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Single cut design - advantages ?

#21
Well, as my Sei Singlecut fretted 5 (the one reviewed in the UK's Bass Guitar Magazine) is my 8th Sei bass, and the first singlecut design, I have to say that the design makes the bass more immediate and punchy in it;s response. The stiffness in the neck due to the solid upper horn section makes the neck extremely "fast" in it's attack - I love it.

As for someone's comment regarding "neck twist", I haven't encountered that, although I was worried initially about the truss rod trying to act along the whole length of the neck, only to encounter an immovable section after the 12, 14th fret onwards or so.

What we did was let the bass get "played in" for about 6 months, then re-dress the frets and that resolved any issued in this matter - any raising prior to the re-dress was minimal, but I have had it now for almost 2 years and the playing surface is a constant joy.
 
#22
kevin_lindsay said:
Well, as my Sei Singlecut fretted 5 (the one reviewed in the UK's Bass Guitar Magazine) is my 8th Sei bass, and the first singlecut design, I have to say that the design makes the bass more immediate and punchy in it;s response. The stiffness in the neck due to the solid upper horn section makes the neck extremely "fast" in it's attack - I love it.

As for someone's comment regarding "neck twist", I haven't encountered that, although I was worried initially about the truss rod trying to act along the whole length of the neck, only to encounter an immovable section after the 12, 14th fret onwards or so.

What we did was let the bass get "played in" for about 6 months, then re-dress the frets and that resolved any issued in this matter - any raising prior to the re-dress was minimal, but I have had it now for almost 2 years and the playing surface is a constant joy.
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This neck twist issue was something I never worried about. I had no real explanation, but it would have seriously surprised me if Fodera Emperors and Imperials had twisted necks.

Now that it was mentioned I also wonder if neck relief ends at the 12th fret. With arrow straight necks, ultra-low action (assuming the perfect fretwork) this would explain why SC's would be favoured by Jazz players and not so popular with those who dig/pick hard and need a high action.
 
#25
Image107.gif


Ahh! Single cut basses, ...Some "mysticism" about it.
IMO just another bass design, but I like it!
This is my bolt-on version on progress.
 
#29
I think that it is at least 95% cosmetic.

My SC has an excellent B string, but I have never played a Nordstrand 5 or 6 that did not. It may have a touch more sustain than other set necks, but that is probably just in my head.

I do know that I can 'feel' the bass in my chest much more with a single cut than double cutaway basses. Probably due to the fact that there is much more body in contact with my chest with a single cut.

My Nordstrand SC5, from another great SC builder.

garcia1.jpg


NordstrandSC5small.jpg
 
#31
The"original " single cut design was inspired by guitars, if I'm not wrong.
With many Jazz guitars being of similar shape, I guess that may have had something to do with it (?).
I personally can't really hear a difference.
Maybe the attack is a little more direct.
Maybe
Most certainly the neck behaves funny and I find it harder to set up than I do with my dc basses.
 
#32
OldogNewTrick said:
All the SC basses I've played had a superb B-string.
Don't know, if its the aditional rigidity along the B-string side of the neck or what - might be just also coincidence and simply due to the fact that these bass builders do an excellent job on their 5 stringers no matter what the design...

maybe I just want to be able to play like Bona or Jackson... :hiding:
Click to expand...

maybe because the majority of SC basses are made by luthier and that generally means better construction/quality and all.
 
#39
Flintc said:
Why not?



CIMG3100.gif
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+1... I really like the idea of a bolt on single cut, which is what Pete Skjold does. He does not connect to upper 'horn' to the neck at all, which I think is actually superior to the above design (IMO).

As many have posted above, there doesn't seem to be any advantage to the single cut regarding the actual connection of the top of the body to the neck, and again, as others point out, there can be problems with neck adjustment and issues with one side of the neck moving more than the other (although again not a big deal there).

The main impact seems to be adding some additional mass to the body without making the body 'feel' any bigger. Pete's design, similar to the one above, uses a bolt-on design. You get the advantages of a small feeling body with more wood/mass, and don't have the top of the neck 'fixed'. Nice!

That being said, it's pretty much an aesthetic decision versus having any significant impact on the tone, all other things being equal IMO and IME.
 

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