Graphite reinforced necks. Hype? Gimmick?

[Goofball Jones]

I've done a search here, didn't find much discussion on this topic...though since I'm not the sharpest knife in the drawer, it could be that I'm using the wrong terms.

But I'm interested in hearing other people's opinion on graphite reinforcement of bass necks. Now, from what I can tell EB/MM has never used them before and going by the past experience of it's loyal users, it doesn't seem to matter. Also, there are many other bass manufacturers that don't use them either...and of course the vintage Fenders that are still being used today never had them.

So is this mainly marketing hype or what?

 

[Alz®]

Could very well be just that. Hype that is. Also, if all graphite neck basses were as good as they're made out to be then surely more high end basses would have them?

 

[adouglas]

Graphite can be very, very stiff (depends on the fiber used, the shape it's molded into and the resin it's embedded in).

So...can it make the neck stiffer? Sure. After all, you can pretty much drive a truck over an original Steinberger (which is made entirely of graphite) and it won't even go out of tune. That bass had no trussrod.

The question is, does that extra stiffness matter?

Not really IMHO.

The trussrod also reinforces the neck, remember. It's doing something different than the graphite reinforcements do...it's compressing the neck end-to-end, making it bow in opposition to string tension. The wood itself is what's opposing the bending, much like an archway.

The graphite rods that some makers use for reinforcement don't act in the same way. They're just something stiff that's been put into the neck.

So....what effect does this have? Well, I suspect that since it's making the neck overall somewhat stiffer, the trussrod doesn't need to be tightened as much to oppose string tension as it would be if they weren't there.

Again, does that matter?

Not really IMHO.

I suspect (but do not know) that adequate neck stiffness more of an issue on six-string basses. I bleeb that some sixers have two trussrods for this reason. So in that situation, maybe extra reinforcement can do some good.

 

[SLUGGO]

The question is, does that extra stiffness matter?.

We are talking about guitars here, right??

 

[Rano Bass]

I've had basses with and without graphite rods and didn't see any difference at all, even on basses from the same manufacturer.
I remember reading that Marcus Miller requested that his signature bass souldn't have graphite reinforcement since it changed the resonance of the neck.

 

[adouglas]

We are talking about guitars here, right??

 

[SLUGGO]

 

[Jazzbassman23]

Didn't some of the Sabre's have a graphite neck?

 

[tombboy]

Yep.... Cutlas I & II's.
I have a SR with a Status neck and its fantastic. Lovely to play and great tone. I'm quite heavy handed with my playing style and it's the first SR that I haven't been afraid to hold back on and I really 'let her have it'!! Wouldn't dare treat my 30th like that!

 

[Goofball Jones]

Not talking about graphite necks...I'm talking about wood necks with graphite "reinforcements".

 

[58super]

On the other hand I've seen a Cutlass with a neck shaped like a banana.
There are a million old P'basses with no graphite and no warps. Any EBMM I've ever seen has had no issues with neck warp. (Must be the great trussrod design )

 

[Ole Man Blues]

Gimmick?

 

[Musicman Nut]

I've done a search here, didn't find much discussion on this topic...though since I'm not the sharpest knife in the drawer, it could be that I'm using the wrong terms.

But I'm interested in hearing other people's opinion on graphite reinforcement of bass necks. Now, from what I can tell EB/MM has never used them before and going by the past experience of it's loyal users, it doesn't seem to matter. Also, there are many other bass manufacturers that don't use them either...and of course the vintage Fenders that are still being used today never had them.

So is this mainly marketing hype or what?

It does nothing for tone at least in the tests I've done but the whole idea behind Graphite Reinforcement is something Lighter then steel rods which made the necks, Neck Heavy.

 

[smahtkid]

Gimmick?

The question is, does that extra stiffness matter?

Not really IMHO.

So....what effect does this have? Well, I suspect that since it's making the neck overall somewhat stiffer, the trussrod doesn't need to be tightened as much to oppose string tension as it would be if they weren't there.

Again, does that matter?

Not really IMHO.

I have to respectfully disagree with this; I think it all depends on your climate/travel/tour schedule

Not talking about graphite necks...I'm talking about wood necks with graphite "reinforcements".

