Jazz w/ Thick Neck Profile

[BassDaddy77]

Trying to understand Fender's neck profile description has become frustrating for me. I'm looking for a Jazz with a thick/chunky/baseball bat style neck profile. I believe that would be what they call the "U" shape, right?

Aside from the vintage market, which recent models fit the bill? I had an American Vintage Hot Rod (AVHR) Jazz a couple years ago that had a terrific neck (allegedly a U shape according to Fender), but wasn't loving the PJ pickup configuration on that bass.

I've heard that I should be looking for a '74 American Vintage Jazz. Can anyone comment on how the current American Original Jazz neck (60s or 70s) compares to the former to '74 AV? Or is the '74 even the thickest of the bunch in the first place? Where does the even older AVRI '75 jazz fit in? And finally, would the Vintera or former Classic series Jazz necks fall into the "baseball bat" category?

Thanks!

 

[Bent77]

So I own an Am Pro I jazz, and play mostly J necked basses. When I tested the Vintera and AO jazz basses for giggles, I did not feel they were different or much different than the AP neck

Have you found a Precision neck that you like and could muster a trade for?

 

[BassDaddy77]

So I own an Am Pro I jazz, and play mostly J necked basses. When I tested the Vintera and AO jazz basses for giggles, I did not feel they were different or much different than the AP neck
Have you found a Precision neck that you like and could muster a trade for?

That concerns me, as I thought the Vintera/Classics and AVRI/AV/AO Jazzes all had substantially thicker necks like my former Hot Rod J. I have a really nice Am. Std. Jazz that just isn't quite the neck profile I prefer. My understanding is that when Fender changed from the Am Std to the Am Pro, the neck profile on the Jazz model stayed the same. It's not the width of a J that bothers me, its having too shallow a neck. My hand cramps up on my Am Std and it was really bad on my old MIJ Geddy Lee.

 

[Jazz4Me]

I'd check out the 70's American Original. It is noticeably chunkier (front to back) then the standard jazz neck and is pretty indicative of a typical mid 70's jazz neck. As a reference, I play a 62 AVRI Jazz and a recent Jazz Elite. The AO is quite a bit chunkier than either of those.

 

[BassDaddy77]

I'd check out the 70's American Original. It is noticeably chunkier (front to back) then the standard jazz neck and is pretty indicative of a typical mid 70's jazz neck. As a reference, I play a 62 AVRI Jazz and a recent Jazz Elite. The AO is quite a bit chunkier than either of those.

How about comparing the necks on the AO '60s Jazz vs the AO '70s Jazz?

 

[Ricky Rioli]

These are all Fender Jazz necks, 1st & 12th fret thicknesses

0.785" & 0.890" - American Professional
0.820" & 0.870" - American Standard
0.820" & 0.920" - American Original 70s
0.830" & 0.930" - C-to-D neck
0.830" & 0.965" - 60s Road Worn
0.815" & 1.000" - American Original 60s

And to put all that in context:

0.820" to 1.000" - Precision, American Professional

 

[Bent77]

These are all Fender Jazz necks, 1st & 12th fret thicknesses

0.785" & 0.890" - American Professional
0.820" & 0.870" - American Standard
0.820" & 0.920" - American Original 70s
0.830" & 0.930" - C-to-D neck
0.830" & 0.965" - 60s Road Worn
0.815" & 1.000" - American Original 60s

And to put all that in context:

0.820" to 1.000" - Precision, American Professional

Great post, thank you

 

[BassDaddy77]

These are all Fender Jazz necks, 1st & 12th fret thicknesses

0.785" & 0.890" - American Professional
0.820" & 0.870" - American Standard
0.820" & 0.920" - American Original 70s
0.830" & 0.930" - C-to-D neck
0.830" & 0.965" - 60s Road Worn
0.815" & 1.000" - American Original 60s

And to put all that in context:

0.820" to 1.000" - Precision, American Professional

Wow, thank you for that wealth of information! This makes me think I'll never find what I'm looking for . Apparently my American Standard is about as chunky as they come. I'd love an additional 1/4 inch of thickness than that bass has.

 

[Lammchop93]

The USA Geddy Lee is 1” at the 12th fret as well. It’s on the thicker side. The one with the black block inlays is very thin.

you also need to consider how the neck is shaped. Measuring thickness doesn’t account for the curve of the neck. The U shaped necks have broader shoulders. A 1” neck with tightly shaped shoulders will feel a lot thinner than a 1” with broad shoulders.

I prefer the thicker Jazz necks as well, and the USA Geddy is my all time favorite jazz neck.

 

[Bent77]

Wow, thank you for that wealth of information! This makes me think I'll never find what I'm looking for . Apparently my American Standard is about as chunky as they come. I'd love an additional 1/4 inch of thickness than that bass has.

I pondered this after my original post about the Vintera and the AO where i really didn't notice much difference

Maybe have a neck made?

 

[BassDaddy77]

The USA Geddy Lee is 1” at the 12th fret as well. It’s on the thicker side. The one with the black block inlays is very thin.

you also need to consider how the neck is shaped. Measuring thickness doesn’t account for the curve of the neck. The U shaped necks have broader shoulders. A 1” neck with tightly shaped shoulders will feel a lot thinner than a 1” with broad shoulders.

I prefer the thicker Jazz necks as well, and the USA Geddy is my all time favorite jazz neck.

Would you say there's a noticeable difference in thickness from the '08-'16 American Standard to the American made Geddy Lee?

 

[Lammchop93]

Would you say there's a noticeable difference in thickness from the '08-'16 American Standard to the American made Geddy Lee?

ive never played an American standard to be 100% honest with you. I have played the road worn jazz, and the Geddy Lee USA feels much thicker all around.

 

[stefanb]

I thought the 70s Vintera Jazz had a pretty chunky neck when checking one out in person, so yes I'd look at them also

 

[Manticore]

I'm not a fan of the J bass for many reasons, one of which is the neck. The first thing I do when I get a J is to put a P neck on it.

 

[jamro217]

If you like big necks, try a Tele. The only problem is the square neck heel compared to the rounded J style. The scale length is the same as are the other dimensions at the heel. A standard P neck may offer a bit more girth. Hope this helps.

 

[Jazz4Me]

You really need to put your hands on the neck. Measurements don't tell the whole story. a U shaped neck with the same measurement as a C shaped neck will feel chunkier because of the back carve and deeper shoulders.

 

[BassDaddy77]

I'm not a fan of the J bass for many reasons, one of which is the neck. The first thing I do when I get a J is to put a P neck on it.

I also prefer a P neck as a general rule. But I’m honestly ok with the 1.5 width as long as there's substantial "meat" to the neck. It seems the "deep U" neck profile is what I'm after, but that isn't something Fender offers on many basses.

I've also heard the Noel Redding sig basses have a baseball bat type profile. Those seem nearly impossible to find nowadays.

 

[BassDaddy77]

You really need to put your hands on the neck. Measurements don't tell the whole story. a U shaped neck with the same measurement as a C shaped neck will feel chunkier because of the back carve and deeper shoulders.

Agreed. The AVHR Jazz I had was a U shape and felt pretty nice to me.

 

[sean_on_bass]

Anyone know how the G&L necks feel for jazz style?

 

[MovingPitchers]

I personally also found the Geddy Lee MIJ/MIM necks too thin. My favorite has to be the standard MIM (Player series now) Jazz necks. Chunky for a jazz bass but still thin enough to move around on it quick