Graphite necks

[Venturella]

I have few questions about basses with graphite necks like modulus or status graphite.

1. Does graphite neck have a truss rod? or does the neck bend or need adjustments?
2. Does it sound different than a bass with wood neck?
3. Does it feel different?
4. Is bass with a graphite neck heavier than a bass with a wood neck?

 

[supersonik]

I have few questions about basses with graphite necks like modulus or status graphite.

1. Does graphite neck have a truss rod? or does the neck bend or need adjustments?
2. Does it sound different than a bass with wood neck?
3. Does it feel different?
4. Is bass with a graphite neck heavier than a bass with a wood neck?

1-3=yes
4=not necceceraly

 

[Be_eM]

1-3=yes

Not necessarily

 

[supersonik]

Not necessarily

Jesus, sorry, my oh my. Some words are hard to remember and I'm too lazy to google it all the time hehehe

 

[Venturella]

1-3=yes
4=not necceceraly

how does it sound and feel different? Does it sound more aggressive and have like a "metal" bass tone? and how does the neck feel?

 

[Be_eM]

Jesus, sorry, my oh my. Some words are hard to remember and I'm too lazy to google it all the time hehehe

Nope, this was a serious reply to your statement about "1-3". If "graphite" is a generic term for any carbon/composite necks, the answer is not correct. All Steinberger USA necks 1980-1998 don't have a truss rod or need adjustment. They may sound different to some wooden necks, but similar to other wooden necks, and just have less of a dead spot problem. Same with the feeling, they may feel different, but don't have to.

 

[supersonik]

Nope, this was a serious reply to your statement about "1-3". If "graphite" is a generic term for any carbon/composite necks, the answer is not correct. All Steinberger USA necks 1980-1998 don't have a truss rod or need adjustment. They may sound different to some wooden necks, but similar to other wooden necks, and just have less of a dead spot problem. Same with the feeling, they may feel different, but don't have to.

True, I should be more specific:
Status replacement necks and nt necks have trussrod. All graphite necks to me have different feel than wood /i tried status, modulus, moses/. a bit sticky \I'm used to raw or satin finished wood necks\. And to me they sound different not only clearer. Just to make it clear, I love both wood and graphite.

 

[audionut36]

I have few questions about basses with graphite necks like modulus or status graphite.

1. Does graphite neck have a truss rod? or does the neck bend or need adjustments?
2. Does it sound different than a bass with wood neck?
3. Does it feel different?
4. Is bass with a graphite neck heavier than a bass with a wood neck?

1. Depends. Older Modulus necks do not. I have adjusted graphite necks with truss rods, but only to suit my playing style. It's pretty much set it and forget it.
2. They may sound different in some instances, just like different wood necks may sound different.
3. I prefer necks with a satin finish, whether wood or graphite. As long as it has a satin finish, I can't tell the difference.
4. Typically the same or lighter.

 

[supersonik]

how does it sound and feel different? Does it sound more aggressive and have like a "metal" bass tone? and how does the neck feel?

It is hard to put sound in to words an it is all personal but graphite neck is a bit clanky sounding and more direct sounding, cleaner, clearer, some would describe it as sterile but as I said its personal and subjective. I love both wood and graphite soundwise but for feel I prefer wood. I'm thinking about puting together warmoth-status bass but for traditional format bass i would stay off graphite as material.

 

[warrplayer]

Graphite necked basses that have a truss rod normally have one so that you can adjust the relief to your preference.
Carbon graphite is structurally very similiar to wood but denser. It will not absorb or lose moisture. It typically transmits a wider range of frequencies more evenly than a piece of wood. This gives it its sound which seems to strike people as either very even or very sterile.
It usually seems cooler to the touch than wood.

 

[Dave W]

1. It can, and yes
2. Yes
3. Yes
4. It can

 

[bassbenj]

1. It can, and yes
2. Yes
3. Yes
4. It can

1. I have two modulus basses. An old one that has no truss rod and never needs adjustment and a Q6 that has a rod and also never needs adjustment once you set your preference.

2. They do sound different because they do not vibrate like wood necks because they are stiffer. This pretty much tends to eliminate all the usual dead spots and generally makes for killer B strings.

