Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

Okay. Now that I got your attention!

I know this whole large neck vs. small neck thing tends to get beaten to death here but...

Around a year ago there was a great thread that was all about measuring and documenting Rick bass neck thickness from the front of the fretboard to the back of the neck. While this was useful and informative, I feel that a very important component of neck feel was overlooked: The neck's GIRTH. When I play bass, my fretting hand wraps around the neck.

In the previous study my C64S measured up among the thinnest of necks. But its neck always felt larger to me than any of my 70's 4001s or 80's 4003 models.

I took delivery of a 2006 4003 a few days ago and noticed how much larger the neck felt than my old Ricks, so I got inspired. I got out a vinyl measuring tape similar to what a tailor would use and I compared the girth of a few of my Ricks.

Here's what I found.
(All measurements are in cm)

Measuring all the way around from just in front of the first fret:

1977 4001: 11.3
1987 4003S: 11.3
1998 4001V63: 11.7
2003 4001C64S: 11.7
2006 4003: 11.8

At the third fret, here's what I got:

1977 4001: 11.65
1987 4003S: 11.65
1998 4001V63: 12
2003 4001C64S: 12.1
2006 4003: 12.2

And at the 12th fret:

1977 4001: 13
1987 4003S: 13.25
1998 4001V63: 13.5
2003 4001C64S: 13.4
2006 4003: 13.7

I wrapped the measuring tape tightly under the strings right about where one would fret the string.

I'd be very interested to see what measurements some of you come up with, especially those with 60's and early 70's Rick basses.

Yeah, mine's about the same.

Depending, of course.

I'd be interested to see some 4000 measurements. Mine (76) is noticeably thinner than my '77 4001, & thinner still is the bass neck on my '81 4080.

Jeff, size is not everything but my '72 4001 is 11.1 at the first fret and 11.5 at the third, and 12.8 at the 12th.

I hope that my AFG on order will be close to this as well.

No Bob, size ISN'T everything...I realize that style and technique have a lot to do with the whole equation as well.



But thanks for providing your measurements.

Bob said:

... size is not everything ...

But I get dozens of e-mails every day that say that it is!

Well.......it aint too big around .......but it's awful short

I noticed on my '75 that the neck looks almost shaved from the headstock to the back on the neck. My '78 and '79 don't have that look.

girth?

or mirth?

1964 4001s
1 fret 11.1cm
3 fret 11.4cm
12 fret 12.8cm
too thin anyway...

"too thin anyway..."

Not for me, your neck is almost exactly the same as my '72 and it's my favorite to play. I must measure my Jazz Bass neck as well, not the thinnest Jazz that I've ever played but just right for a funk/Motown groove.

Thanks Atsushi.

From this tiny sample it looks like the 60's, 70's and 80's Ricky bass necks were pretty close in size(but gradually got larger), and that sometime in the 90's the necks got much beefier.

I guess most forumites don't have a suitable measuring tape or don't care enough to measure their Ricky. Oh well.

Jeff my 1981 4001 and 2005 4003 are about the same as the measurements on yours.

Thanks Brian.

I think you mean that your 1981 4001 is about the same as my '77 4001 and that your 2005 4003 is about the same as my 2006 4003?

Yep that's right Jeff. Sorry I was posting between work related phone calls (as I am right now). I should have been more succinct.