Enjoy the benefits of a premium membership!
Upgrade Account
-
TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
Join free Log in
Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.
Nash P-Bass Necks
- Thread starter MascisMan
- Start date
DiabolusInMusic
Functionless Art is Merely Tolerated Vandalism
Unless something's changed, Nash's are parts basses - he doesn't build anything, like Sadowsky. Hence the modern profile on vintage-inspired instruments.
Your point? What's the difference who cuts the neck? It's cut to specific specs.
What does matter is how all the parts are mated to one another, fretwork, top shelf hardware and electronics, woods selected that meet a certain weight and quality criteria etc.
That's a semantical argument that utterly flies in the face of the overwhelmingly vast reality of manufacturing, especially today. Fair enough to call Nash's part guitars or basses but by the same logic so are Fender's, since the beginning.
Leo Fender never made tuners, bushings, string trees, fret wire, truss rods, springs, washers, screws, neck plates, bridge plates, saddles, plastic pickup covers, chrome or nickel plated pickup covers/ash trays, knobs, pots, caps, resistors, jacks, coated pickup wire, Alnico magnets, pickup bobbins, Gavitt cloth covered 22 gauge wire, strap buttons, finishing chemicals, glues, water slide decals, shielding plates, foam, and custom profiled shaping/cutting tools in house for production.
Name one post-1950 guitar and or bass maker/brand that doesn't or didn't make "parts" guitars and basses.
Name any manufactured product you own that isn't a "parts" thing/insert name_________.
Name any manufactured product you own that isn't a "parts" thing/insert name_________.
I don't know if he is saying "parts bass" as a negative but more so as an explanation that Nash necks are outsourced and therefore the basic shapes or construction is, to an extent, out of his control.
Of course, I could be wrong.
Of course, I could be wrong.
BTW, I'm not at all against organized labor and collective bargaining, however; if Fender had not avoided their factory workers from unionizing even they most likely would have already shifted to contracting/subcontracting out the wood shaping for necks and bodies to other vendors. They could have contracted out the sanding and finishing, too.
In fact, technically Fender already did that regarding the later--finishing--in the '90s during the early years of relics by Cunetto.
In fact, technically Fender already did that regarding the later--finishing--in the '90s during the early years of relics by Cunetto.
Believe me, nothing is out of Bill Nash's control, regardless of who or where bodies and necks are shaped.
I worked for over 20 years in a very similar or adjacent industry; high end residential, hospitality and office furniture... on the manufacturing, QC and product design sides of it. I've worked with inside manufacturing and outside subcontractors... you name it... I probably did it. That includes working in design for other designers doing work for companies including Steelcase and Herman Miller.
Last edited:
DiabolusInMusic
Functionless Art is Merely Tolerated Vandalism
My point was that specs are out of Nash's control, that's all. It wasn't his choice to start using stiffening rods. There is a reason you don't see vintage-style Fenders with 10" radius boards. I mentioned Sadowsky as a reference just to point out that parts builder doesn't equal poor quality. They might send back parts that aren't up-to-snuff but they aren't hand choosing the best woods for building.
I don't know where you got your definition of a "parts" instrument from but that is incorrect. Fender is not a parts builder, never have been. Parts builders get their bodies and necks from an outside source, something that isn't unheard of. It is absurd to consider fretwire or resistors as constituting a parts bass. You are correct that very few builders make everything in house, however...
You will find builders such as Fury (now defunct) who made pretty much every piece in shop. Heck, I am pretty sure even notorious scammer Darrin Huff machines all his parts. It is extremely rare because of the skillset involved, the equipment required, and the added cost to run both a machine shop and a wood shop. Heck, even having a wood shop to cut and make instrument pieces is very costly - which is why companies like Nash source their parts from elsewhere.
I don't know where you get your definition and frankly it doesn't matter because it is 100% semantics and frankly silly bull.
There's nothing magical, artisanal or black arts about milling/shaping guitar bodies and necks with industrial machinery.
Last edited:
DiabolusInMusic
Functionless Art is Merely Tolerated Vandalism
I regret to inform you that I did not come up with the definition of a parts builder. This is an industry term that is applied specifically to builders who use outside bodies and necks. As such, Nash is a parts builder - which nobody said is negative. I'm not sure why you are so offended by this.
It doesn't matter where you got it; it's bull nonetheless. No matter where it came from, regardless of whether it connotes negatives or positives, it's an utter nonsensical distinction.
Let's step back a few steps here... What's your point? What are you suggesting here exactly?
DiabolusInMusic
Functionless Art is Merely Tolerated Vandalism
If you could take a minute from posting/editing your posts, you would see I clearly explained that I was pointing out the neck specs are out of Nash's control. It isn't like they decided "let's start using stiffening rods." Their supplier started using them and that is what they got.
Do you think a builder who has gone through so much painstaking detail to correctly copy vintage Fender's just decided to call it a day and give them modern necks/profiles?
You do not know that. That's a ridiculous claim.
What?
All of this nonsense is based on your characterizations.
DiabolusInMusic
Functionless Art is Merely Tolerated Vandalism
It isn't some secret that Nash is a parts builder. You ever notice how they never say they build anything? It is "handcrafted". They have used All Parts and Warmoth before.
So you say....
Literally ever electric guitar brand/make there is can characterized as 'parts' builders. It's distinction without a difference.
Last edited:
DiabolusInMusic
Functionless Art is Merely Tolerated Vandalism
You know, you are already on the internet. You clearly don't believe me so why don't you ask Grandfather Google?
Sorry OP for the clutter. I'm out of this thread.
Yes, because the internets and Google prove any or ever claim you've made here to be fact. (facepalm emoji goes here)
I'd be surprised if NASH couldn't request necks made to their specs. And I doubt Sadowsky just settles for what's in stock either.
