Graphite Neck on a P bass

The idea is they're less susceptible to weather related changes and are generally more stable right? I'm pretty sure that's it. They look cool. They're expensive. I had a Status neck on a jazz body. It was fine.

 

The tone will be a little different. It’s also worth mentioning that the feel is going to be different. Obviously wood is much softer. You may notice the difference. I have a Status on one of my Stingrays. Great neck. Different tone. Different feel.

 

Stay in tune longer because of less movement with temp and humidity, stability. No disadvantages I see (I own 3 CF instruments) and definitely worth the money especially if it's a Status neck.

 

i wouldn't expect much tonal difference. if your wood neck is straight, and suits your hands, don't bother.
that being said, i have a P with a Modulus neck. it's an old one, around 1980. very slim, with a rosewood
board, which is rare. it stays in tune all night long, and for that reason i have ordered a
hipshot drop tuner for it lol.
this bass has a Duncan PB1 vintage, which i really like. its me only fretted PBass

 

A bit like putting forged magnesium wheels with racing slicks on an old jalopy, it will be a significant upgrade to one specific part of the machine. The question remains whether or not the shortcomings of the rest of it will mean it's a waste of a good neck or not.

 

Status Graphite necks are not available now and they are not taking orders till further notice.

 

Not, CF is a lot more rigid than maple, roasted or not.

 

With the caveat that I've not played a P with a graphite neck, all the graphite necked basses I've played seem to have a snappier tone than maple. This may or may not be a good thing. The stability is definitely a good thing, although TBH none of my basses have any stability issues apart from seasonal changes

 

I have two basses with status necks. A Stingray and a Jazz bass. The above statements are all spot on. I will add that they do change to tone. For me the change was a good thing. I would describe the change as making them sound more even, and high tech sounding. I am not a guy who goes looking for dead spots or even notices them on a bass, but the Status necks seem to make them disappear. All the notes low to high ring out true, accurate, and even.

They are spendy but when you see and feel one up close they are beautifully made.

 

Not really. The moisture content on instrument grade wood is pretty low and the differences in final weight nominal at best.

If you have evidence of this in terms of improved elastic modulus, I'd like to see it. Meant as to learn, not as a challenge. I've just not seen it.

That seems to be the case.
It's also more brittle too according to those who use it.

 

i have one bass with a carbon neck. it is the only bass of mine with no dead spots. to bad somebody like warmoth does not offer carbon necks.

 

Graphite has a higher coefficient of thermal expansion than wood - it moves more with temperature. But steel moves more than wood or graphite, which makes graphite a little better matched to the expansion of your strings (but not much).

 

In which specific layups? They can vary an enormous amount between them and the types of resins used etc. None of my CF instruments move anywhere near as much as my wooden ones in the same conditions.

 

There is a range - about 2:1 from the data, but wood moves less along the grain length than that range. Humidity is what moves wood, temperature is less of an issue.

A roasted neck (torrefaction helps considerably with the movement from humidity changes) may move less overall than graphite; I don’t know where to find that data. Graphite fibers are “highly roasted” - carbon molecular chains are part of what makes wood stiff along its grain. Wood is a bunch of organic (containing a lot of carbon) fibers glued together with lignin as the glue, graphite composite uses epoxy or polyester resin to glue the fibers together. The two materials are more alike than you might think. Wood has all its fibers oriented in the right direction, which is something you don’t get with woven graphite.

 

If the fingerboard is also graphite you shouldn't have to worry about fret sprout; one of my pet peeves.

I love the stability of a graphite neck. Although I am skeptical it would change the tone. I wish there were more people making them.