GAS does what GAS wants - This year is becoming a lot better financially for my family and myself so instead of the consistent 200 - 300 pedal splurges, I am toying around the idea of just saving for something
The list ranges everywhere from a rickenbacker, to a darkglass bass head - but one of the things that looks really cool is an aluminum neck to add to my main bass. I absolutely love my Fender Jazz that I purchased back in October and the though of adding a rad ass Robot Graves neck or Alef neck is
However I don't know enough about these and I know that bunch of you have aluminum necks - tell me your experience, is it worth?
THEBEERHAMMER wrote:
Achtane wrote:Doom Weed, duh.
Doom seed is like...what you get when wizards jerk it.
Doom Weed produces Doom Seed.
BRO IS THIS EVEN KUSH??? IS BUFFERED? TRV BYPASS??? MY FRIEND DAMBLEDORE TOLD ME I NEEDED CRYSTAL LETTUICE.
Id try to play an aluminum neck of some sort before considering buying one. They can be cool but you'll be making major sacrifices on a couple fronts to get one. Cost is very high, you'll add a couple pounds in weight and your instrument may no longer balance, and you'll have to get along with what are often dramatically different neck shapes from wood instruments.
dubkitty wrote:not to be a smart ass, but if you love it so much why are you trying to change it?
Super valid point. This will COMPLETELY change your bass. You may or may not like it and IMO all pros of aluminum necks are offset by some big cons you may or may not care about.
yeah I am on team "when you love an instrument, don't change shit". I agree with wimk if you want an aluminium, go nuts, but try one and maybe get a different instrument and keep the one you already love, in the way that you love it?
dubkitty wrote:not to be a smart ass, but if you love it so much why are you trying to change it?
Super valid point. This will COMPLETELY change your bass. You may or may not like it and IMO all pros of aluminum necks are offset by some big cons you may or may not care about.
Hence why I am asking, before buying. These are all GREAT points, that I had not considered.
I do love my Jazz bass but not so much that its a holy relic that cant be touched. I have always loved modified instruments and have always been curious about the aluminum / wood combination. I had a few carbon fiber necks and loved them - weight is not an issue but that's because I am a non gigging musician. I make BRRR BRRRR noises in the office a couple times a week ( if that ) and might jam with friends when I get the time / vax./
I guess more importantly its an opportunity to try something different. Also why I have been eyeing a rickenbacker, - I now know I am going to need an amplifier in the future but I kind of want to buy the fun shit first.
I am more trying to feel out, what people think but I agree that its hell of expensive and I want to make sure before I pull the trigger and wait 8 months to get one.
THEBEERHAMMER wrote:
Achtane wrote:Doom Weed, duh.
Doom seed is like...what you get when wizards jerk it.
Doom Weed produces Doom Seed.
BRO IS THIS EVEN KUSH??? IS BUFFERED? TRV BYPASS??? MY FRIEND DAMBLEDORE TOLD ME I NEEDED CRYSTAL LETTUICE.
I tried a baritone EGC body+neck and my back did not care for it at all. Heavy and the neck dive was immense, to the point where it was just annoying to play. The owner, ognoy on the forum, played it amazingly. But, he also plays everything amazingly and is a wizard of music.
I personally like them a lot. I own a full aluminum baritone EGC and a full aluminum standard scale EGC. They both have different overtones and resonant differently when compared to my other guitars that are made of wood. They also both have a ridiculous amount of sustain. That being said I do not think it is the end all, be all guitar material. As mentioned above, they are quite heavy and the baritone definitely has a small amount of neck dive, although it is manageable. The necks also take a bit of warming up for everything to stay in tune, once they adjust to the temperature of your hand in a few minutes they seem to be fine though.
I do not have experience with the bolt on necks on a wood body, so I cannot speak to those. I would also recommend looking into the neck size of whatever builder you are thinking about going with as they seem to vary widely. My standard scale EGC has literally the thinnest neck I have ever seen. I ended up loving it, but I would venture to guess it would not be everyones favorite. The baritone neck is a bit thicker as it is hollow to help with weight relief.
It looks like you are in Portland as well. If and when we are both fully vaccinated you are more than welcome to try them. They are not basses, but it might be worth a try.
Back in the day, my friend bought a Kramer bass with aluminum neck. It had a “ping” overtone that I didn’t like. YMMV, and it’s possible that a ping sound can be dialed out. Some people might like that, just like some people like a “clack” sound.
My main guitar is a Nude Baritone, with aluminium neck. But in this case the alu neck is a neck thru contruction, since the metal plate continues underneath the wooden body, and stops after the strings anchor back into it.
To me this makes a huge impact on the sound, and that's the point of the whole alumium story (I never ever had a guitar with such a sustain and resonance as this one).
But I don't understand all these replacement/convertion aluminium necks, since you don't have that same neckthru/anchor/continuity, as everything stops at the neck heel.
Last edited by gila_crisis on Thu Mar 25, 2021 4:26 am, edited 1 time in total.
Blackened Soul wrote: They are kinda like what carbon fiber necks were... but for hipsters?
Honestly you would be more hipster playing a carbon fibre neck these days. Maybe I don't hang in the right circles but I haven't stumble dupon a modulus player in years. You can get a hybrid solution these days though which seems cool. Aren't they all kinda skinny though? At least thats what buzz says
imagine finding out your son is your daughter & she's into noise music
Not sure about robot Graves or alef, though I hear they are more comfortable, but my EGC bass neck was a rough transition from a jazz neck. It's really wide. Not sure why no one offers something closer to a jazz or rick neck profile in aluminum yet, as that would be great.
+1 to the suggestion to try to play one first. I was in love with metal necks as soon as I tried a kramer a decade ago, and find that I pretty much only play aluminum necks these, both guitars and bass, but ymmv. It's better to know than not to know.
Blackened Soul wrote: They are kinda like what carbon fiber necks were... but for hipsters?
Honestly you would be more hipster playing a carbon fibre neck these days. Maybe I don't hang in the right circles but I haven't stumble dupon a modulus player in years. You can get a hybrid solution these days though which seems cool. Aren't they all kinda skinny though? At least thats what buzz says
more of a joke...
But if you think about it the rise in aluminum necks popularity and the fall of graphite popularity kinda seemed to happen at the same time for what ever reason...
@Radish thanks for the really cool offer! I am a bit shy about my bass playing after struggling with my relationship for music in the years I have been playing - I need to get that damn vaccination
The more I read the more I need to find a Kramer and jam on one - my attention is shifting towards a class D head with an IR or some sort of combo but POST on. I really like the feed back
Thanks fellas
THEBEERHAMMER wrote:
Achtane wrote:Doom Weed, duh.
Doom seed is like...what you get when wizards jerk it.
Doom Weed produces Doom Seed.
BRO IS THIS EVEN KUSH??? IS BUFFERED? TRV BYPASS??? MY FRIEND DAMBLEDORE TOLD ME I NEEDED CRYSTAL LETTUICE.
They are kinda like what carbon fiber necks were... but for hipsters?
