thin necks?? why?

[Guest043]

whats with people that seem to gravitate towards a thinner neck? i always feel MUCH more comftorble on a very fat neck, and they seem to have so much girth that the bass sounds better. the thickness i like is almost like an upright..i like to feel like im playing something..it also will make the neck stiffer..

does anyone agree with me, or is there something im missing about the "i need a bass with ______...and a thin neck" ? i feel like my hand cramps up on a thin neck, now that ive been playing on real beefy custom made necks..

 

[spade2you]

It usually boils down to fretting hand technique. Typically, those who like to wrap their whole hand around the neck like a fatter profile and those who play with their thumb down the center of the neck like it thin.

 

[ksandvik]

As a beginner using a thinner neck is helpful, or then if someone comes from the guitard world. I prefer thinner profile necks compared with classic Fender round necks (or what Yamaha has), but that's the charm with necks and people playing them, everyone has their own favorite neck formats. --Kent

 

[Ten Four One]

or then if someone comes from the guitard world

You say that now, but even I struggle with a 12 string acoustic guitar for 1 song that my guitarist is perfectly comfortable with for the entire set. That's the beauty of the bass... no barre chords.

 

[LifeIsBass]

Overall, I tend to agree. I'd rather have a thick neck than a very thin one. However, I've come to the point where neck profile is a very small factor in determining whether I like a bass or not. I can deal with them either way.

 

[FronTowardEnemy]

It usually boils down to fretting hand technique. Typically, those who like to wrap their whole hand around the neck like a fatter profile and those who play with their thumb down the center of the neck like it thin.

I have played both thin and thick and I find that the thinner the neck the faster and more accurate I can play. I play Fender Jazz basses and find it to be as if Leo Fender himself made the Jazz for me.

It doesn't matter if the neck is thin or fat I always wrap my hand around the neck and frequently use my thumb to fret the E string while I do double stops. Bad technique? Nope! Just my style.

 

[joebingo]

However, I've come to the point where neck profile is a very small factor in determining whether I like a bass or not. I can deal with them either way.

+1

I prefer a thin neck personally, but it's amicable. My 5 banger has a very thick neck...

 

[kringle77]

I play billy sheehan attitude basses. They have relatively fat necks and you really can't argue with their tone or playability. I find that fatter necks generally do sound better and have better sustain. It's true what they say, "Wider is better".

 

[gjooro]

Yeah the sheehan series... That's cause Billy holds his neck like a baseball bat, likes to warp his hand around. (I don't mean anything bad by that)

I could play a on fatter neck, I don't mind, but not as fat as warwick necks. It's just too much for me

 

[Mastermold]

After playing a 5-string for a few days, my 4-string P-Bass neck almost feels too thin!

 

[ksandvik]

I play billy sheehan attitude basses. They have relatively fat necks and you really can't argue with their tone or playability. I find that fatter necks generally do sound better and have better sustain. It's true what they say, "Wider is better".

Might be, or be not. The Geddy Lee signature Fenders have a shaven neck and they IMHO sound as punchy as a Sheehan sound bass. Or then maybe it depends on the player and not the instrument... --Kent

 

[bkbirge]

Fat necks all the way for me, the chunkier the better. And I play with my thumb in the middle, no overhang.

 

[RedemptionBass]

Personally, I like them fat. Just like my gut.

 

[Ten Four One]

Overall, I tend to agree. I'd rather have a thick neck than a very thin one. However, I've come to the point where neck profile is a very small factor in determining whether I like a bass or not. I can deal with them either way.

Neck profile is the only reason I didn't buy the Ibanez BTB about 8 years ago. It's a small factor, but if after 20 minutes in the store it doesn't feel right, no matter how great it sounds, I'm not getting the bass.

 

[Eublet]

IME, people with the thinner necks have poorer technique, and tend to choke it like a bat. The thicker neck accomodates players who have a more formal technique. It gives you more space between the tip of your thumb and your fretting fingers so that you can get more leverage on the instrument when needed. Most classical instruments are designed like this. It's the electric guitar/bass world where so much focus is on thinner necks.

I'm not saying one is better than the other, but with proper technique, thickness of the neck is mostly a non-issue, and allows you to open up to many more instuments with various sized necks and string spacings. Those who are used to choking thinner necks tend to struggle more IME.

 

[Visirale]

If you think a thin neck = a thin sound, I direct you to the jazz bass. Your argument is now null and void.

 

[Visirale]

IME, people with the thinner necks have poorer technique, and tend to choke it like a bat. The thicker neck accomodates players who have a more formal technique. It gives you more space between the tip of your thumb and your fretting fingers so that you can get more leverage on the instrument when needed. Most classical instruments are designed like this. It's the electric guitar/bass world where so much focus is on thinner necks.

I'm not saying one is better than the other, but with proper technique, thickness of the neck is mostly a non-issue, and allows you to open up to many more instuments with various sized necks and string spacings. Those who are used to choking thinner necks tend to struggle more IME.

What about people with small hands? My technique is pristine. I am a performance major and my teacher is a technique hound. I just can't play as well with thick necks. It doesn't feel right. I don't need more of a reason than that.

 

[spaz21387]

I like both It depends on the bass. It may take some getting used to but both are nice. I find the thinner jazz bass neck is easyer to learn songs on. But the thicker p bass neck feels good It just takes some getting used to if your used to a thinner neck. It tone is the main factor when I buy a bass. I pick up my p bass way more then my jazz now, But its not because of the neck its because I like the tone of the p bass way more then the jazz.

 

[spade2you]

What about people with small hands? My technique is pristine.

+1. I'm definitely in this boat. Plus playing a classical guitar isn't quite the same as playing a bass with a fat neck. The classical guitar neck might be bigger, but you're not reaching out nearly as far as on a bass.

Many classical stringed instruments have a thicker neck profile because that's how they're reinforced. We have the luxury of reinforced necks these days. Having played thick and thin necked guitars, I really notice no advantage. My Rob Allen MB2 has a fatter wide 5 profile that's still very comfortable to me, but I see no added strength or leverage vs. a thin neck.

 

[FronTowardEnemy]

IME, people with the thinner necks have poorer technique, and tend to choke it like a bat. The thicker neck accomodates players who have a more formal technique. It gives you more space between the tip of your thumb and your fretting fingers so that you can get more leverage on the instrument when needed. Most classical instruments are designed like this. It's the electric guitar/bass world where so much focus is on thinner necks.

I'm not saying one is better than the other, but with proper technique, thickness of the neck is mostly a non-issue, and allows you to open up to many more instuments with various sized necks and string spacings. Those who are used to choking thinner necks tend to struggle more IME.

+1! I have no formal training on any instrument. I switched from the "G" word to bass when I was 24. I know that my bad habits hinder my bass playing to a point, however I have my own style and sound like me, no one else. Is that good or bad? I don't know but as soon as I discovered the Jazz after about 8 other types of bass configurations my playing has evolved 10 fold.