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A measurement is worth....
Posted: Mon Apr 10, 2006 3:40 pm
by rickfan60
...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
Posted: Mon Apr 10, 2006 4:07 pm
by geddeeee
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.
Posted: Mon Apr 10, 2006 4:07 pm
by geddeeee
Er... thats inches by the way!
Posted: Mon Apr 10, 2006 4:11 pm
by rickfan60
Got it.
Posted: Mon Apr 10, 2006 4:32 pm
by rickfan60
'75 4001
1 .885
7 .865
12 .875
16 .880
Posted: Mon Apr 10, 2006 4:34 pm
by geddeeee
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.
Posted: Mon Apr 10, 2006 4:45 pm
by rickfan60
That one is from my seen-better-days pile. It has never been strung up in the time I have had it.
Posted: Mon Apr 10, 2006 4:50 pm
by charlyg
I better not visit you Ted, you'll throw me on the seen-better-days pile!
Posted: Mon Apr 10, 2006 4:52 pm
by rickfan60
1963 4001
1 .830
7 .850
12 .850
16 .925
Posted: Mon Apr 10, 2006 5:05 pm
by geddeeee
We'll be down to matchsticks soon!!!
Posted: Mon Apr 10, 2006 5:14 pm
by jmh
I wonder how mine stacks up. I've always thought the neck was thick. Ted?
Posted: Mon Apr 10, 2006 5:29 pm
by rickfan60
Jack: Yours is the first one I listed.
Posted: Mon Apr 10, 2006 5:32 pm
by bassduke49
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.
Posted: Mon Apr 10, 2006 6:48 pm
by cerrem
1975 4001....measured with Starret digital calipers...
1st = .868" due to tapper from headstock..
5th = .835"
7th = .838"
12th = .870"
16th = .887"
Chris
Posted: Mon Apr 10, 2006 7:09 pm
by rictified
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.