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Painted or Natural Neck? Newbie Needs Help

Painted or Natural

  • Painted

    Votes: 11 20.4%

  • Natural

    Votes: 44 81.5%
  • Total voters
    54
  • Poll closed .
C

coolguysanonymo

Dec 30, 2011
8
0
#1
Hey there boys and girls,

I've been a musician all my life but am just now getting into playing bass seriously (I play piano and guitar currently). I'm looking to get a MusicMan Bongo 5, but I have a concern: I HATE PAINTED NECKS ON GUITARS!! :mad: Here's why: I used to have a cheapo guitar with a painted neck and it sucked. Ever since, I have been opposed to painted necks. But I think a better instrument may have a better neck and this problem won't exist. Is there a playability difference between painted and non-painted (natural) necks? I have a Les Paul with a stained neck and love it. I have a cheap ESP bass now with a natural neck and love it. I want to love my bass neck as well. Any insight would be helpful. :hiding:
 
#2
I have a USA Charvel Socal with a raw neck - and it's amazing. I have an Epi Les Paul that I have modded out and I hated the thick poly on the neck so I removed the poly and now she is butter! I plan on getting a Roadworn P-bass for the same reason of the worn in neck. I currently have a Schecter Deservio and the neck is great, even though it does have a nice coat of poly.

I say if you find a bass that you love and you just hate the paint or poly - you can always remove it. (Of course you will ruin any resale value but to me that doesn't matter, may be different in your case).
 
#4
My answer is carrots.

I think it goes beyond painted vs non. You have both satin and gloss painted necks... you have satin, gloss, oiled, and natural unpainted necks. My personal preference is for gloss necks, I don't know why but they just seem to work better for me. A lot of people prefer either natural or oiled necks. It's all a personal preference.
 
#5
I can't answer.

I like natural necks,

but,

my best sounding and playing bass has a
painted neck along with a painted maple
fret board,

5-9-7-2.jpg


Tabdog
 
#7
thats a matter of preference. but i dont think it really matters unless your planning on shredding. even from a guitar players point of view the only reason why a painted neck gets in the way is when you have to travel up and down the neck quickly. i dont think that would be a major issue playing bass. but if you find a bass you like with a painted neck you can always have it refinised to a satin or natural neck.
 
#8
To me, it's about the surface texture.

Purely in regards to playability, mirror or high-polish finish is the worst for me. They tend to drag down my hand. I would look for neck finish similar to the traditional string instruments (the double bass for example)
 
#9
coolguysanonymo said:
Hey there boys and girls,

I've been a musician all my life but am just now getting into playing bass seriously (I play piano and guitar currently). I'm looking to get a MusicMan Bongo 5, but I have a concern: I HATE PAINTED NECKS ON GUITARS!! :mad: Here's why: I used to have a cheapo guitar with a painted neck and it sucked. Ever since, I have been opposed to painted necks. But I think a better instrument may have a better neck and this problem won't exist. Is there a playability difference between painted and non-painted (natural) necks? I have a Les Paul with a stained neck and love it. I have a cheap ESP bass now with a natural neck and love it. I want to love my bass neck as well. Any insight would be helpful. :hiding:
Click to expand...

Open yourself up to a world of opportunities, and stop being closed-minded. Try not to hate painted necks based on one cheapo, guitar. There are many stellar instruments with nothing resembling natural or stained wood-on the back of the neck.
 
#10
My MusicMan Sterling5 has an oil-finished neck, and I love it. My G&L L2500 fretless has a high gloss neck, and to me it is very sticky, especially in the summer at out door gigs. I am not a 'shredder' but I still like the smoother, slicker feel of the oil finished neck.

My Lakland has a satin finished neck and I prefer it over high gloss also.
 
#11
Another MusicMan Sterling 5 user here. The smooth neck has a great feel, just keep
up with the maintenance and you should be good. My other basses have satin finished
necks which are the next best thing. I built a 6 stringer with a Varathane satin finish on the neck which feels great too.
 
#14
coolguysanonymo said:
Awesome, thanks for the help everyone. How hard is it to re-finish a neck if need be?
Click to expand...
That depends on what your going from and to.

coolguysanonymo said:
Some ppl above were talking about satin vs. gloss vs. oil-finished (which I don't know what that is).
Click to expand...
Satin = Bongo (colored), Am. Std (and most) Fenders.
Gloss = Stingray Classics, Fender Geddy Lee
Oil = Stingrays (though actually a oil/wax finish)
 
#15
Just thought I would add - I had both a 5 string Bongo (painted) and a Stingray 5 (natural). Sold the Bongo in the end, as when they were next to each I always picked up the Stingray. The Stingray was also a lot nicer balance although still a major lump of wood.
 

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