High note access/Neck thru vs Bolt on

[Eddie LeBlanc]

Not a 5 but 4 string. Neck Though Ric 4003.

 

[B-Mac]

Hi TB!

I've been trying to search for a thread on this but didn't have much luck most likely due to not knowing how to phrase what I wanted to ask.

So I've noticed that on my 5 string Jackson bass which has a bolt on neck, access to the highest two frets on the B/E is basically impossible/painful. I have tried using different methods but because of the size and thickness of the neck plus the body, it's really hard to access these highest frets.

"But who would play all the way up there?!" I hear you say.

Well, this is more of a just discussion thread about the ergonomics and playability rather than note choice. Plus, I paid for these frets so I should be able to play them, right?

So if I want to play on the two highest frets on these strings, I have to grab the neck and the neck pocket with my entire palm which leaves no physical way of fretting the frets on B and E with my pinkie. It's too short. Middle finger works better but then I can't hold my bass properly and I lose control over it.

So, this made me think... What if I had a neck thru bass?

Something like this
View attachment 4269016

Looks way more accessible than this
View attachment 4269076

And it made me think about my 6 string bass that is coming soon to me... which has a bolt on neck... and now I'm thinking that I should have gotten a neck thru instrument because it seems like it would offer a better and easier access to the highest notes on the B/E string.

What do you all think of this?
Am I wrong in thinking that a neck thru offers better accessibility and playability?
Any opinions? I would love to hear some more about this.

Thanks

Something else to consider

 

[Watchootognbout]

My neck through Ibby sixers deep cutout

lets me play up in the "Ionosphere"


But sometimes...............this position is necessary.

Sometimes I try to use "Thumb position"for chords.

Here's the same chords on my bolt on Tune sixer.

Whether bolt on or neck through.
The cutout is what makes the upper frets accessible.

 

[dbsfgyd1]

Hi TB!

I've been trying to search for a thread on this but didn't have much luck most likely due to not knowing how to phrase what I wanted to ask.

So I've noticed that on my 5 string Jackson bass which has a bolt on neck, access to the highest two frets on the B/E is basically impossible/painful. I have tried using different methods but because of the size and thickness of the neck plus the body, it's really hard to access these highest frets.

"But who would play all the way up there?!" I hear you say.

Well, this is more of a just discussion thread about the ergonomics and playability rather than note choice. Plus, I paid for these frets so I should be able to play them, right?

So if I want to play on the two highest frets on these strings, I have to grab the neck and the neck pocket with my entire palm which leaves no physical way of fretting the frets on B and E with my pinkie. It's too short. Middle finger works better but then I can't hold my bass properly and I lose control over it.

So, this made me think... What if I had a neck thru bass?

Something like this
View attachment 4269016

Looks way more accessible than this
View attachment 4269076

And it made me think about my 6 string bass that is coming soon to me... which has a bolt on neck... and now I'm thinking that I should have gotten a neck thru instrument because it seems like it would offer a better and easier access to the highest notes on the B/E string.

What do you all think of this?
Am I wrong in thinking that a neck thru offers better accessibility and playability?
Any opinions? I would love to hear some more about this.

Thanks

Well, I’m afraid I’m not going to be much help for you. My hands are probably bigger than yours, and after 50+ years of playing bass, I don’t have an issue reaching those high notes. I would suggest that before you purchase your next bass, your comfort is an important consideration that you should not do without.

Do actually you need those high notes? I would say eliminating any limitations with regards to playing an instrument is a good thing.

 

[Doctor Morbius]

About 0:20 this little monster shows something I wish I were taught... ever.

The size ratio of her hand to that Ray’s neck is probably about the same as yours would be to a typical sixer’s neck.

It appears this girl’s parents are friends with Victor Wooten and he’s (or somebody has) taught her pretty perfect fret-hand technique, particularly in the upper register. Her tiny hands probably could handle the clunkiest neck joint with that kinda floating thumb technique.

That said, I do enjoy a nice small-heel neck-thru joint. There were a lot of mfrs making them in the 90s.

That's it! I'm quitting!

 

[Fender2015]

My solution:

 

[Passinwind]

What do you all think of this?
Am I wrong in thinking that a neck thru offers better accessibility and playability?
Any opinions? I would love to hear some more about this.

Thanks

Of my three bass guitars, one is neck through, one set neck, and one screw on. All have two octave necks and accessibility up top is close enough to equal to not really matter to me. I can and do use thumb position fingering occasionally though, it's just a natural feel give my time on upright.

Here's how the screw on one looks:

 

[AudioTaper]

Need 24 fret access? Peavey Cirrus has you covered. This one is mine. They make 5 and 6 string also.

Need more access and have more money? Le Fay has you covered

Or just get more frets. Jerzy Drozd's 36 fret Excellency IV

 

[AudioTaper]

Need 24 fret access? Peavey Cirrus has you covered. They make 5 and 6 string also.
View attachment 4269435

Need more access and have more money? Le Fay has you covered
View attachment 4269437

Or just get more frets. Jerzy Drozd's 36 fret Excellency IV
View attachment 4269436

This Jerzy Drozd is a better example, but its ONLY 28 fret. Obsession V that's on Reverb right now.

