Graphite vs. Steel rods: weight issues?

[MPU]

I'm not sure where you're getting this number from. Graphite rods are $60.

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I got it from above

"It's probably going to cost me $200 more for the graphite neck."
Still, even $ 60 is much. There's no difference in building a neck with steel or cf rods.
Marko

 

[bassclique]

There's no difference in building a neck with steel or cf rods.
Marko

I'm even wondering if there's any difference at all. Keeping my eyes glued.

 

[wyliee]

Actually, there are cost and handling/production differences between the two materials. Sorry, but I won't go in to any more detail about our production methods than that. Suffice it to say, necks with graphite rods are more expensive to produce.

 

[bassclique]

Actually, there are cost and handling/production differences between the two materials. Sorry, but I won't go in to any more detail about our production methods than that. Suffice it to say, necks with graphite rods are more expensive to produce.

Hmm, thanks for your input Wyliee.

It's the weight and sound difference i am interested in. For example, there are quite a few deadspots on my Fender MIA neck and it has a graphite stiffening rod.

Then again, i have a Japanese made jazz bass (with a steel rod in it) that is almost as light as a feather.

Don't know where to make the decision. Graphite or steel? It's a hard one, especially since i'm going to invest a significant amount of money in it.

 

[Koeda]

Neck update:
Frets done, fret board rolled, tuners (Schaller BML) and string tree on, waterlox finish. Thing of beauty.

Warmoth bubinga standard taper J neck with ebony fretboard (steel rod) now weighs in at 3lbs 8.2oz. (2lbs 9.6oz w/o hardware)

Walnut body still in production....

Update: Body on the truck for delivery today! have decided to swap out the BML's for Hipshot Ultralites.. drops neck to 3lbs 1.4oz. Will reply sooon with a new build thread after some pics.

Final update: Body in - glad I swapped out the BML's - walnut body naked weighs in at 4lbs 8oz! Guess this ain't gonna be a hevyweight after all. Build thread to follow...
Started: http://www.talkbass.com/forum/f8/warmoth-p-j-my-birthday-826305/#post11758183

 

[bassclique]

Kewl, thanks

 

[lidesnowi]

The weight problem is not the stiffening rods, its the warmoth double expanding rod it is WAY to heavy by itself!
The extra weight kills the necks resonance , which means that it strangles the necks tonal dynamic response!
The only benefit is a tiny bit longer sustain!

 

[Koeda]

There are definite advantages and disadvantages in each of the truss rod designs. I am used to the MIA Fender's so not a prob for me. Stability and longevity weigh heavy on my scale.

By killing neck resonance... isn't that a good thing?
i.e. doesn't neck resonance cause the neck to vibrate at a frequency to counter the strings and resulting in the dreaded dead spots?

 

[F-Clef-Jef]

There are definite advantages and disadvantages in each of the truss rod designs. I am use to the MIA Fender's so not a prob for me. Stability and longevity weigh heavy on my scale.

By killing neck resonance... isn't that a good thing?
i.e. doesn't neck resonance cause the neck to vibrate at a frequency to counter the strings and cause the dreaded dead spots?

That resonance is the neck sucking up the string vibrations. Not only contributing a little bit to dead spots, but also losing sustain. But some folks like the way that feels (kind of alive I guess), and sustain is probably way over-rated anyway. All personal preference!

I have a Warmoth (steel rods) necked jazz. It is ultra-stable, easy to adjust if I want to (I like tweakin'), a tiny bit on the heavy side (I think of it more as solid), but it doesn't cause any neck dive on my jazz. It also plays like butter.

 

[lidesnowi]

""killing neck resonance... isn't that a good thing?"
Much of the character and dynamic response of a good sounding bass guitar comes from the neck, so killing neck resonance is not a good thing!

Anyway my Warmoth neck had a dead area around the 7th fret on the G string before it became firewood!

 

[BassyBill]

of course you're gonna put a badass bridge and a solid brass pickguard on it too, right?

It might actually be a good idea to increase weight on the body end of a bass if there's a concern that it might be neck heavy. I can put up with a few ounces extra weight in a bass as long as it balances really well.

""killing neck resonance... isn't that a good thing?"
Much of the character and dynamic response of a good sounding bass guitar comes from the neck, so killing neck resonance is not a good thing!

By "dynamic response", I guess you mean some notes are quieter than others, right? Neck resonance will do that for you, for sure.

Joking aside, using a neck with very high resonant frequency (which is what we're really taking about here) can be a very good thing, depending on what sort of bass you're after. My own tone preference is the less energy dissipated in the body/bridge/neck, the better. That's not necessarily preferable for everybody, though, of course.

 

[SlingBass4]

I've had my fair share of Warmoth necks (8) - all with the steel rods. I wouldn't go the price or performance of them in favor of a lighter neck. Going with the 'Slim Taper' and light tuners will lighten the load...but I now prefer the regular Hipshot 'Lollipop' tuners. Bubinga is going to be a heavier neck with dive (I've had 2), but is gorgeous and sonically superior to about anything I've yet to experience. *I* believe the bubinga/bubinga neck will be my next - sorry I sold the one I had, like a couple others. The never ending quest for tone is my only excuse. Error in judgement happens.

 

[SlingBass4]

 

[SlingBass4]

 

[SlingBass4]

Pau ferro is awesome, as well...

 

[SlingBass4]

.

 

[Grabow]

I have a Warmoth Slim taper Jazz rosewood on Maple neck (steel rods) with Pearloid inlays and cream binding
put this neck on a Fender Fiesta red road worn bass with Lindy Fralin "stack" jazz pickups and a Badass II bridge

the best Bass i have ever owned
amazing neck!

highly reccomended