My 3 fretted solidbodies are an SR4, Lakland P, and Modulus Genesis Jazz; I live in Syracuse, NY and tour primarily in the NE. The Lakland needs a slight truss adjust twice a year; the SR4 gets 3 or 4 depending on drastic weather changes (we get a LOT of snow but have 100 degree summers); the Modulus *might* need one a year. It almost never moves, whereas the SR4 can practically predict the weather, though all are kept at regular temps/humidity when not on tour.

I wish my SR4 had a graphite reinforcer. It's my go-to, main player, and easiest to set up - I judge all tone by that bass and it's gone to all but a handful of gigs for the last six years. The Modulus always goes with it to the studio though, just in case.

JM2C of course,

.wil.

 

[adouglas]

Well, this is where the magic Music Man capstan wheel comes into the discussion. (Which, along with Slinkys, is a valid reason to put the Ball family into the R&R Hall of Fame in my book.)

I tweak my Bongo's neck at the drop of a hat, because I can do it in seconds. I do it pretty much every time the weather changes significantly.

If I had to remove strings, find the special wrench and take of one of those $#*#()@ little trussrod nut cover plates (held on by a WOOD SCREW, ferchrissakes) on the headstock the way I used to, then the need to adjust often would be a big deal.

But with my Bongo, it's not. I've gotten so practiced at it that I can tell it needs a tweak immediately, can determine how much easily without tools, and can make the needed adjustment right away.

I'm talking like between-songs-during-a-gig quickly if I need to, not that I'd bother doing it under those circumstances, mind you.

 

[kaaikop]

I have a F**** j-deluxe (usa) which I believe has some graphite in the neck...
I dont know if that's the reason, but that bass sounds like $hit, it was the worst
purchase I ever made.
Sorry for being obscene, I needed to get it off my chest

 

[58super]

Well, this is where the magic Music Man capstan wheel comes into the discussion. (Which, along with Slinkys, is a valid reason to put the Ball family into the R&R Hall of Fame in my book.)

I tweak my Bongo's neck at the drop of a hat, because I can do it in seconds. I do it pretty much every time the weather changes significantly.

If I had to remove strings, find the special wrench and take of one of those $#*#()@ little trussrod nut cover plates (held on by a WOOD SCREW, ferchrissakes) on the headstock the way I used to, then the need to adjust often would be a big deal.

But with my Bongo, it's not. I've gotten so practiced at it that I can tell it needs a tweak immediately, can determine how much easily without tools, and can make the needed adjustment right away.

I'm talking like between-songs-during-a-gig quickly if I need to, not that I'd bother doing it under those circumstances, mind you.

I agree that's the great thing about EBMM necks. Just a little tweak, moving the capstan one hole to the left or right, every now and then does it. It's just a great well thought-out design!

 

[smahtkid]

Well, this is where the magic Music Man capstan wheel comes into the discussion. (Which, along with Slinkys, is a valid reason to put the Ball family into the R&R Hall of Fame in my book.)

I tweak my Bongo's neck at the drop of a hat, because I can do it in seconds. I do it pretty much every time the weather changes significantly.

If I had to remove strings, find the special wrench and take of one of those $#*#()@ little trussrod nut cover plates (held on by a WOOD SCREW, ferchrissakes) on the headstock the way I used to, then the need to adjust often would be a big deal.

But with my Bongo, it's not. I've gotten so practiced at it that I can tell it needs a tweak immediately, can determine how much easily without tools, and can make the needed adjustment right away.

I'm talking like between-songs-during-a-gig quickly if I need to, not that I'd bother doing it under those circumstances, mind you.

I agree with all of this - I've even adjusted the wheel at a gig (not recommended!) - but I still wish the 'Ray had a "genesis" neck.

I don't see how the presence of (or lack of) graphite can make a bass as a whole sound like $hit (or amazing) though. I'd love to have a Cutlass...

 

[bbernard]

I thought the deal with graphite in the neck was to tweak the resonant frequency to eliminate dead spots, not change the overall tone.

 

[Goofball Jones]

I thought the deal with graphite in the neck was to tweak the resonant frequency to eliminate dead spots, not change the overall tone.

I heard it was to help in stability. See all these specs with "quarter sawn, graphite reinforced" necks.

Meh...