Graphite vs Gloss neck

[spencer]

Im split between getting a classic stingray and a cheaper used stingray around 800$ and getting a status neck. I want the graphite because mainly its stability, also it's looks and sound though that's really minor. Would a gloss coated neck resist humidity changes more than unfinished? I also see the temperature being another factor but, not sure if graphite/sealed wood react differently to temperature. Temperature changes are pretty minor where I live.

 

[JayDawg]

Are you really taking your basses in that many areas that change climate drastically? I personally don't see the need for the necks. The truss wheel is very easy to use and usually solves an adjustment problem within seconds but is rarely needed. I also think the necks made of wood sound better and look better.

 

[Sonnyonbass]

I find the EBMM necks to be pretty stable. If the temperature changes are minor I wouldn't worry. I'd worry more about the sound. It makes a huge difference if you bolt on a graphite neck.

 

[oli@bass]

A good graphite neck and a used StingRay will cost you more than a new Classic StingRay.

If you really like the Classic 'Ray, then go with that.

 

[Smallmouth_Bass]

I never liked the feel of graphite. I like the concept of having a super-stable and even response neck, but it just feels sterile to me and loses the character that wood has. The gloss neck may be more resistant to environmental changes than the standard necks, but that's what the truss rod is for.

My personal choice would be a Classic.

 

[kylierider]

Personally I really like graphite, expecially if you are going fretless. I have a fretless Status neck on my 92 stingray. The bass has always sounded good but with this Status neck I think it sounds even better. To me it feels smoother, less aggressive with the fretless graphite, than with the wood.

Keep in mind that I switched from a wooden, oiled, fretted wooden neck to a graphite fretless. I too thought about a classic but it was not available in fretless so that was out for me. I paid 860.00 for the stingray plus 325.00 for a used status neck. Not sure if it was cost effective or not.

The neck is more stable than the wooden one that was originally there. Not that the original neck was not stable, because it was, just not as much as the graphite. But here again you really can't compare a wooden birdseye maple oiled neck with a graphite/carbon fiber neck. The graphite will alway win the race as far as being more stable and tone is really up to the player.

The only time the original wooden neck changed drastically was when you traveled. I left Cincinnati Wednesday night, played two shows in Kenosha WI on Thursday with a Johnny Cash tribute band and when I got home Friday the strings were lying on the neck. Same thing happened with a double truss rod Alembic Distillate when I took it to Florida. All of my wooden necked basses get two neck tweaks a year. Usually one as summer sets in and another as soon as winter comes. The Status graphite neck has never been adjusted since I first dialed it in after installation.

Tone wise it still sounds very much like a stingray..well because that's what it is. The highs are a little more pronounced than before and I don't have to work as hard to make notes sing on the D and G strings. The graphite also give the bass a little more of a chorus effect when playing with a slight vibrato.

Honestly most of the changes I am noticing are mainly because I went from fretted wooded to fretless graphite. So in my opinion yes graphite looks very good and is more stable. You might loose a bit of woody organic tone but I really don't think it will alter the sound of your bass that much.

If stability is what you want..and you like the sound and look of graphite, then it's really it's a no brainer. Go graphite, I highly recommend Status. Great necks that were even used on at least one limited edition factory EBMM.

Another thing to take note of..My bass is now a tad neck heavy because the graphite neck weighs more than the original wooden one. Nothing that a set of lighter tuning machines won't solve though.