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Why can't I play neck-through basses? w/ Poll

Neck-through Basses

  • I play exclusively.

  • I'll play them / doesn't make a difference.

  • I will not play them.

  • I'd prefer a NT.

Results are only viewable after voting.
#61
I presently have only bolt on necks. I have had neck throughs in the past and haven't thought twice about it.
In fact the only problems I'v ever had has been with bolt on necks. Had 2 mim fender J's that had dead spots between the 3rd and 5th frets on the G string. I don't have that problem on any of my current herd.
 
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#63
20180303_100000.jpg
Schecter Stiletto Studio 5

Schecter Stiletto Studio 5

Schecter Stiletto Studio 5
No complaints here!
 
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#64
I chose a Warwick 5 Thumb BO over a NT based strictly on the tone I was seeking. I own a neck through Epiphone T Bird and it sounds fine.

BO or NT is just one of many tone factors for me, not a issue of itself.
 
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#65
I'm getting better at maintaining my basses to where I like their performance. I don't feel in control of NT's. Although I did own a Carvin NT for a short time I really did like it a lot and the sustain was incredible. NT's tend to cost more and need specialty service, whereas with my Ibanez bolt on's I can take them apart and clean/maintain all the parts and I'm in control of all adjustments. Kind of like when I was in the Army-- I could completely disassemble, clean, repair, and reassemble an M-16 LOL.

I feel neck throughs are more premium boo-teek and bolt on's are more utilitarian. I might not mind owning a neck through again one day, but I'll have to be somewhere in the Lower 48 where there's a good selection of left handed basses.

For those of you who love your neck throughs, good for you! :thumbsup:

P.S. you forgot a couple options, including this one:

carrots.png
 
#66
My Schecter Stiletto Studio (neck through) has been my 'goto' bass for a while now...
... It is a great playing bass. I also own two bolt ons, and a 'set neck'... The P-Bass
(Bolt on) has been my least favorite... otherwise all 4 get play time... with the
Schecter still my favorite.
 
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#73
Treebeard said:
I've been playing bass for 12 years now, and started on cello 17 years ago. I mention the cello, because that's a set neck, and you wanna talk about tone wood... BUT every neck-through electric bass I've ever picked up has really and I mean REALLY disagreed with me. This is no matter what the headstock or price tag said. I'd appreciate your thoughts and/or anecdotes! Cheers!
Click to expand...
Play what you are comfortable with . I have six basses and all are bolt-ons . Not by choice of being bolt-ons . But by being the basses that felt good when I tried them out . I do prefer passive electronics , though .
 
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#74
Well, no "Carrot" option for me = no vote, but, no matter... I currently have 6 neck-thru basses; 2 Ricks; 2 Gibson T-Birds; a Carvin LB-20, and a Kramer Forum III. But, I also have a slew of set-neck basses, and a bunch of bolt-ons. I don't buy basses because of the neck type; I buy them for what they are. If a Rick 4003 was a set-neck? I'd still have it, because I wanted a Rick 4003. They simply are what they are; no more, no less... The only neck-thrus I have that are a little weird are the Ricks. And it is because of the necks. Not because they're neck-thrus, though; it's simply because Rick's necks have very little taper, and the neck's width is constant. Yeah, they are kinda like "playing a pencil", and they do take some getting used to. The effort's more than worth it, though... Treebeard; if you don't like neck-thrus? No shame in that; some people do, some people don't. Play what makes you happy. Life's far too short to worry about nit-noid s**t like how your bass' neck is attached...;)
 
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#76
I wonder if what some folks might perceive as a prefference for NT or Bolt is more likely a reflection of other prefferences.

2 Examples.
-If you're a fan of Fender-style instruments, you're not likely to find many neck-through instruments that meet your fancy. Maybe you're a fan of bolt-on instruments or maybe you just like passive classic basses.

-If you're a fan of boutique instuments, there's a reasonably good chance that all your favorite instruments are neck-through. You might be a fan of neckthru or maybe you just gravitate to really well made instruments.
 
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#80
I can't really generalize, pretty much EVERY bass has it's own sound, regardless of construction.

I would venture to say that neck MATERIAL makes a lot more difference.

Ever play an ALUMINUM Neck? Monsterous!! :)
(My first Al-bass was a Travis Bean, and I currently play a Kramer, two Hartke, and a Vaccaro )

Graphite composites? Not as dramatic as aluminum, but still pretty obvious!
(I've tried Status, Emerald, Modulus, and Moses... Moses being the most 'unremarkable'.)

I have played dozens of neck-though basses in the past and can't say that any of them were 'bad'- most were frigging AMAZING. :thumbsup:

FULL DISCLOSURE: Of the ten basses I am currently feeding, clothing, and housing:
1 set-neck (Hofner)
1 neck-through (Wishnevsky)
8 bolt-necks...
 
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