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I still don't understand...

T

Thomas Kievit

Guest
May 19, 2012
3,614
1,906
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#1
Why (bass) guitars are still build with one piece neck?

It's an good use for the cheap-o basses and so on, but if you look at the MTD USA basses for example, I'm very concerned these necks will cause problems in the future, since non of them is laminated... And that's with a lot of bass builders the deal...
 
#2
Several reasons.
A. Leo Fender didn't do it in 1952 so most others don't do it.
B. Given that Leo didn't do it in 1952, and there are SO many basses that are well over 30 years old without neck problems, there's really no reason to demand a laminated neck.
C. In the '60s many cheapo instruments had laminated necks, making it appear to be a cost-cutting effort.
D. Laminated necks are more expensive to build.

John
 
#3
Your right that multipeice necks are stronger then single peice in many cases. However you can make a just as strong one peice neck. Its more expensive and requires better peice of maple done just right. It cost more to make nice one peice is the thing. When your talking about upper end basses, one peice is fine. But for lower priced basses multipeice is better choice imo. Theres a few exceptions such as import Jacksons having better one peice necks then the competition imo. But generally in the $400 and under price range if its thin neck it better be 3-5 peice for me to concider the bass. And if its real thin neck like Ibanez SR it better be 3-5 peice irrregardless of the price of the bass. Imo. Thicker necks by nature being stronger to.
 
#4
darkstorm said:
Your right that multipeice necks are stronger then single peice in many cases. However you can make a just as strong one peice neck. Its more expensive and requires better peice of maple done just right. It cost more to make nice one peice is the thing. When your talking about upper end basses, one peice is fine. But for lower priced basses multipeice is better choice imo. Theres a few exceptions such as import Jacksons having better one peice necks then the competition imo. But generally in the $400 and under price range if its thin neck it better be 3-5 peice for me to concider the bass. And if its real thin neck like Ibanez SR it better be 3-5 peice irrregardless of the price of the bass. Imo. Thicker necks by nature being stronger to.
Click to expand...

Well I can agree with your explanation. For my feeling however (and it's something personal), high end basses should come with 3 or 5 piece laminated necks.. It just doesn't feel right seeying such basses with one piece necks..

Sandberg did the opposite : All of there basses come with one piece necks, except for their ''masterpiece'', the Sandberg Custom Supreme. This bass does come with a 5 piece laminated neck. (I'm very glad they did, the bass is too beautiful and good sounding for having just a one piece neck)
 
#9
metalstorm said:
Hmmm, the opinion of a 21 year old, or the opinion of Mr Tobias who has many years of experience. Tough one to go with...
Click to expand...

*sigh*.. I only said it cause other bass builders do make laminated necks, such as Spector basses. not a single bass has a one piece neck and a lot of custom basses have laminated necks.. That's why I started this tread...
 
#13
The ONLY thing that matters, is that the neck be strong enough to hold tension for decades, without warping. If that means one very good piece of wood, that's fine. Or, several lesser quality pieces of wood laminated together, again, fine.
 
#15
There's more than one way to skin a cat...and there's more than one way to build a bass neck.

It's really about preference. Is a laminated neck stronger? Sure, but it's several pieces of wood and glue. I've had the different pieces expand and contract differently on a bass before and talk about feeling bad.

I prefer a one piece neck. But that's me.
 
#18
A laminated neck will theoretically be more stiff and stable. It will also be less resonant and "musical".

The neck material affects the tone quite a bit. Carey Nordstrand knows a lot about wood and resonance, and he strongly believes that a true one-piece neck (no separate fingerboard) of carefully selected wood will give a noticeably more resonant quality to the sound. I haven't had a chance to check it out, but from what I hear, his Nordys with the one piece necks show this to be true.
 
#19
Sometimes people obsess over details. Sometimes people obsess over details as a means to avoid dealing with more difficult or insurmountable issues.

So... are you dealing with a flawed instrument? Are you unhappy with some aspect of your playing? Your sound? Your prospects of some musical achievement?

Are an instruments flaws an excuse for not practicing more or achieving a higher level of proficiency?

We're TalkBass. We're here to help. Contributing to your musical delinquency since 1998.
 

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