3. And yes the feel quite different. They have a "cold hard" feel very unlike wood necks. Personally I LIKE that graphite neck feel, but many players really hate it. Try before you buy.

4. Weight sort of depends on neck design. Solid strong no truss rod necks tend to be heavier. Hollow thin flexible necks with truss rod adjustments tend to be lighter.

Personally I love graphite necks and if they weren't so expensive I'd put them on all my basses. But I do love my Modulus. I have some quite stable wood necks but nothing beats the stability of Graphite.

 

[elgecko]

1. Depends on who made it and when it was made

2. Yes. It will have more overtones and sound less "choked". It will also magnify sloppy technique.

3. It depends on what finish, if any, was applied.

4. It depends on what wood you're comparing it to.

 

[Gilmourisgod]

I have an 86' Steinberger XP 2, which was wood body/bolt on graphite composite neck. The back neck surface is something like black gel coat, they were laid up in molds like a Fiberglas boat hull. The finish is sort of a semi-gloss I find very comfortable , not sticky at all. It has no perceptible dead spouts, never gets fret sprout, and doesn't change perceptibly due to temp or humidity, which makes it a nearly perfect neck IMO. No trussrod, but it seems to have been cast with a slight relief that works out to a nice low action. The sound is tight and "crisp" somehow, and really consistent across the neck. I think the Status necks that expose the carbon fiber weave are quite beautiful in addition to being a superior neck material.

 

[Fat Freddy]

Jesus, sorry, my oh my. Some words are hard to remember and I'm too lazy to google it all the time hehehe

Necessary....."One sea two ships" thank my old english teacher for that...lol....

 

[Nev375]

1. Does graphite neck have a truss rod? or does the neck bend or need adjustments?
My Custom Moses neck does, My old 80's prototype Ibanez does not.
Once they are set, they typically never move. Rock solid.

2. Does it sound different than a bass with wood neck?
I think so. Brighter, richer sounding IMO. Some early graphite haters used the terms "sterile or synthetic"
Wooden necks can be built to sound the same though.

3. Does it feel different?
My Moses feels very slick like a satin finish, My Ibanez feels a bit more sticky like a poly finish, but not annoyingly so.

4. Is bass with a graphite neck heavier than a bass with a wood neck?
Depends on who makes it, the material used and how it's made. Both of mine are a tad bit heavier than your average wood.

 

[Dan Knowlton]

Not necessarily

Not necessecelery

One of those words you can have fun with.

I've had a couple of Zon's and extensively played a Modulus or two and they feel really different. Not better, just different. I'm back to no graphite necks and am loving a MTD with a wenge/wenge neck. AMAZING on how many great choices there are, and so many nice ones!

Dan

 

[SanDiegoHarry]

I have few questions about basses with graphite necks like modulus or status graphite.

1. Does graphite neck have a truss rod? or does the neck bend or need adjustments?
2. Does it sound different than a bass with wood neck?
3. Does it feel different?
4. Is bass with a graphite neck heavier than a bass with a wood neck?

1) Some do have trusses. Newer Zon's, for example. I have had 6 different Zons - no trusses in them.
2) Yes. They tend to have a very "flat" response - crisper than wood. Not a huge difference, but notable.
3) The necks are usually thinner (front back, not really side to side). There is no grain feel, so if you want that, stick with wood.
4) No.

 

[steelbed45]

I just installed a Status neck onto my P Bass. While nowhere near a Zon, this bass still exhibits that flat response. Even with the tone knob rolled all the way down, there is still a presence and focus.
Mine has the trussrod at the headstock. It's a thin neck, and I actually lost a few ounces in the process. The bass originally was 8 lb. 10 oz., now 8 lb. 6 oz.

 

[Medicine Man]

I play a modulus q5 pretty often at gigs. I feel like graphite necks have a very even response, even in the higher frets, so you don't lose as much tone playing above the "money" frets. The b string is tighter than on my other 5s, but it may be the 35 in scale, not the graphite. My modulus has a sort of "clicky" attack, which I personally love, but may not be for everyone. The feel takes getting used to.