I'm seriously considering the purchase of the Fender American Deluxe Standard Precision Bass with the Humbucker and noticed in the Specs that it has a graphite reinforced neck. A.)Is this a good thing? and B.) Does it mean that there is no truss rod? In addition, what are the advantages/disadvantages?
Hey there, A) Generally, graphite reinforced necks are less susceptible to temperature/humidity changes which I think is definitely a good thing. However, some think that the removal of the wood in order to make room for the graphite defeats its purpose, I think I read that from something Roger Sadowsky wrote. Also, some think that graphite in the neck changes its tone too much. I like graphite for its stability(It gets very dry in the winter and very humid in the summer where I live). B) There still is a truss rod.
a) very good thing; b) no, there's still a truss rod for minor adjustments Graphite (composite) is a very strong, lightweight material that makes the neck stronger and should ultimately result in less warpage and less adjustment requirements. There are no disadvantages that I can see, although vintage purists may argue the fine point of solid wood vs. composite inserts as it effects tone.....very subjective at that level. This is a natural progression of better technology without sacrifice !