A measurement is worth....

rickfan60 · Post by **rickfan60** » Mon Apr 10, 2006 3:40 pm

...a thousand expert opinions. I propose that we gather some neck thickness data from the community to help determine once and for all if the perception of chunky necks is reality or imagination. For this test I am proposing that we measure the neck thickness (front to back not side to side a.k.a width) in 4 selected locations as follows. I will gather and organize the data. As for the four points, how about these? The measurement points will be from the back of the neck to the center line of the fingerboard right against the nut sides of the listed frets.

1) First fret - seems like a good place to start.

2) Seventh fret

3) Twelfth fret

4) Sixteenth fret - right where the neck gets thick.

Should we use more / different data points? In any event submit the data as shown below. Units are inches. Metric is ok too if that is all you can provide. Just let me know what units you are reporting.

2002
4003
1 .95
7 .95
12 .98
16 1.08

geddeeee · Post by **geddeeee** » Mon Apr 10, 2006 4:07 pm

I'm in for that... here we go!

2004 Monty Brown 4003

1st fret - .92
7th fret - .92
12th fret - .95
16th fret - .98

I've said it before - I'm lucky, my neck is nice and thin!

Thanks RIC for making such a lovely bass guitar.

geddeeee · Post by **geddeeee** » Mon Apr 10, 2006 4:07 pm

Er... thats inches by the way!

rickfan60 · Post by **rickfan60** » Mon Apr 10, 2006 4:11 pm

Got it.

rickfan60 · Post by **rickfan60** » Mon Apr 10, 2006 4:32 pm

'75 4001

1 .885
7 .865
12 .875
16 .880

geddeeee · Post by **geddeeee** » Mon Apr 10, 2006 4:34 pm

Dat's very thin. Do you have to adjust the neck often Ted?
My neck needs to be checked regularly ,cos she do move about some.

rickfan60 · Post by **rickfan60** » Mon Apr 10, 2006 4:45 pm

That one is from my seen-better-days pile. It has never been strung up in the time I have had it.

charlyg · Post by **charlyg** » Mon Apr 10, 2006 4:50 pm

I better not visit you Ted, you'll throw me on the seen-better-days pile!

rickfan60 · Post by **rickfan60** » Mon Apr 10, 2006 4:52 pm

1963 4001
1 .830
7 .850
12 .850
16 .925

geddeeee · Post by **geddeeee** » Mon Apr 10, 2006 5:05 pm

We'll be down to matchsticks soon!!!

jmh · Post by **jmh** » Mon Apr 10, 2006 5:14 pm

I wonder how mine stacks up. I've always thought the neck was thick. Ted?

rickfan60 · Post by **rickfan60** » Mon Apr 10, 2006 5:29 pm

Jack: Yours is the first one I listed.

bassduke49 · Post by **bassduke49** » Mon Apr 10, 2006 5:32 pm

Ted, I don't have an instrument to measure (reliably) what you suggest. However, if you do, how about bringing it to the Midwest Confluence and measure the big collection of basses that I hope will be there? Bring a notebook and collect all this data. I have a feeling that the measurements will be a lot more random than we think, rather than certain years of thin or thick necks.

cerrem · Post by **cerrem** » Mon Apr 10, 2006 6:48 pm

1975 4001....measured with Starret digital calipers...
1st = .868" due to tapper from headstock..
5th = .835"
7th = .838"
12th = .870"
16th = .887"

Chris

rictified · Post by **rictified** » Mon Apr 10, 2006 7:09 pm

Yeah, I hope you guys are using micrometers or calipers or something equally precise or this exercise is not valid at all. I also don't have anything like that to measure mine with. I will say one thing, I have three Rics close in age: 78 and 79 4001's and an 81 4003. The 78 is thicker than the other two and it's mostly the rosewood on top of the maple part of the neck, that varies a lot from bass to bass sometimes.