J-bass vs Ibanez necks

I don't know what a "fast" neck is. Hopefully it's not one that runs away. Or maybe it's one that stays fast in the pocket? All that terminology is so confusing.
I don't see how a neck can help play fast either. Yngwie Malmsteen and "Fast" Eddie Clarke weren't playing Ibanez, were they?

I have an Ibanez SR370 and a Squier Active Jazz V. The Ibanez has a thinner neck (19.5 mm at 1st fret, 21.5 at 12th) compared to the Jazz (21.5 mm at 1st, 23.5 at 12th) and the 2 mm difference is quite noticeable. String spacing is the same at both ends, so the 5-string Jazz is broader but it makes no difference until the B-string is played, unless one holds the thing like a baseball bat (which it isn't meant to be - not sure one would be allowed to play professional baseball with a Jazz Bass anyway).

The real difference is in the body shape and weight. The Ibanez is much more comfortable to hold.

 

I'm the most obsessive thin neck freak I know. I play mostly 5ers (Stingray5s and a Schecter CV-5 and have owned a couple different Ibanez SR 5ers too). But I've had and have some 4 strins too, I've been into thin necks forever. A Jazz Bass' neck is thin, 'till you discover an Ibanez SR or Schecter bass, that's the sharpest C profile there is, VERY THIN (front to back) necks, only close thing from Fender would be the old MIJ/CIJ Geddy Lee sig. Jazz (modern MIA&MIM ones are thicker, in line with regular Jazz Basses, thus the Geddy Jazz lost me, for me it's japanese or nothing). We're talking 19-20mm (less than 0.8") @fret1 thin. It's apparently the norm for Schecter basses and I'm sure you can get a diversity of used models below 300$. In fact, Guitar Center's used category shows some Schecter Raidens for 199$ (there's variety of versions -different pickups/electronics- to choose from, all around the same price). From that point on you have several Stilettos, Gryphons, C4s, Damiens, Omens up to the 300$ mark, really a whole universe to choose from. ALL OF THOSE have necks that are .787” (20mm) deep @fret1. I'd recomend Schecter over Ibanez SR because I find they're generally more aggressive, mix cutting, and timbre has more of a personality to me (less generic, even tho' I've owned 2, I find the SRs -and BTBs for the case- very generic sounding, not my thing anymore). The CV-5 is not your typical metal'ish Schecter but a classic "Fender killer" instrument really (and it works, the J-bucker pickups and coil taps -same as in the C4 Apocalypse and Model T Apocalypse- make for a lot of tone settings, my CV-5 (current generation) is the best passive bass I've ever owned. You should be able to find a CV-4 for ~350$ used if you're more into a more classic tone and looks (compared to the brand's more "metal" models). I haven't played a single Schecter bass that didn't have a shredding fast neck. FYI I have HUGE hands (can cover 11" with my hands fully open) and I still can't play a neck thicker than [email protected] (in fact I can, just won't, don't see any benefit about a thick neck nor understand why anybody would choose a thick neck in the era of CNC, alternative materials and reinforcement rods).

 

I have another 5-string with 15.5 mm string spacing at the bridge. Now, that's a narrow neck in comparison to the regular 19 mm of the other two and the difference is very noticeable on the plucking hand. The broader spacing is easier to play (with fingers), so there may be a compromise to find. I suppose 16.5 mm is worth trying out (I did, it's better for me). Not sure there are many 4-string basses with such a spacing, though.

 

I don't think they do. But even if they did, there are plenty other ways to shape the tone of an electric instrument. All the electronics are there for just that purpose.

 

I've heard such myth many times, but the real life evidence I've heard is weak at best. The non-causality in fact is very obvious to me everytime I pick up some old baseball bat necked WarWEAK (not a fan of that particular "sound of wood" -a very thin one- nor that kind of -much overhyped- "growl", but at least modern ones play decently).

 

You have many specs to look at: string spacing, thickness, nut size, profile, scale length and radius. IMO/IME it's more about personal preference than one being inherently "faster" than another. I started on ibanez SR, but now they feel too small to me; jazz necks feel "just right" and P basses feel too big. But there's plenty of P bass players playing way faster than me!

