backwoodsguitars Posted May 21, 2005 Report Share Posted May 21, 2005 Hello, I am going to build a bass because I am asked so much about them. I have 0 experience with them, the one of the things I am concerned with is does a bass have a thicker neck. When I say thicker I mean fretboard off thickness of neck wood. The size of those bass strings scare me in the way of tension on a neck. I would appreciate a reply as well as any other tips or recomendations. thanks! Backwoods Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thedoctor Posted May 21, 2005 Report Share Posted May 21, 2005 I would like to help but your question is a little unclear. The neck is going to be WIDER in some cases and it may be a little thicker in profile but that all depends on what kinda bass you are going for. The string-pull is a LOT higher on a 5 or 6-string bass which is why a good trussrod or rods is important. I got some Carvin necks that really aren't much larger in profile than a good-playing accoustic. Clarify your questions and we will try to assist. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
backwoodsguitars Posted May 21, 2005 Author Report Share Posted May 21, 2005 I would like to help but your question is a little unclear. The neck is going to be WIDER in some cases and it may be a little thicker in profile but that all depends on what kinda bass you are going for. The string-pull is a LOT higher on a 5 or 6-string bass which is why a good trussrod or rods is important. I got some Carvin necks that really aren't much larger in profile than a good-playing accoustic. Clarify your questions and we will try to assist. ← How THICK of a neck blank, I understand it will be wider. The thicknes I am refering to is the back to front. Do most of you start off with a 7/8" blank? My first one will probably be a 4 string. I make all of my guitars from scratch, this is why I am curious of BLANK dimensions "thickness". Backwoods Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thedoctor Posted May 21, 2005 Report Share Posted May 21, 2005 (edited) OK. I have three laminated blanks that are a match to the last bolt-on neck 4-string I made. The blanks are .950 thick at the body and get tapered to .830 at the neck for a total thickness (with fretboard) of 1.030 at the nut, 1.150 at the body. That is actually quite a bit thicker (.065) then the neck-through slims I have made but I use two trussrods on them. Don't really need that for a 34" or shorter scale 4-string. Edited May 21, 2005 by thedoctor Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hughes Posted May 21, 2005 Report Share Posted May 21, 2005 i believe my bass neck thickness is 3/4inches and sorry if that didnt answer your question but maybe it would help? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
backwoodsguitars Posted May 22, 2005 Author Report Share Posted May 22, 2005 Thanks Doc and Hughes! I appreciate the info. what scale and how many strings is your bass Hughs? Backwoods Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thedoctor Posted May 22, 2005 Report Share Posted May 22, 2005 I forgot to add that action hieght/nut hieght REALLY adds to the neck stress. Hard slappers and folk that love digging in to pull a string will want a THICKER neck. Finger-played "rumblers" can get by with a thinner neck. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hughes Posted May 22, 2005 Report Share Posted May 22, 2005 my scale for my bass is around 34inches and it has 22 frets Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
backwoodsguitars Posted May 22, 2005 Author Report Share Posted May 22, 2005 my scale for my bass is around 34inches and it has 22 frets ← Thanks!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hughes Posted May 23, 2005 Report Share Posted May 23, 2005 no problem Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
erikbojerik Posted May 23, 2005 Report Share Posted May 23, 2005 I recently measured the neck thicknesses of a Stingray 5 and a Ken Smith 5; both were a nearly uniform 0.87 inches all along the neck, then up to maybe 0.90-0.92 around the 14th fret as I recall. Almost exactly the same as my Strat; I was surprised. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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