 

[JeezyMcNuggles]

Hi TB!

I've been trying to search for a thread on this but didn't have much luck most likely due to not knowing how to phrase what I wanted to ask.

So I've noticed that on my 5 string Jackson bass which has a bolt on neck, access to the highest two frets on the B/E is basically impossible/painful. I have tried using different methods but because of the size and thickness of the neck plus the body, it's really hard to access these highest frets.

"But who would play all the way up there?!" I hear you say.

Well, this is more of a just discussion thread about the ergonomics and playability rather than note choice. Plus, I paid for these frets so I should be able to play them, right?

So if I want to play on the two highest frets on these strings, I have to grab the neck and the neck pocket with my entire palm which leaves no physical way of fretting the frets on B and E with my pinkie. It's too short. Middle finger works better but then I can't hold my bass properly and I lose control over it.

So, this made me think... What if I had a neck thru bass?

Something like this
View attachment 4269016

Looks way more accessible than this
View attachment 4269076

And it made me think about my 6 string bass that is coming soon to me... which has a bolt on neck... and now I'm thinking that I should have gotten a neck thru instrument because it seems like it would offer a better and easier access to the highest notes on the B/E string.

What do you all think of this?
Am I wrong in thinking that a neck thru offers better accessibility and playability?
Any opinions? I would love to hear some more about this.

Thanks

Yes and no. It all simply depends on the design of the bass.

 

[logdrum]

You can get used to it. My 6 string is a bolt on with 19mm spacing. I guess I have played leads passages on my nylon and acoustic guitars that have no cut outs since I started that it is a non issue. I can chord and play on this bass up with the top note at C over G 2nd octave. I am used to it and I am not trying to play Paganini or the Bumblebee.

 

[svlilioukalani]

The pictures posted by GEbass6 are right on. Do look into some of the techniques used on an upright bass. There the thump positions used when way hight up on the upright bass neck. There is also a technique used at the heal of the bass. These techniques have been evolving and improving over 400 years. Sorry I have no instructive videos to show you. Keep

Stick with it. Have fun practicing, And you will figure it all out. Jam on.

 

[Iristone]

It depends. My Thunderbird is a very nice neck-through instrument but they aren't known for their high fret reach

 

[JW56789]

While the smarter builders have figured out better neck/body joints for screw-on necks, most have that big, dumb square heel which certainly DOES make playing 'up there' a lot harder.

For me, regardless of how it's attached, a neckthrough-style construction beats them like a drum. Especially as lots of neckthroughs tend to be 24-fret fingerboards with a deep treble cutaway. Just WAY easier.

 

[red_rhino]

"But who would play all the way up there?!" I hear you say.

You will never hear that from me.

Plus, I paid for these frets so I should be able to play them, right?

I'm going to remember that point for the next time there's a "No money above the 5th fret" thread.

As others have pointed out, neck-thru vs bolt-on doesn't determine fret access. I've had neck-thrus that had so-so upper fret access, and bolt-ons that allowed full access. It depends on the builder and design of the bass.

 

[elgranluis]

About 0:20 this little monster shows something I wish I were taught... ever.

The size ratio of her hand to that Ray’s neck is probably about the same as yours would be to a typical sixer’s neck.

It appears this girl’s parents are friends with Victor Wooten and he’s (or somebody has) taught her pretty perfect fret-hand technique, particularly in the upper register. Her tiny hands probably could handle the clunkiest neck joint with that kinda floating thumb technique.

That said, I do enjoy a nice small-heel neck-thru joint. There were a lot of mfrs making them in the 90s.

that is roughly the size of any adults hands on a 3/4 upright bass.

 

[BlueTalon]

I have found that for me, the key to easy access on the highest frets isn't on the back of the bass, but on the front.

 

[Katoosie]

I have found that for me, the key to easy access on the highest frets isn't on the back of the bass, but on the front.
View attachment 4269595 View attachment 4269596 View attachment 4269597

Well but if the heel is fat then that wont really do a lot when you make a bigger cutaway in the body, you'll still have to work around the heel. Just noting it, not saying it's a bad choice

 

[BlueTalon]

Well but if the heel is fat then that wont really do a lot when you make a bigger cutaway in the body, you'll still have to work around the heel. Just noting it, not saying it's a bad choice

I'm having a bass made by a local guitar maker. I tried to describe what I wanted, some extra finger room on the lower bout. He wasn't getting it from my descriptions, so I brought those two bodies to him, along with a neck. I just put the neck in place and then had him feel it, and then the light bulb went on for him.

I wish I could show you pictures of the neck in place and my hands in position to show you the difference, but for that I'd need an extra person or an extra arm.

 

[Dincrest]

When it comes to upper fret access (which is important to me since I have solo'd up around the 22nd fret in a song), my neck-through bass is king but as long as the bolt-on has a contoured or tapered heel (kinda like on these ESP/LTD models, which also have a nicely contoured cutaway) then I'm good. My hands are small, so navigating around a blocky heel isn't pleasant.

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