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Neck Quality

Mike Brown

Mike Brown

Guest
Sep 1, 2014
116
17
29
#1
So here is a question I thought I knew the answer to...

What is the difference between a cheap-ass fender neck on a squire or something vs an american neck. This is assuming they're the same type (jazz or P)

I'm expecting a lot of "its about the feel" answers but could you be more specific?
(also, what is the difference between a jazz and P neck? I never really understood that as I don't have much experience playing P basses.

Thanks,
-Mike
 
#2
The short answer: probably not much.

The long answer: You might get a better fret finish, no need for fret leveling, eased fret ends that you don't feel all the time, and maybe a bit better finish on a more expensive neck. Then again, you might get a Squire that is spectacular. A P neck is generally wider than a J neck. Otherwise, not a whole lot.
 
#5
Some MIA necks have graphite stiffening. The fretwork should be better and more accurate on MIA Fenders than Squiers as well as the finish work on the nuts.
Jazz necks are usually 1 1/2" wide at the nut whereas Precision necks are 1 5/8" to 1 3/4" wide. The shape, or "grip" of the back of the necks can vary depending upon the model and year.
 
#10
Mike Brown said:
What is the difference between a cheap-ass fender neck on a squire or something vs an american neck. This is assuming they're the same type (jazz or P)

I'm expecting a lot of "its about the feel" answers but could you be more specific?
Click to expand...

It depends on the model. I'm guessing your 62RI has the curvier, vintage-style fretboard radius…probably 7.25", which is a personal preference for me, by the way. If you don't know it already, the lower the number is on the radius, the curvier the fretboard is. Most Fenders have a 9.5" radius…still curvy, but not as much as older or classically-styled ones. Some go up to 12" or 14". I've even seen a compound radius go from 16" up to 20", meaning it gradually gets flatter the closer you get to the body.

To some, this is an important criteria. Others, not so much. It's all about what feels "right" in your hands.

As far as P's and J's go, like others have already said, J's are usually 1.5" at the nut, while P's often chime in at 1.625". There are some variations depending on this-or-that model. For example; Fender Deluxe Precision Special, along with the discontinued Squier Standard P-Bass Specials, have Precision bodies mated with Jazz necks.

There's also the "neck shape", which refers to how rounded the back of the neck is. Some are thin (Geddy Lee sigs) while others are chunkier (Classic '70s Jazzes). Again, it's all a matter of ergonomic preference.

Personally, these criteria are more important to me than fret-based issues. Frets can be dressed and filed. A neck that just simply doesn't match my physical needs is harder to correct.
 
#16
Like everyone says, the differences can be notice in the fret stuffs, and softer fingerboard edges. If you could deal with the sharpness (not that razor sharp) of Squier and MIM fingerboard, than MIA neck is not a big deal. Same for fret stuffs.

The finish on the Squier is glossy, MIM is tinted, and MIA is satin.

If you like playing fast or want to decrease the 'speed block', MIA (commonly) is (maybe) for you.

I have a MIM Jazz and in my playing feel, the quality is in the middle of Squier and MIA.
 
#17
I have 2 mim P's. Last night I was at a friends gig and they asked me to come up and play a couple of songs with them. Their bass player had an mia. The only difference I noticed is that the fret dressing on the mia was a little better than on mine. IE , I could feel the frets on the side of the neck a little more on my mim's than on his mia. I could fix this just by a quick dressing of my frets but to be honest , it's just not enough of a problem for me to even mess with it.
Both of my basses seemed to have a bit faster action than his mia but that is a set up thing and probably not related to the quality of the necks.
I liked the sound out of my mim's much better than what I heard last night on his mia but I'm sure that is due to the fact that he uses a different amp than I do (SVT vs. B100) and had it EQ'd differently than I do . I also noticed that I got a lot closer to my preferred tone when I was playing so there's something to be said about technique there.
Oh crap , I'm blithering again and getting off the topic.
Frets seem to be dressed a bit better on the mia stuff. There , see how much time you could have saved just by going to the bottom paragraph first.:laugh:
 
#18
My MIA P neck, in comparison to my Squier P neck:

- MIA is thicker front to back, not just on the neck itself, but the headstock too. Probably slightly heavier, but perhaps also more stable
- MIA has a reasonably thin neck profile, the Squier is thinner again. Same nut width, same radius
- MIA has rolled fretboard edges, dressed frets and no sharp ends, the Squier had to have work done to get to the same level
- MIA has heel truss rod access, Squier has headstock access which is much more convenient (the MIA needs a lot less adjusting though)
- MIA has stiffening rods in the neck, Squier doesn't
- both are gloss finish, the MIA feels smoother, less sticky under stage lights, and faster (ymmv)

Overall I prefer the MIA in every way, it fits my hand better, needs less adjustment and needed minimal set up. However, when I play the Squier it doesn't feel cheap or uncomfortable, there's compromises with it but it's still a great neck.
 
#19
cnltb said:
Which, from what I have heard/experienced is not much of a quality but more of a taste/cosmetic issue.
Click to expand...

It is totally a taste/cosmetic issue. But quartersawn wood is more expensive, ipso facto it ends up in more expensive basses versus cheaper ones. Remember, the OP merely asked what the difference was. Not if those differences made any difference. :D
 
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#20
warrplayer said:
It is totally a taste/cosmetic issue. But quartersawn wood is more expensive, ipso facto it enss up in more expensive basses versus cheaper ones. remember, the OP merely asked what the difference was. Not if those differences made any difference. :D
Click to expand...
Isn't the claim that quartersawn has less tendency to warp than flatsawn? Whether that makes any difference in reality, especially with current manufacturing, truss rods, and finishes, I have no idea, just read it somewhere, sounded plausible.
 

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