Proof that the neck has a big impact in tone.

[JIO]

Philip Kubicki, who I would tend to listen to as an authority on the matter stated that after the pu and electronics - the next most critical component of a guitar/bass is the neck (woods) for how it sounds. After owning/playing/recording with a few of his Ex-Factor basses I trust he knew what he was talking about. Unless you know this - the critical component of why a violin/cello/double bass (regardless of pedigree) sounds the way it does has a lot to do with the bow. At least if you trust Yo-Yo-Ma's word.

 

[2112]

I'm convinced with bolt on necks that it's actually the screws that attach the neck to the body that have the largest impact on overall tone.

I've found if you removed the screws the tone becomes horrible and the bass becomes unplayable.

Truth. This is why I TB.

Another major variable is the pickguards... every pickguard is different: no two torts, pearls, or sparkles are alike. Therefore, they have different densities and distributions of those densities. And thus, the only way to eliminate them from the equation is to eliminate tort entirely.

Glad I could help, OP. Again, this is why I TB.

 

[fast slapper]

I've swapped necks before. It can and does make a difference. The highs is where I noticed the differences. The maple/rosewood combo had more higher mid "clank" than the all maple neck. That's pretty much it. With good eq they can sound pretty much identical. Took less work with the all maple in my case.

 

[Ricky Rioli]

Yeah it's the whole package. Now, record one bass. Take the neck off the other bass and put it on that one. Record again.. THEN, and ONLY then, will you know how much of the puzzle is neck.

A guy did a youtube video of this with a Telecaster guitar. His personal conclusion was that the difference in tone was too negligible to be worth considering when making your choice. Perhaps he could have titled the video Proof That The Fretboard Has A Real (but really tiny) Impact On Tone.

I enjoyed the clips of him playing the maple fretboard more, but that's just because the sight of a rosewood fretboard on a Tele makes me feel all itchy.

 

[Doctor Morbius]

I don't think you're going to be getting a call from NASA any time soon. Extremely small sample sizes do not prove anything, much less constitute scientific proof. Any "perceived" change may still be within the standard deviation.

 

[Nebadon2000]

It seems most neck's are Maple and just fretboard may differ. I am guessing fret board is much thinner than neck. The 'quality' and aging of neck wood may be most important.

I have played both fretboard types [maple/rosewood] I have always perceived Maple to be a tad livelier but that may be conditioning of what I have been told and read.

In all honesty I prefer the look of Maple and if all else equal that what I will choose.

 

[Phaidrus]

I have struggled to understand how a maple neck could sound different than a maple neck with a rosewood fretboard. But perhaps there could be a reason.

Here is the best A/B test I can imagine on the subject using a P bass. The gent simply swaps necks on the same body/strings/pups/bridge. If there is indeed a difference it is subtle. I would opt for which neck feels and/or looks better.

I believe maple is somewhat snappier fingerstyle. Has a bit of a Stingray vibe. Or I'm just imagining it.

 

[-Asdfgh-]

Yes same electronics.[/

Did you transfer the pickups over? Were all controls completely open?

 

[retslock]

Even with the similarities I think there are still too many variables to give a reliable result.

 

[-Asdfgh-]

A guy did a youtube video of this with a Telecaster guitar. His personal conclusion was that the difference in tone was too negligible to be worth considering when making your choice. Perhaps he could have titled the video Proof That The Fretboard Has A Real (but really tiny) Impact On Tone.

I enjoyed the clips of him playing the maple fretboard more, but that's just because the sight of a rosewood fretboard on a Tele makes me feel all itchy.

A true test doesn't include just changing necks with fretboard wood A with B, but also A to A, to exclude something other than the fretboard wood as the important factor. Indeed, removing the neck and putting the exact same neck back on should also be done to exclude factors such as how it has been seated and how tight the screws are.

 

[Lagado]

Sympathetic vibration at 430Hz, you can see the cavities in the body, but what vibrates the most, is the neck.

 

[sikamikanico]

In this case I believe it's the neck with the greatest overall effect on the tone.

Here you say "I believe" but the title says "proof"... which is it?

As others have said, I'd take the "proof" lightly, you cannot just compare two basses and conclude one part was what made the difference.

