Thanks Geoff this is amazing info. Question- does that graphite laminate atop the truss rod run the entire length of the neck? I assume all layers are there to reinforce the neck and stiffen it?
Thanks again!
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G. Gould Club!
- Thread starter nick g.
- Start date
Thanks Geoff this is amazing info. Question- does that graphite laminate atop the truss rod run the entire length of the neck? I assume all layers are there to reinforce the neck and stiffen it?
Thanks again!
GeoffGould
Commercial User
The laminates run almost the entire length. There are a few of the earliest ones that run all the way, to the point of being visible at the heel.
I also had one of the early GGj5s with a wood neck and carbon fiber veneer on the headstock. Great bass but ultimately I didn't like the profile and carve of the neck which was similar to a jazz bass, rounded deeper back with tight spacing at the nut. I pretty much stopped playing it when I bought a cocobolo GGi5 and eventually sold it. The cocobolo bass was made in 2003 and also has a maple neck so there are definitely GGi5 basses that pre-date the all carbon fiber necks Geoff now uses. I love the neck on my GGi5. It is flatter in back and a lot wider than the neck was on my GGj5. I have a number of basses but the cocobolo GGi5 has my favorite neck. I tried out one of Geoff's basses with the all carbon fiber neck and unfortunately didn't care for the profile, too thin for me to play on comfortably but I can definitely see the appeal.
I don’t have any info on it - but it’s beautiful. As for the saddles - the alignment over the pickups and the spacing on the neck looks fairly good. The great thing about that bridge is how much you can adjust and then lock in. I’d probably mess with it to see if I could get the E string in a bit and adjust the rest as needed for spacing. Also, I didn’t see you in the list. Technically, you should be #31, but given your name, I’ll hold 31/32 and just say...
Welcome aboard #33- joeeg33!
GeoffGould
Commercial User
The top is roasted fiddleback maple.
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GeoffGould
Commercial User
Yes it’s a good price, but it’s not a new bass. This is a resale. It may be in mint condition, but it needs to be said.
I think it is kind of an average price used for a 4 string. Nothing of an OMG I have to have it at that price deal. Unless you have always wanted that one...
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GeoffGould
Commercial User
I dropped the seller a note, and the condition is now used instead of new.
The Godfather of Graphite bringing the hammer down 
I have a GGi5 and previously owned a Q5. The slightly flatter/wider neck on the Gould feels fine. It is very comfortable to play. As I recall, the Modulus was thicker but still felt and played great. I do prefer the GGi5 but the difference is slight in the way the necks feel compared to Modulus.
I agree, the G.Gould necks are sublime. Fastest and easiest playing ever. Over my Zons, Alembics, etc., only thing that comes close is my Status Stealth, mostly for the fret end finish.
I have both a GGi4 and a Q5, and I'm about half debating going full Gould because of how awesome the neck is on the GG. I agree, it's one of the absolute fastest and easiest necks I've ever played on. I strap that bass on and I don't want to stop playing. I also just sold a Flea Bass 4 string and there was a pretty massive difference in the overall neck feel. I was never completely comfortable with that one, which is why it was easier to let go.
I hate to pile on, but I agree with @fauxtoe @Chuck M and @hdfixer.
In 2009, I bought a Modulus Flea 4 (w/ truss rod) and thought I had gone to heaven, but when I bought a G. Gould 4-string, I saw the light. The G. Gould (passive P/J style) bass is way lighter and easier to play -- and the neck is a bit thinner and a bit flatter than the Modulus neck. The Gould is a dream to play.
As I've gotten older, however, I've started playing a 30" Mensinger short-scale... Great bass, but I miss the graphite! Dear @GeoffGould -- would you consider making a 30" or 32" scale bass?
In 2009, I bought a Modulus Flea 4 (w/ truss rod) and thought I had gone to heaven, but when I bought a G. Gould 4-string, I saw the light. The G. Gould (passive P/J style) bass is way lighter and easier to play -- and the neck is a bit thinner and a bit flatter than the Modulus neck. The Gould is a dream to play.
As I've gotten older, however, I've started playing a 30" Mensinger short-scale... Great bass, but I miss the graphite! Dear @GeoffGould -- would you consider making a 30" or 32" scale bass?
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keep in mind also that the necks on the q5 and f.u. 5 are 2.75" at the 24th fret (17mm spacing at the bridge) and the ggi5 is 3" at the 24th fret (18mm spacing). so that's also something to consider. fyi.
Yeah, that's something that I'd be a little bit concerned about, but not overly. I've been really used to the 17mm spacing and 2.75" necks on my 5 strings (I have an FB5 as well). It's not that I can't play a wider neck, it's just that I find the Modulus specs to be about right. I know for sure that I can't do 19mm on a 5 string and 18mm is about my limit so long as the neck is comfortable. Geoff's website has the string spacing as 17.5mm, but I think he's said before it's more like 18mm-ish.
thought i'd bring it up if others are familiar with wider spacing at the bridge (17.5 up to 19mm).
the 'narrower' width of the modulus necks might have your 'b' and 'g' strings slipping off the fretboard.
i preferred 18mm for decades; hence my aversion for modulus necks due to aggressive play on the 'g' string and having it slip off the fretboard in not-so-ideal situations (nothing like having an eye or two glance your way when you hear a 'thwank' as the 'g' string gets pulled off the fretboard...).
now that i've also gotten along in years, my spacing preference is 17.5mm and geoff's necks (3") are darn perfect for me. customer for life...
songwriter21
I have an obsession for wood. The musical kind.
Mods have a "bulkier" U-shaped profile, whereas Goulds seem to have more of a C-shaped neck.
I think that’s right, but keep in mind that the bridge on the GGi5 is laterally adjustable. So you can make it bit narrower or wider if you want.
When switching back and forth from a 4 string p bass to a 5, I found the string spacing mattered more than the overall fingerboard width. So the slightly wider spacing on the GGi5 was more comfortable than any narrower necked basses with correspondingly narrower spacing. Though it does help that the neck profile is pretty flat...
