Neck Profiles

[lbwdog]

You might spend a couple of thousand and still not be ultimately satisfied.

It sounds like you really like your bass so why not try out some different electronics. Repace the pots with some quality ones and maybe try some new pickups. You could even refinish it if you like but wear adds character IMO.

I've learned over the years that expensive doesn't always equate with better. A good playing bass is like an old friend but I also know what it's like to have GAS for something new... good luck

 

[Yell03SpecV]

How about a Custom Shop Fender?

 

[thejohnkim]

I started off on a Ibanez SDGR, and yeah that neck was great, very thin and comfy. I went from a 4 string SDGR to 5 strings and never felt these are chunky at all

Basses that I've owned with great necks that felt just as comfortable as teh Ibanez:

Pedulla Thunderbass T5 - has a bit of a V profile that I got used to, but it did give me much better access to the E and B strings and upper frets.

Zon Sonus 5 - Zon necks are very shallow front to back, same string spacing as SDGR's and neck length as well. I play on this just as fast as I did on my SDGR and Pedulla. Prob my favorite right now.

Stringray 5 - feels a lot like my Zon neck

basses I didn't like:

G&L 2500 - oh man that neck was huge, and i tried to like it but i could not get around that bass well at all with my medium hands. (glove size)

tried a 5 string Thumb that felt big too. blech

 

[tplyons]

How about going completely custom, and send your Soundgear along to the builder to copy the neck profile?

 

[Nedmundo]

I had an Ibanez Soundgear for awhile, and found no playability loss at all moving to a Fender American Series Jazz. I think the Fender Geddy Lee has an even thinner neck profile, and might be a great option for you. It has lots of supporters on TB.

G&L models with the #8 neck (1.5" nut, 12" fretboard radius) also have outstanding playability, on par with a U.S. Fender Jazz but slightly quicker IMO due to the 12" radius (Fender's is 9.5"). The Dingwall Super J neck has a similar but slightly slimmer profile, and is just amazing. Of course you need to be comfortable with the fanned frets. (Which IME took about 30 seconds. The Dingwall rules.)

Someone mentioned Pedulla. I haven't tried their four strings, but the fivers have the slimmest, easiest playing necks of any fivers I've tried. I bet a Rapture or Thunderbolt would do the trick.