Looking for a thin neck

[Mustang Surly]

Guild Starfire:

•1.5" wide @ the nut

•17mm string spacing @ the bridge

BUT..they are short scale, so, if that's a "no-go", oh well...

BTW: "thinner nut width"?
Not to pick nits, but to my mind "thin" refers to front-to-back (thickness). "Narrow" refers to width.

 

[equill]

My Sandberg 48's neck is almost as slim as the one on my Ibanez SR, and bears a resemblance to the Thunderbird.
It's in a different price-range, granted, but you didn't mention budget.

 

[Ricky Rioli]

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?

It's so hard to find regular production 4 string basses with anything other than standard string spacing at the bridge.

My wrist is short of flexibility and so even with a TRBX neck, which is both as shallow and narrow as they get, I have to shift to an entirely different hand / arm position to get my fingers onto the E string if I'm up at the 12th fret. (I figure this is just something I have to suck up, but a lack of interest in playing up the neck helps )

I presume that bridge spacing doesn't vary because if it did pickups would have to vary.

 

[ComeHomeShane]

EBMM Sterling

 

[Shawn Luckman]

Some Peavey basses have thin necks.

 

[Zooberwerx]

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.

What fret range is giving you trouble?

As you've already discovered, a mid-tier Ibanez Soundgear may be your best option. However, working with your restrictions / limitations on the Stingray may be the best physical therapy going.

Riis

 

[marchone]

Sadowsky Will Lee. Okay, so it's $6000 all in.

 

[mongo2]

I prefer the necks of Hofner Ignition (Club and Violin) and my '80s Fender Performer for their overall narrow width. They make playing very easy for my aging left hand.

 

[lug]

Give the original Jaguar a try, very thin neck. This only applies to the original CIJ Jag with two single coil pups. The following Jags mostly have a standard Jazz bass neck size.

 

[staurosjohn]

I haven’t mic’d my necks at 12th fret, etc. - but they do remain fairly ‘thin’... here are my thinnest profile necks (both are J - 1.5” width) Most ‘standard’ Fender J necks are, around, 0.80 @ first fret. These have remained my #1 & #2 since I put these necks, on Precision bodies, in 2012/2013 - respectively!

Geddy Lee (2005- MIJ)

American Special (2012- USA)

 

[bassdude51]

With your hand problem, consider a short scale bass. Sir Paul used the short scale Hofner. Bill Wyman of the Stones used a short scale Mustang. Jack Bruce, Cream used Gibson EBO/SG. There are other examples.

The problem with Fender Jazz Basses is that by the time you get down to around the 8th to 10th fret, they are about the same width as a Precision.

 

[Trailertrash74]

I have an SX (SWB1/NA) with a super slim neck. 1 7/16 at the nut and 2 1/8 at the 12th fret. Next step down in neck size would be a Banjo!

 

[Eidolon0274]

 

[39-Bassist]

As said...MIJ era Geddy Lee Jazz...great bass!
Oh also the Carvin LB series basses...Awesome neckthru's

 

[baileyboy]

Another vote for the Geddy Lee Jazz... neck is thin and oiled. Makes for fast, smooth playing.

 

[SlowpokeJoe]

Have you considered Medium or Short scale basses? They might help with your wrist angle issues.

 

[Aldousv]

I had a MIJ Geddy Lee that was very thin but the string spacing makes it a bit broad (not sure if that’s the right term) compared to others.

I have an early 90’s Warwick fortress that has the smallest neck I own and they go for a great price all the time.

 

[MotorCityMinion]

This won't hurt your wallet too bad either.

The next one will.
https://www.thomannmusic.com/hoefner_h500_1_hgl_green_line.htm

 

[chadds]

I thought we couldn't say "pencil neck geek."

 

[Soberglitch]

Thanks for all the responses so far. Tough to narrow down all these choices.

I think my original choices of a T-Bird or Schecter Ultra are still in contention. The older MIJ Geddy Lee and Jaguar and some offerings from Carvin and Warwick are intriguing. I’d be open to a short scale as well.

I failed to mention budget but I’d like to stay under $1000 and the cheaper the better. This purchase would really be a gamble since there’s no local stores with any of the basses suggested.