Why Do people prefer thinner necks?

[SabreATK]

I ask this question, both as a guitar player of many years, and as a new bassist.

The thumb goes on the back of the neck, and the finger approach from the top. There is really only 1/4" depth difference (or so) between thin necks and fat ones, so a thicker neck doesnt realy alter your LH technique much at all, and not where it matters. It really doesnt effect playability, if you have a proper technique, IMO. Of course neck width does, and the fretwork, strings, and other factors like finish do.

The benefit of a thicker neck is beefier strings, and better tone.

When I got my bass I wanted a big chunk of wood, so I got an ATK. My guitars are all skinny little Ibanez guitars, but I have never had problems with big neck guitars.

Does a preference for thin necks mean small hands and/or bad technique?

 

[KingRazor]

I think a preference for thin necks means a preference for thin necks.

I used to think things like having a preference for string spacing were simply born from poor technique. I have since learned that this is not necessarily the case.

One of the most comfortable necks I've ever played on was an Ibanez Sound gear, notorious for having a "pencil" neck.

I have played necks that were too thick. There was an Epiphone bass I played at GC one time that had such a huge neck I couldn't play it. And my hands are not small.

You cannot simply say "it doesn't *affect playability" just because it doesn't affect your ability to play.

Everyone is different.

 

[redmagictones]

I will play thin or thick. But I prefer a thicker neck. I have really long fingers and if I play too long on something thin my hands will start to cramp up. But I dont have that issue with a thick neck.

 

[Papa Dangerous]

I never really thought about it until recently. I always played a thin neck bass, but when I picked up a Warwick Thumb, or Corvette... I did not even notice the neck size. Just picked it up and played it, and then fell in love with it. I hear many people say they got baseball bats for necks... did not understand what they meant at first lol I actually kinda dig a thicker neck.

 

[beatdatthang]

I will play thin or thick. But I prefer a thicker neck. I have really long fingers and if I play too long on something thin my hands will start to cramp up. But I dont have that issue with a thick neck.

I'm just the opposite. Thin necks just feel "faster" in my hand and reduce hand fatigue for me. My hands aren't overly big or small (average?).

I think it's just a personal preference thing. Just like guitars, some folks love a thick '59 Les Paul roundback, others prefer an Ibanez Wizard or Jackson type of thinner neck.

 

[FBS1996]

My favorite neck is a C shape that has a 1.625" nut width. Is this a fat or thin neck?

 

[bassteban]

The benefit, for me, of a thicker neck is beefier strings, and IMO better tone.

It's OK- you are a self-admitted guitar player.

 

[XtheDeadPawn]

I like my necks like I like my women with a lil' meat on them.

I switched to a five string over a year and a half ago ironically I also got an ATK.
I uset to play a Yamaha RBX170 like mad they IMO are the next thinest neck to a Soundgear. I also tried a Soundgear before the SR305 and it's tone and neck didn't impress me a whole lot I found both neck and tone to be rather thin.

Over the past year of playing my thick neck ATK I am thinking of getting a similar thick necked Schecter Radien Deluxe 5 string to replace my RBX170.

 

[autodidact]

I dont have the biggest hands but I can get around bigger necks like Warwick, Precisions, and up until recently I had an ATK300 that I sold and really liked the neck on that too.

However, my main player right now is an Ibanez SR500 and I'm in love with the "pencil" neck. IMO its just more comfortable and faster for me to play on. Granted, my technique is probably terrible...never took lessons in 6 years so I probably have a whole host of bad habits formed by now. :scowl:

I don't really think thin necks indicate anything specifically. It's just a matter of preference b

 

[UnfortunateTony]

Why do some people like Pepsi instead of Coke?

Personal preference my friend.

 

[spade2you]

Thin necks have nothing to do with bad technique. Conversely, if a person can't play thin necked basses/guitars, it's generally because they wrap their thumb around the neck, which many do.

As to a thicker neck allowing thicker strings, that has more to do with the reinforcement of the neck hardly anything to do with the neck thickness.

Sound? I doubt it's possible to hear much sonic difference between a thick or thin neck.

 

[KingRazor]

Thin necks have nothing to do with bad technique. Conversely, if a person can't play thin necked basses/guitars, it's generally because they wrap their thumb around the neck, which many do.

As to a thicker neck allowing thicker strings, that has more to do with the reinforcement of the neck hardly anything to do with the neck thickness.

Sound? I doubt it's possible to hear much sonic difference between a thick or thin neck.

I wrap my thumb around the neck whether it's thick or thin. It's width that affects whether or not I do that.

 

[seungkoo]

I prefer thick because thats what Im used to

 

[autodidact]

I prefer thick because thats what Im used to

thats what she said.

 

[AHDBassist]

Thin necks play a little faster IMO, but neck size doesn't really bother me. I will say the neck on my sr300 is ridiculously small.

 

[ZenBass]

I do prefer a more slender neck but I always under impression its was the way the neck is cut

C-shape
Asymmetric


But I always think getting a good setup is the number one way of ensuring maximum playability

 

[lindseyp]

"There is really only 1/4" depth difference (or so) between thin necks and fat ones, so a thicker neck doesnt realy alter your LH technique much at all, and not where it matters..."

Speak for yourself. The difference between a C and shallow C neck from the same manufacturer is immediately noticeable to me and does affect how I play. I don't believe thinner is better or worse, but the those necks that lean toward the thin side tend to be more comfortable to my hand and arm.

 

[WilliamSandoval]

I have a jazz neck I built from a chunk of wood. I sanded it as thin as I could. OTOH, I have a 1966 Kay guitar with a tree trunk for a neck. They both feel perfectly normal.

I think guitars should have thick necks for chords, and for the fact that the strings are so thin, you don't have to move your fingers up and off the strings as far as you would have to for a bass.

Basses should have thinner necks for leverage when fretting, IMHO.

 

[stepswork4me]

I don't wrap my thumb around the neck. The pad of my thumb sits and slides up and down the neck. I just find thinner necks to be more comfortable and faster. Thick or wide necks tend to hurt my hand.

 

[darkstorm]

Neck profile also affects ease for doing multistring strumming rhythm guitar style to. To include wether or not you have the faster string to string note sounding you get when string spacing is more like a reg guitars. For example a 6 string bass with 1 and 3/4 inch nut could be quite useful in this regard. But lousy choice for those whose finger plucking style requires wider string spacing. A person hand curling norm also affects what types of neck profiles will be most comfortable to them. Riding ones thumb down back of neck really should only be applied as a normal thing when dealing with very wide necks like found on most sixers etc. Theres so many world renowned pro bass players who wrap their thumb across and even over that side of fretbaord edge when playing 4 string bass. That regarding traditional playing technique properness as anything other then a joke is absurd imo.

I prefer 1 and half inch to 1 and 5/8 inch bass guitar nut width and slim overall neck
profile. In part cause I like doing multistring pick strumming with the same quick string to string note sounding one gets with regular 6 string guitars played at the same speed.

O, and it is ok to use ones thumb as a mute some for the Low E string with hand wrapped around neck. Lol.