Jazz bass neck thickness.

[machinehead]

I have an American Vintage 75 reissue jazz. It's a stunning instrument to look at with the less common rosewood fretboard and gorgeous mother-of-pearl inlays but the best feature is the slim and fast neck. It's a joy to play.

Last year I bought a MIM classic 70s jazz which I would compare very favourably to the 75 reissue in every way but I always thought the classic 70s had a much thicker neck than the 75 reissue.

This has never been a problem to me because I can play thick or thin necks, wide or narrow equally comfortably.

But, the other day I had the vernier guage out and decided to actually measure the two basses. Guess what - the difference in thickness is less than 0.5mm!!

The US jazz is approx 20.5mm and the MIM is approx 21.0mm. Hardly noticeable.

The difference actually seems to be that the neck profile is a flatter "C" on the 75 and more "D" shaped on the classic 70s. It's surprising how different the necks feel even though they are not really hugely different, only a very slightly different profile. You can barely see a difference though, it's so slight.

I was surprised by this. I think I was allowing myself to be influenced by what I'd read about classic 70s jazz necks but, in reality, they are pretty slim.

So, don't be put off the great value MIM classic 70s jazz bass by talk of club-like necks. It's just not true in my experience.

Frank.

Edited March 9, 2011 by machinehead

[bubinga5]

yeah i had a US 75 RI, and it was the best neck ive ever played.. the neck shape can (although slight) can make the difference between a good neck and a great neck though..our hands and feel, can tell the difference of mm's and very small diffrences in the shape of a neck

[Woodjockey]

When you measure the thickness of a bass neck does that include the thickness of the fretboard? Thank you.

[such]

Fret size and the way the nut is cut can affect the feel of the neck quite a bit too

[Reggaebass]

That’s interesting machinehead, I’ve just sold my classic 70s jazz because I wasn’t over keen on the neck, it felt much bigger than all my other jazzes 

[Dov65]

Same here...the 70's Jazz i have is described as a thick "u" it definitely feels & looks it. 

[Bass Culture]

Does this win the record for the longest dormant thread prior to resurrection - 9 1/2 years?!

 

[machinehead]

22 hours ago, Woodjockey said:

When you measure the thickness of a bass neck does that include the thickness of the fretboard? Thank you.

For me, yes.

Frank.

[machinehead]

8 hours ago, Bass Culture said:

Does this win the record for the longest dormant thread prior to resurrection - 9 1/2 years?!

 

If it is, then it's my only basschat record, and I'm very proud of it.

Frank.

[gjones]

I have a USA vintage 75 reissue and a MIM 70s classic too. If I was asked which one had the shallower neck, I would probably say it was the 75.

Interesting to know it's just the shape of the neck that gives that impression.