The important thing is to get out there and try a bunch, see what clicks. from what you say, you might lean thin. Peavey, ibanez and Yamaha all make some pretty "slick neck" basses. Try short scale too!

Another big detail is neck finish. I much prefer a soft satin finish; a hi gloss neck feels sticky and slow. If you're a DIYer you can always sand a gloss finish down to satin.

 

ibanez has nice slim necks - the GSR100EX is the least expensive 34" scale bass, and it's got a neck that's about 2 hairs wider than their slightly more expensive models. i own 2 of them, have owned an SR500 and currently own an SRH500 and 2 mikros, and the necks are slim, fast and stable. that being said, jazz necks are nice, too. i like 'em both.

i suggest you go to sweetwater, go to basses, select number of strings, then scroll down and select nut widths, and you can check which basses in your price range have narrow enough necks to suit.

 

I don't know why people say that. I find it feels different, yes, but it makes no difference. Maybe it's because I don't sweat. Maybe it's because all that touches that part of the neck really is my thumb.

Maybe it's all this guy's fault:

 

Hey Welcome to TalkBass!!!!

If it were Jazz neck vs Ibanez neck, I gotta give the Jazz neck the edge. It's got a bit more mass, and is older. I find that the older I get, the dirtier I fight (cuz I can't go 9 rounds these days.... so I gotta end it quickly). So, with more experience, and a bit more bulk, you gotta go with...….


….. you didn't mean THAT kind of "vs".










Sorry. Just being a dork. Ibanez SR necks are thinner than Jazz neck. Good luck with your quest!

 

Yes, it's all preference, as I mentioned regarding all the other details. Not saying one is inherently faster than another. (Which is why I said "i prefer...") I just mentioned finish separately as it's easy to alter yourself.

IMO The gloss finish does not make for a Comfortable Thumb

 

My Schecter CV-5, ash, has enough mass to be a boat anchor so the neck can stay shallow, but my Sterling Ray5 absolutely needs the deep neck to sound good. Neck mass is a factor, comparing a dead Aria neck to anything isn't fair unless it's an example of factors the inhibit vibration way past stabilizing it. btw, I use the Schector when recording necessitates the best fundamental and mid tone. I jam on the Sterling because it's so easy to play (with it's deeper, shorter 34" neck).

 

In general I find Ibby necks too thin (and I have small hands). I think they are great basses for a good price but I just don't feel comfortable playing them.

 

As already said the nut and fretboard is as wide as on a Fender J bass, as well as the string spacing is the same, but the neck is a bit slimmer front to back on an Ibanez.

Also the Ibanez has a flatter fretboard radius of 12", whereas Fender J bass has a rounder one on 9,5" (even rounder 7,25" for basses with vintage specs).

Also as already said what is best and fastest isn't really objective, but totally up to personal preferences and what physics you happen to be equipped with (hand and finger size).

If you got small hands a short scale bass (30" scale) might be worth considering as well.

Nowadays most short scale basses will be as good as regular 34" scale basses, just a little different, and even some guys with fairly big hands, like for instance Stanley Clarke, prefers short scale basses.

As said choice of bass is all about personal preferences, and there isn't an objectively best for all.

I started out on a regular 34" scale bass but at some point begun to wish for a smaller bass, even before I knew of the existence of short scale basses.

Now I prefer my Ibanez Mikro bass, which is even shorter than regular short scale 30", with a scale length of just 28,6".

Super fast and easy to play, and I don't really notice any big trade offs, at least not after replacing the stock pickups with some higher quality ones, since it is a cheap budget bass, but for some it will feel too cramped, to me it's just perfect though.

 

Check out my edited updated post, where I suggest you try out some short scale basses as well: J-bass vs Ibanez necks

 

IMO if you want a fast neck you have to look at the neck shape and the fretboard. Fast necks for me have a shallower neck profile and a flatter fingerboard with good fretwork with low low action. A lighter touch for me let’s me move faster.