a It would seem that picking the right bass neck is much like buying a pair of shoes....
If you take a size 8 you're not going to buy a size 12.
Since hands come in a multitude of sizes:-
Is there currently a formula that can be applied to matching a hand with a neck?
In other words:-
Factoring in the length of your fingers, overall size of hand and the resting distance between your thumb and your index finger..are there certain parameters you should not exceed for your best "playability"?
Neck width.
Neck thickness.
Nut width.
String spacing.
All these are going to be a factor in your playability depending on the size and idiosyncracies of your fretting hand. No matter whether you're playing a shortscale or a long scale.
Formulaically and ergonomically, what are the "specs"?
If you are a person that can afford to have a custom neck built to match your fretting hand exactly......what numbers are they going to use?
(or if you happen to be shopping "off the shelf").
Hey ZenG
Wow, you really hit the nail on the head. I LOVE your post - one of the best posts I have ever seen on this subject - obviously it's a subject matter that is close to my heart. I am wondering at this moment how many folks are skipping ahead, rolling their eyes and sighing. Oh, here we go, BassHappy again - would he just get a life! They have heard everything I have to say a million times and they are in no mood to listen to me again. Especially since they certainly don't agree - but here I go anyways....
See, there is a big thing here that many bass players in my opinion are overlooking. For me, it's not just about playing - it is about maximizing your potential, it's about being the best bass player you can be. It's about accomplishment, it's about working up technically to those parts you are not sure you would ever be able to play, but finally nailing them.
In order to do that - you need to play a bass that FITS you. As ZenG so rightfully and righteously posts: "
If you take a size 8 you're not going to buy a size 12".
But the simple fact is, we have been mostly buying into the fact that size 12 is the size - it's the way to go. No one that mattered ever told us we shouldn't. Yeah there were a ton of size 8'ers around such as Paul McCartney, Bill Wyman, Stanley Clarke, Jonas Hellborg - the list goes on and on. But we kept them in the dark corners - our brothers, uncles and older bass playing friends were militant about encouraging us to wear size 12. It's what they wore, it's what we should wear. It's the way it is. It's what we do as bass players. We wear size 12. It's a badge of honor.
Do yourself a little favor, I have posted this before but the thread was rather obscure, and I am not sure many saw it.
Find a passage that you struggle with. It could be a finger exercise, a section of a bass solo, or just a section of a song that - no matter how hard you try - you just can't nail it cleanly and proficiently. Maybe the passage is just a little too fast, and when you slow it down a pinch it's perfect every time. Speed it up and it's well - sloppy. Sloppy as sloppy gets. Maybe it's one of those hit or miss passages where the knot in your stomach wells up a little right before that section and you hope you can nail it because the audience seems to really be paying attention. You with me?
OK, now visit you local music store and try that same passage on another scale instrument. If you are big and your hands are big, move UP a scale, try a 35" or even a 36". If you hands are average or smaller, try (for size) that same passage on a Rick (which is 33.75" instead of full 34") and see for yourself if it makes a difference in your ability to play that same part. If that feels good, but not quite, try moving down to a medium 32" scale and see what happens. If you stature is particularly small, you may even want to try a 30" short scale and see what happens, playing that same passage. Many of you are going to be quite surprised at what you find out. When you find the bass that fits you - you will know it - and it will be a revelation to you. You will howl at the moon when you can nail that solo section or those finger exercises or that difficult passage that always seemed to be so elusive.
And to speak to bholder - YES, absolutely - I have a number of custom basses and I have selected the exact configurations on the neck on each and every one of them. Almost every bass I own has a copy of one of my favorite necks. This is one part of custom bass making that any custom builder expects. It is standard operating procedure. Having a special neck made to the specs of another is incredibly commonplace.
So next time you go shopping, try out that size 10, or that size 14 and while you are at it try out an 8 - and find out what really fits you. Old myths die hard and it is such a silly myth that we all need a size 12.
if you asked them to "custom fit" a neck to your hand size/shape. But I'll watch the thread, maybe I'm wrong - I'm one of those guys "blessed" with a huge palm but rather short fingers. Would have preferred the other way around. Always wished I had fingers like Hendrix! 
