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

[Element Zero]

The answer is; YOU CAN. However, you haven’t found the right one that physically reacts in the way you want it to react when playing it.

I really enjoy the tone of Spector and Warwick neckthroughs but prefer how the bolt-ons play. But I simply LOVE my neckthrough Pedulla but have the same reaction to my bolt on Ibanez.

Different basses feel and sound different to different people for different reasons.

 

[MrLenny1]

So what is the issue you have with NT's ?

 

[MrLenny1]

Pedulla MVP 5. Neck through. Mic dropView attachment 2945000

YeowZah !!!

 

[Scoops]

One of the episodes of the Simpsons, they discovered Homer had a crayon lodged in his nose.
They took it out and he was the smartest person on the planet.

You don't have a crayon lodged in your nose do you?

 

[s_wood]

One of the difficulties in discussing neck-through vs. bolt-on is isolating variables For instance, most bolt-ons, and all Fenders, have and ash or alder bodies. Most neck-thoughs have a body made of woods like mahagony, walnut or maple (sometimes ash, though). So, if you compare an alder-body Fender bolt-on to, say, a maple neck-through Spector and hear a difference how much of that difference is the difference in body wood? Also, Fenders and basses that are inspired by them typically use low-mass bridges. Most neck-throughs use heavier bridges. And the pickup differences are obviously very important. Single coils don’t sound at all like humbuckers.

Not saying there isn’t a difference, just saying that sometimes it’s hard to tell what is the cause of the difference we are hearing.

 

[woodyng2]

I have all three types,and love them all. I‘ve always like the feel of most NT basses i ‘ve played,but to me it is a subtle thing,as long as the bass has a good setup.
Out of my 11 basses,6 are NT, 2 are setneck,and 3 bolt on.

 

[MordBass]

One of the difficulties in discussing neck-through vs. bolt-on is isolating variables For instance, most bolt-ons, and all Fenders, have and ash or alder bodies. Most neck-thoughs have a body made of woods like mahagony, walnut or maple (sometimes ash, though). So, if you compare an alder-body Fender bolt-on to, say, a maple neck-through Spector and hear a difference how much of that difference is the difference in body wood? Also, Fenders and basses that are inspired by them typically use low-mass bridges. Most neck-throughs use heavier bridges. And the pickup differences are obviously very important. Single coils don’t sound at all like humbuckers.

Not saying there isn’t a difference, just saying That sometimes it’s hard to tell what is the cause of the difference we are hearing.

That is a really fair point. I brought up the example of Warwick Thumbs earlier... but are there any other basses that are more commonly seen in bolt/thru variants? I really cant think any at the moment but there has to be some.

 

[Perrygoround]

I prefer neck-through instruments whenever possible.
I own a Epi Thunderbird (My main bass for several years) and a Diamond Hailfire bass (my new main bass). On the guitar side of things, I own a Carvin neck Through and a Mockingbird.
Set necks, I own a Gibson EB13 that I acquired recently and 2 guitars (LPs, Gibson and Epi).
Bolt ons, I own only a Charvel Guitar. I've had a Fender Duff Bass, but sold it.
Neck-Througs have smoother neck to body transitions. Usually, they also present thinner necks and bodies; which results in lighter instruments. At least in my limited experience.

 

[Treebeard]

The answer is; YOU CAN. However, you haven’t found the right one that physically reacts in the way you want it to react when playing it.

I really enjoy the tone of Spector and Warwick neckthroughs but prefer how the bolt-ons play. But I simply LOVE my neckthrough Pedulla but have the same reaction to my bolt on Ibanez.

Different basses feel and sound different to different people for different reasons.

You may be right. I honestly don't mind so much a set neck. Maybe I just do not like the contiguous piece of wood vibrating my thumb all over the place in the lower/mid register.

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!

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

View attachment 2945429

Thanks for your service! And yeah I hear that about the maintenance. Also I typically do add a carrot option, but I was legitimately curious about the dynamic.

 

[ThuzzleFump]

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!!

Why, yes, now that you mention it. And I agree...playing an alumin(i)um neck is amazing. Make you realize how much even a good wood neck moves while playing. There's a lot of myth and opinion about wood, and I assure you I have many wood-necked instruments that I love, but IMO wood actually is as much an energy sink as it is anything else.

 

[hopsbb]

Only neck threw I own is my Tbird. I get along with it just fine.

 

[Flaked Beans]

That upper horn.......never mind

My upper horn is bigger than that one. (and yes, it's a fine american made neck-throgh body six string bass)

 

[InnerBass]

Massive upper horn - Much respect

 

[Mike Sorr]

Years ago I went through a period where I had a few basses that had bad neck problems. It developed into a paranoia about neck throughs. I’m always afraid that the necks are going to go bad and then I’ll be stuck with a useless bass. At least with most bolt ons you can buy a replacement neck.

 

[Dr. Cheese]

My first really nice bass, a Rickenbacker 4000, was neckthrough. Since that time, I have owned more bolt ons than neckthroughs, but I have always enjoyed a good neckthrough. My current Pedulla Pentabuzz is the neckthrough in my life.

 

[Jay2U]

Strings are in one piece from headstock to bridge, so why shouldn't the neck be in one piece?

 

[cheapbasslovin]

Is it possible that neck-through basses are cut differently than bolt-on basses? They're not really targeted to people looking for your standard bass, so they might just feel different - whether it be due to weight, neck shape, balance or whatever - than what you get out of most bolt-ons, which are mostly J or P variants.

 

[Flaked Beans]

View attachment 2945651 My first really nice bass, a Rickenbacker 4000, was neckthrough. Since that time, I have owned more bolt ons than neckthroughs, but Ihave always enjoyed a good neckthrough. My current Pedulla Pentabuzz is the neckthrough in my life.

I love that dark red burst color and the wood grain on the flamed maple body is beautiful, sir. drool

 

[s_wood]

That is a really fair point. I brought up the example of Warwick Thumbs earlier... but are there any other basses that are more commonly seen in bolt/thru variants? I really cant think any at the moment but there has to be some.

Only ones that comes easily to mind are Fodera and Pedulla (the Thunderbass and Thunderbolt are identical with the T-Bass being the neckthrough and the T-Bolt being the bolt-on).

 

[perfektspace6]

Interesting question. I do think that NT and BO have a different feel and attack. However, I can't see where it would be an actual playability issue. FWIW, of the 10 or so basses I owned in my lifetime, all but two have been NT.