Looking for a thin neck

[Soberglitch]

Relatively new bass player here. I currently own a Sterling Ray 34.

Due to a recent surgery on my left wrist/hand I have difficulty bending my hand and wrist and using my ring and pinky fingers, especially higher up the neck, on my Stingray. I’m assuming it will get easier with time but I see myself wanting to pick up bad habits while fretting to work around my limited mobility and strength.

My girlfriend has an Ibanez SR800 and I like that neck a lot more than mine. I’ve had my eye on an Epiphone Thunderbird Vintage Pro for a while now as I hear those are relatively thin, especially up the neck. There aren’t many options to try out basses locally.

What are some good options in terms of a thinner nut width, slimmer neck profile, and thinner width as you play further up the neck?

 

[TerenceE]

Jazz neck. Ibanez SR. Geddy Lee jazz

 

[NikosP75]

If you like the SR800 neck look for a used Japanese used, I got one myself 2 days ago and I am head over heels with it.

 

[buldog5151bass]

Ibanez, in general, have thin necks. I've played both the Epiphone Tbird and Viola (Beatle) bass, and find both if them uncomfortably thin, so they might be perfect for you.

 

[west al]

The Epi EB-0. A 1.5" nut.

 

[buldog5151bass]

Epiphones also tend to have tighter spacing at the bridge.

 

[Soberglitch]

Epiphones also tend to have tighter spacing at the bridge.

I think this is one area where I need advice and suggestions. It’s easy enough to find nut width and profile but it seems a lot harder to find specs on width at 12th fret or higher and bridge spacing.

 

[Killing Floor]

Jazz bass, in general. Or most Ibanez. Or Jackson or Kramer if you like.
Or a giraffe.

 

[west al]

The Epi EB-0 is one of the thinner nut dimensions. Most of the other Epi's are the Precision 1.65" size nut.

 

[buldog5151bass]

I think this is one area where I need advice and suggestions. It’s easy enough to find nut width and profile but it seems a lot harder to find specs on width at 12th fret or higher and bridge spacing.

Very few basses show width other than nut. I've always played P necks, and I prefer a thicker neck. Best to find some in stores and play them to see what feels good to you.

If you were in CT, I'd let you try my TBird

 

[CatchaCuda]

Your Ray should be similar to a jazz neck, right? Ibanez is a good choice, LTD also makes some skinny necks. I mean this in the most positive way possible: My LTD D4 neck felt like a pencil compared to my jazz/precision/SUB neck.

 

[Bassclef46]

Ibanez sr. Schecter. They both have a skinny width and thickness is minimal.
You may want to look more at short scale to reduce stress on the wrist by making smaller stretches.

 

[NikosP75]

Very few basses show width other than nut. I've always played P necks, and I prefer a thicker neck. Best to find some in stores and play them to see what feels good to you.

If you were in CT, I'd let you try my TBird

Actually, Ibanez does show the dimensions of their necks for every model
NECK DIMENSIONS

• • Scale :
  • 864mm
  • a : Width
  • 38mm at NUT
  • b : Width
  • 62mm at 24F
  • c : Thickness
  • 19.5mm at 1F
  • d : Thickness
  • 21.5mm at 12F
  • Radius :
  • 305mmR
• 

 

[Eddie LeBlanc]

Spector Doug Wimbish......
Spector Euro 4 LX Doug Wimbish Signature Bass Guitar - Amber Stain Gloss

 

[Soberglitch]

Your Ray should be similar to a jazz neck, right? Ibanez is a good choice, LTD also makes some skinny necks. I mean this in the most positive way possible: My LTD D4 neck felt like a pencil compared to my jazz/precision/SUB neck.

I haven’t felt a jazz neck in a while but I believe my Ray is a 1.69 nut and a regular c profile. I know it’s noticeably thicker in every way compared to an Ibanez SR.

Ibanez sr. Schecter. They both have a skinny width and thickness is minimal.
You may want to look more at short scale to reduce stress on the wrist by making smaller stretches.

Was also looking into the Schecter Ultra since it seemed to be a close twin to the T-Bird.
A short scale came to mind but my problem seems to be worse as I move up towards the bridge, rather than stretching down the neck to the nut.

Spector Doug Wimbish......
Spector Euro 4 LX Doug Wimbish Signature Bass Guitar - Amber Stain Gloss
View attachment 4168171

Is this specific Spector different than the rest or are a lot of their models thin? This would be well above my price range currently but I was looking at a Legend 4 Classic.

 

[BAG]

I have a Fretless Warmoth neck in Jazz size and it is quite thin however my Pbass with a Warmoth Jazz sized "thin taper" neck is thinner than just about anything I've played. A few months ago I got an SR1200 and it is very similar sized to the Warmoth thin taper neck. The finish isn't as smooth as the Warmoth but for some reason it is even easier to move around the neck.

If I were you i'd stay on the lookout for a decent deal on the best SR that you can afford..... best bet is second hand.

 

[SLPimp]

Maybe traction?

 

[Bassamatic]

The "thin" feel is more than the width - it is also the thickness. There are a lot of necks with 1.5" nuts, but the Ibanez SRs are also thinner front to back. It is hard to beat the SRs for a great, thin and narrow neck with a great feel. I love 'em and have 3 or 4. Maybe a Peavey Fury is about the same if you can find one. Only my old Hagstrom Hag II is thinner and narrower than the SRs.

 

[Hevy T]

The new Jackson Spectras are amazing with a very skinny comfortable graphite enforced neck with the truss rod. I love mine

 

[LadyLoveStingRay5]

My Carvin SB’s have thin necks .