity of it, at least.
Click to expand...

Same here. The '74 AVRI that I played at the NAMM show this year felt almost identical to my real '74 (both maple/pearl blocks). I love these necks, they're so chunky for a jazz.
 

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