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How to get a neck that won't easily bow ?
- Thread starter skullbass
- Start date
Passinwind
I know nothing.
- Dec 3, 2003
- 23,077
- 46,033
- Disclosures
- Designer/Toaster Tech @ Passinwind Electronics
Nope, although the pic doesn't show it that clearly that neck is actually three pieces, not counting the fingerboard or headstock veneer.
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I'm geographically pretty close to you, all of mine are multi piece necks and they don't move all that much (small truss adjustments now and then). Humidity ranges from low 30s in the winter to 90s in the summer. I've had a wide range of basses through the Canadian seasons and the 5 piece necks on mine move the least of everything I've had. So I'd say you're best off aiming for option 1, carbon rods will help a bit too.
If you want something that never moves then you'll need to go to a graphite neck: Status Graphite. The finest hand-made graphite basses and guitars. Made in England.
I have no idea what makes for a good neck.
Besides the occasional gigs, my ‘75 precision hangs on the wall in my basement all year around. I pick it up winter, spring summer and fall and there’s no change. Usually it’s still in tune, even if it sat for weeks. My ‘07 custom classic jazz v bowed itself to the point of being unuseable just sitting in its case.
Besides the occasional gigs, my ‘75 precision hangs on the wall in my basement all year around. I pick it up winter, spring summer and fall and there’s no change. Usually it’s still in tune, even if it sat for weeks. My ‘07 custom classic jazz v bowed itself to the point of being unuseable just sitting in its case.
Well I created this thread because my luthier told me to "stay away from anything Made in Indonesia because of the wood they use. Nothing but hardwood from North America. G&L ok but not the Tribute, MIA or even MIM but not otherwise, etc."...I thought some nuance needed to be made....
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I have the same problems. I live in NYC and the hot water heat in winter dries the crap out of the place. I adjust my necks frequently, some more than other. But the humidity swings are very high. Before NYC I grew up in Vermont and played in QC quite a bit. I had a beautiful Modulus Graphite and I had two necks warp. I think it had to do with going in and out of the cold, but I am not sure. I am pretty sure I had a lot to do with them installing truss rods after that. Adjusting truss rods is not a big deal. Usually a 1/4 turn in the spring and back in the fall kind of thing. it is the reason necks have them. The bigger necks move less. Out of ten I have, the neck on my 6, which is solid maple/ebony board and two truss rods never seems to need adjustment.
Another advantage on graphite necks, since the material is consistent, less prone to dead spots. They are probably still there, but I can’t hear one on my Steinberger anywhere. Some people say they sound “cold”, I’d call it “hi-fi” or “crisp”. Very articulate, but “warm” probably isn’t the term I’d think of first.
Hmmm, I’ve owned plenty of basses and have never had a neck that easily bowed. I’m sure it’s possible but likely only as a defect or on a cheap poorly designed instrument.
older modulus.
jeff gould
vigier
status
peavey g bass.. or you could go off the rails and buy Bass lab
jeff gould
vigier
status
peavey g bass.. or you could go off the rails and buy Bass lab
Multi-ply is many times stronger than one piece. Even just one stripe down the middle greatly reinforces.
I hear you! I keep my acoustic guitars in a cabinet I bought at IKEA. I humidify them with a some damp sponges in a plastic container. Even when the humidity reaches 20% in the winter it's 35% or more in the cabinet. Here's a thread I made:
Do it yourself guitar cabinet
Even luthiers can be full of crap sometimes.
Many good makers are using graphite rods these days. Fender, Sadowsky, Lakland. Modulus does graphite necks.
Well... the first two are Japanese (and the 2nd one is 48 years old); the next two are Korean (and the silver one is close to 30 years old) and the last two are Chinese. None of the necks are multi-ply; particularly heavy (especially the Danelectros); or have anything but a simple single acting truss rod in them. And the only one that moves much at all, is the most expensive one - the Gretsch. And that's probably because it doesn't get played much. The others? Maybe a slight tweek every 18 months or so...maybe. For you? Well, other than a carbon fiber neck - or a wooden one that's so thick and stiff that it won't move at all (not exactly a good idea), a good laminate neck is probably the way to go. But, you'll most likely have to tweek it every once in a while; just not every time you pick it up... humidity does that to wood; just a fact of life. And, yeah, your luthier friend is... incorrect. You can get a bad neck from any manufactures - no matter where it's made. But, in the end, whatever makes you happy...
I have an Indonesian Ibanez SR1200. It has a laminated neck with titanium rods and is quite stable. I think your luthier is making a blanket statement.
The lack of dead spots with graphite necks has nothing to do with consistency. They're stiffer so the resonant frequency is higher. That shifts any dead spots there might in theory be past the end of the fretboard.
