Susceptible Neck

[mcgraham]

Did you fit it yourself or did you get Rob to do it for you?

Mark

[Wil]

I did it myself, see the link in my sig. I fitted it squiffy, though, so had to move the bridge by a few mm to compensate - turned out fine though.

[mcgraham]

I don't have the tools nor workspace to do it. So I'll send the body off to Rob come next year, if I decide to go with a graphite neck. I may get him to stick some lightweight machines on the headstock as well just to make it worth the effort.

Mark

[Wil]

A drill, a screwdriver, and the kitchen table were all I used

[mcgraham]

Don't have a drill and the rented apartment has a glass kitchen table

Mark

[martthebass]

As some said above the tone did change a bit more trebly - not sure about the midrange tho. TBH, I think the change to my ears would have been more successful on a fretted, I know a few BC'ers swear by the sound of graphite for fretless so this is a personal preference only. The feel and general quality of the Status nech however was superb.

My neck had Hipshot ultralites - suited it nicely.

[mcgraham]

Yea I'm still umming and ahhing over the right course of action. I think a new neck IS needed, just gotta decide what sort.

Mark

[ped]

I fear you might be right. No point hacking away at the original neck. I guess you could have a Warmoth(sp?) neck and see if that is more stable - maybe you got a dodgy plank of maple? It wouldn't be impossible for a few dud necks to have been made. No need to get graphite if you are unsure about the sound.

[SJA]

I reckon a Warmoth neck would change the tone slightly too-
the heavy steel reinforcing rods make the fundamental more prominent, and add sustain-
the trade-off being less resonant snap to the mids.

you could also get a luthier to build a graphite-reinforced neck for you.
(I reckon it would cost the same as having the existing neck fitted with rods)

Edited December 18, 2007 by SJA

[mcgraham]

Hmm, that is a good suggestion SJA. If it costs around that (250 according to a previous poster) that would be very argeeable. I'd prefer to stick with a pure maple neck if I can, with graphite only if necessary, just to keep the feel and sound as similar as possible to what it is at present. I'd rather just have a stable version of what I've got!

However, saying that, a graphite neck does appeal to me to. I'll have a gander at the options and price each out.

Mark

[Bloodaxe]

[quote name='mcgraham' post='106010' date='Dec 18 2007, 04:07 PM']I'd prefer to stick with a pure maple neck if I can, with graphite only if necessary, just to keep the feel and sound as similar as possible to what it is at present. I'd rather just have a stable version of what I've got!

Mark[/quote]

If you choose to go down the new neck route, specify a Quartersawn one. From the sound of it, you've got a Plainsawn neck which will be inherently more flexible. A three-piece laminated Quartersawn neck would be as rigid as a very rigid thing.

Pete.

[mcgraham]

That's great info Bloodaxe, thanks a lot! I'll get in touch with Jon Shuker in the New Year, silly trying to get it sorted a week before Christmas.

Mark

[Beedster]

Flea solved the same problem by moving from MMs with wooden necks to Modulii with graphite. I don't think you're wrong to try and get your action so low, but I think you might be expecting too much of the materials used in the construction of your bass to keep it that low all of the time. Wood responds to the atmosphere, simple as that. I suggest that you try a graphite neck and see if you can, by using a combination of strings and EQ, get the same tone you have now. If it doesn't work, I'm sure you'll sell the neck for close to what you paid for it.
Chris

[GreeneKing]

I know that Alan at ACG is making a neck for a customer at the moment.

My ACG neck is amazingly flat and consistent.

[mcgraham]

So much food for thought! I don't mind a bit of movement, I'm not looking for something that doesn't move at all, as nice as that may be. It'd just be an improvement to not have to worry about wearing out the screw heads on the bolt on region

Mark