Why Do people prefer thinner necks?

[tkcthulu]

And here I was wondering why people prefer thicker necks.

 

[WoodyG3]

So, SabreATK, are you saying everyone who prefers a thin neck must have poor technique???

 

[Engine207]

I'm definitely a fat neck guy...and as wide spacing as possible. I've got pretty big mitts and when I play thinner, narrower basses, it's just plain uncomfortable...and I also get cramps if I play them long enough.

I sold my Highway One Jazz for a 70's Classic Jazz because the Classic's neck was so much fatter. When I had my fretless neck made, I asked Warmoth for the thickest P-Bass neck profile they had. One of my favorite characteristics of my Peavey T-40 is the heft of the neck profile. When I got my first 5er, I actually bought two (Ibby BTB and Fender Jazz V). The Ibanez was excellent in every way, but the thin neck bugged be enough to stick with the fatter Jazz.

 

[bassbenj]

So, SabreATK, are you saying everyone who prefers a thin neck must have poor technique???

No but some do! The "ball bat" bass grip is common out there. Some bass players can actually make it work for them, but usually it's a hold over from playing guitar or watching guitar players.

While normally one plays with the thumb on the back of the neck, with guitars, some chords DO require fretting using the thumb from the other side. It's a valid guitar technique. On a bass it seems FAR less useful and on a 5 or 6+ bass it is just about impossible to do anyway.

So the question has to be "Does wrapping your thumb around the neck work for you?" It hasn't worked for me on ANY bass since I started playing 6ers anyway.

Personally, I think everyone makes WAY too huge a fuss over neck dimensions. Excuse me, but I play them all and I'm not dead yet. If you want a THIN neck go play a 4 string banjo like I do. If you want a FAT neck play upright as I did when I started out. To me the point is to MAKE IT WORK FOR THE MUSIC, not just be "comfy" in my playing. Of course a neck that gives you medical problems is a whole 'nother matter!

 

[Hobobob]

This is why I started the thread. Over the past 20 years of playing, my hand positioned morphed to provide the best economy of motion. I play with an open hand, thumb in middle of back of neck. The neck could be twice as thick and it really wouldnt affect my playing much at all.

Beyond a certain point, I dont think the hand gets stronger, it just learns economy of motion.

Yes, this is also obvious to me. If adapting to a thicker neck just requires proper technique, why would anyone play a thin neck? I know that thin necks feel nice to begineers, but I wonder if they encourage improper hand position and technique? If all they made were Pbase necks, everyone would adapt, Im sure.

So, anyone who doesn't do it the same way as you is wrong? Adapting to a thick neck doesn't just require 'proper technique'. It takes time, just like anything else. On fivers and sixers, I prefer skinny necks. On fours, I like thicker necks. I always keep my thumb on the back side of the neck - I never wrap it around. Some people just prefer thinner necks; Geddy Lee is one of them. I'd like to see you lecture him about his technique

 

[arsie]

I think owning multiple basses with different types of necks will let you know if it is a sign of the limits of your ability or a comfort/preference issue. For instance, if you found yourself struggling to play a particular fast riff on one type of neck but not on another, then it has to do with whether one type of neck suits your style (or the riff's style) more. Needless to say, if you struggle with the riff on every bass, its a matter of more practice.

All this happens when you are pushing your own limits in playing. I suspect that if you are playing a riff that is well within your ability to play, you can do so on any type of neck, but if you are playing a riff that pushes your limit, you will need a neck you are most comfortable with or suits your play style the most.

I personally like wider necks.

 

[ga_edwards]

I don't really notice the thickness between necks. The shape/profile and width are far more prominent. My 5 string Thumb has a 'baseball bat' neck, granted it's quite thick, but it's the D shape profile that makes it feel so big. My 4 string corvette on the other hand feel much slimmer as it's a C shape, but I bet the thickness isn't much different.

I've found that although my hands are relatively small, a wider neck stop my hand from cramping up - I just can't get on with teeny Jazz necks, hence my main bass being an Attitude. The Attitude's (4 string) nut width is the same as my 5 string Thumb!

 

[Nickthebass]

So, SabreATK, are you saying everyone who prefers a thin neck must have poor technique???

Somebody wake Jaco up and tell him that his poor technique was holding him back!!!

Personally I find playing Warwicks about as rewarding as playing chess in boxing gloves. I can but it's just not fun. I learnt on a Jazz bass and that neck feels like home. Plus I have smallish hands. Why on earth would I want to make my life hard?

 

[lowgroove677]

My 2 cents, I learned how to play on a ibanez, that neck profile feels like home to me. Thin necks to me feel very fluid to play on, thicker necks make me feel like I'm working harder....I guess I'm a thin neck guy...and I'm okay with that.

 

[mcnach]

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

Is this a serious question?
I will assume it is.

My answer is no to both.

I prefer bigger necks... and wide string spacing on 5string basses. They allow me to be less precise but still hit the right note ;-)

Preference means just preference.

 

[spade2you]

Yes, this is also obvious to me. If adapting to a thicker neck just requires proper technique, why would anyone play a thin neck? I know that thin necks feel nice to begineers, but I wonder if they encourage improper hand position and technique? If all they made were Pbase necks, everyone would adapt, Im sure.

Adapting to a thicker neck really takes no effort with proper technique. Neither does playing thin necks with proper technique. Provided the bass isn't neck heavy, I can play just about any neck profile, other than a hard V.

Classical guitar technique may be based on a thicker neck, but that's because that instrument has low tension strings on a neck without any real reinforcement that's available even on the cheapest of electric instruments. I don't really think things would be dramatically different if the necks were thinner.

That being said, when you start dealing with wide 5 strings and 6+ string basses, a thinner neck profile becomes a necessity or only dudes with giant mitts would be able to play them.

On a side note, I've always found it hilarious how much most bassists and guitarists generally have poor technique, which is often based "technique" as seen on MTV (when thy still played music), but will get all huffy if you question their technique, having spent less than 5 minutes on technique the entire time they've been playing.

 

[stepswork4me]

This kind of stuff always cracks me up. Go dig up Jackson Pollock and tell him his brush stroke is all wrong. It's freekin' art and the artist decides how to best use his tools. I've been playing for 20+ years. My thumb rests in the center of the neck. I play 5'ers exclusively. I play lots of chordal and tap stuff. I prefer thin necks and tight spacing. Are you wrong if you don't do this? No.

 

[Kaa]

To me the contour is the key. I prefer a more rounded back contour than a flatter one, it just feels nicer in my hand.

 

[metron]

Its beyond obvious why some prefer one over the other. Its one of the differences between us and them. Ones prdference can be related to technique but it isnt necessarily. It could also be related to tone but it just isnt.

 

[Kwesi]

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

For this reason I suppose I won't troll the hell outta this post.

 

[spade2you]

For this reason I suppose I won't troll the hell outta this post.

20 years on guitar is like 40 years on bass.

 

[KingRazor]

The problem is believing that a thick neck is some how inherently "better" than a thin neck.

It's not necessarily any better.

Also, assuming that people like thin necks because they have bad technique is just as stupid as thinking that people like wide string spacing because they have bad technique.

It's PERSONAL PREFERENCE.

 

[funk generator]

I think its just a bit more comfy. I prefer a jazz neck over a P neck. I can play a P, but I dont like it as much

 

[iunno]

I don't like thin necks actually, my left hand cramps up faster on them. Plus they don't sound as good IMO.

 

[Jim Nazium]

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

OK, I admit it... you're right! I only like thin necks beacuse of my poor technique! If I didn't suck so bad I would play big thick manly necks! I'm so ashamed of my $3000 Roscoe with its puny neck!