But, I think your conclusion is probably correct in some way. It seems like the sound does tend to "follow the neck", something that I've read many times, and partially confirmed myself. I'm hesitant to say "wood X sounds like this, and wood Y sounds like that" because there is so much variation, but there are some general tendencies on average.

However, what it ultimately boils down to are the cliches. Try before you buy; you cannot tell what the bass sounds like from the specs. Find the right strings for the bass; the right strings can often help with the perceived deficiencies. It's all in the fingers; with some changes to your technique, you can make a bigger difference.

 

[RNG1]

Only test I ever did unintentionally was when my 72 P bass was being redone I put the maple neck on a different bass I had that had a mim neck and there was a definite difference in sound from that neck and my 72. After playing that for several months and then put my 72 back together and put the mim neck back on that bass I confirmed there was a definite difference.

 

[ArtechnikA]

Yes same electronics.

Consumer parts like caps and pots have ~20% tolerance ratings, and they all interact.

 

[Ricky Rioli]

I would like hear the opinion of someone who has done this with four necks: two regular, two fretless. Since maple and rosewood are different, the way they grip the frets must be different; similarly, on a fretless, holding the string between a soft finger and a softer bit of wood will be different to holding it between a soft finger and a harder bit of wood. Now I think about it, perhaps we need to hear the two fretless boards played with a slide, so that the fingerboard and string aren't touching.

Also, would like it done with 8 necks: half normal maple, half quartersaw. This is turning into an expensive experiment

 

[-Asdfgh-]

I would like hear the opinion of someone who has done this with four necks: two regular, two fretless. Since maple and rosewood are different, the way they grip the frets must be different; similarly, on a fretless, holding the string between a soft finger and a softer bit of wood will be different to holding it between a soft finger and a harder bit of wood. Now I think about it, perhaps we need to hear the two fretless boards played with a slide, so that the fingerboard and string aren't touching.

Also, would like it done with 8 necks: half normal maple, half quartersaw. This is turning into an expensive experiment

I've swapped a fretted neck for fretless. The fretless sound follows the neck

 

[Claymore]

I would just like to point out that the electronics may not be as similar as you think they are. Most pots have a 20% tolerance so unless you actually take out your multimeter and confirm that the pot values are exactly the same, that will also skew the results and make the basses sound different. It's not just the neck you're hearing.

 

[jmattbassplaya]

Another song for the deaf...

same bass different neck. same neck different bass.
pick fingers. back to back comparison with frequency analyzer.

What’s the conclusion for the laymen? I can hear slight differences, and the frequency analyzer seems to indicate as much. Truthfully, I think most the differences can be explained by the slight differences in attack.

 

[Phaidrus]

I would like hear the opinion of someone who has done this with four necks: two regular, two fretless. Since maple and rosewood are different, the way they grip the frets must be different; similarly, on a fretless, holding the string between a soft finger and a softer bit of wood will be different to holding it between a soft finger and a harder bit of wood. Now I think about it, perhaps we need to hear the two fretless boards played with a slide, so that the fingerboard and string aren't touching.

Also, would like it done with 8 necks: half normal maple, half quartersaw. This is turning into an expensive experiment

Not to mention that having hairy fingers can massively alter the vibration of the strings.

 

[jeff62]

I just did a really accurate A/B comparison on the neck affecting the overall tone of a bass
My basses are stock 2016 Geddy Lee Jazz bass.
2009 mim body with Warmoth roasted maple jazz neck (standard profile), Kluson high mass bridge, 2019 mim Geddy lee pickups, and both have fresh DR Fat beams.
Comparing the tone only with the front pickup since the Geddy has 70s spacing and the custom doesnt.
The Geddy is noticably brighter and snappier and the custom is darker, and woodier sounding with more low mids. The sustain was about the same but of course the Warmoth has no dead spots and a more even tone compared to the Geddy lee.
So with two basses with the same pickups, strings, body wood, and similar bridge, it seems like the neck has a big impact of tone. More than I would've thought.
Can anyone else elaborate on this?

I always knew it did but this test really showed how much. Yes I know there are other factors but the neck seems to really bring out the timbre of the instrument.

The only thing you’ve proved is two different basses sound different. Every single component in your test (between the two basses) is different. Many others have already explained the difference in tolerances, number of winds, densities, age of strings, etc, etc. Do you understand the mistake you’ve made in your assumptions? Swap the necks and then you’ve got a supportable discussion.