It seems a lot of ppl have a beef with EB neck finishes

[RoboChrist]

I'm posting this not to start a flame war or to troll anyone, so please don't take it that way. It's my belief that a forum should be a discussion where people can voice their honest opinions and have some kind of feedback. And I know there are many fans of EB here, but I get the sense that any kind of dissent is frowned upon or considered rude or whatever.

I'm also posting this partially for my own selfish reasons, in hopes that something can be done to bring back the satin lacquer neck finishes that so many of us (but not all of us) dearly miss. I would even go so far to say that a large chunk of Stingray owners are experiencing the same problems I have, trying to keep our necks in a playable state. Possibly someone higher up can take it into consideration and possibly offer this as an upgrade option in the future. Many companies do this.

Here is the discussion:
Problems with EB necks

Again, no hate intended here, just an honest discussion on improving a great instrument.

Sincerely,
Mike

 

[MrMusashi]

why on earth did i go read up on talkbass again.. i should have known better... :facepalm

MrM

 

[Grand Wazoo]

Well there will always be people that prefer one thing over another.

One man's meat is always another man's poison. Unfinished necks is what EBMM does nowadays with the majority of people happy with the way things are.

Unfinished necks are sleeker i.e. faster to play and easer to maintain clean wth "0000" steel wool and wax, alas, if you chip a lacquered neck you need to have it relacquered before it start to scale away.

I appreciate your debate respectfully but I don't think it's cool to link a TB discussion here as their bias tangents are different from those on a manufacturer's own forum. Peace

 

[DaddyFlip]

I did not read the thread you linked, so I don't know what the alleged problems are. However, I believe your wish will be granted when the Classic Collection is introduced mid-January. Start saving now.

No disrespect to Brandt and the gang, but the perfect bass will never be designed or built because discontent is a natural characteristic of the human heart. Some will complain that they can't keep an unfinished neck in good condition while others will complain that their thumb sticks to a finished neck that needs no conditioning.

Oh, wait; seems someone designed and built a bass with a finished neck that doesn't need conditioning and isn't sticky. Can you sing...

Bee-Ohh-Inn-Gee-Ohh
Be-Oh-In-Ge-Oh
B-O-N-G-O
And BP was his name-O!

 

[fidooda]

i love some fender guitar and basses but absolutely hate the trustrods, i don't go on their forum (do they have one?) to argue about them. i purchase what i like.

the humidity and unfinished necks argument always made me laugh. We have the worst differences in temperature and humidity here and i never had a problem with any unfinished necks. But hey i also don't go swimming with my bass on

that thread was best left on TB.

 

[bovinehost]

It's my belief that a forum should be a discussion where people can voice their honest opinions and have some kind of feedback. And I know there are many fans of EB here, but I get the sense that any kind of dissent is frowned upon or considered rude or whatever.

This particular subject - neck finishes - has been run into the ground, reanimated like Keith Richards, shot full of steroids, then run into the ground again where the process begins anew.

Here's the upshot: some EBMM basses have finishes on the neck. Paint, even. And the people who don't like that bitch and gripe about it even if they don't OWN that particular model, and it becomes INTERNET TRUTH that "A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T LIKE THAT". Then some EBMM basses have the oil and wax finish and people who don't like that bitch and gripe about it even if they don't OWN that particular model and it becomes yet another INTERNET TRUTH that "A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T LIKE THAT".

So you can't make all the people happy all of the time. I think we all realize that, correct? Bongos are great, fabulously wonderful basses. Some people simply won't play them. Good for them. No one should be forced to play something they don't like. I'm sure, say, Thunderbirds are fine basses, but you won't find one around my house. Good for me, I say!

But you know what I DON'T do? I don't invade every freaking Thunderbird Lovers Thread on the freaking internet to talk about how little I like their damned basses. Nor do I write letters to Gibson, telling them that if only they'd do this or that or the other thing that while I probably still won't go buy a T-bird, hell, if they'll just re-tool the factory based on my personal opinions (and a LOT OF OTHER PEOPLE I know) then I MIGHT someday actually go play a Thunderbird in a music store.

I'm a member of Talkbass. No big secret there. I try to answer questions and supply reasonably accurate information, most of which earns me the disdain of a few hardcore complainers. But every now and then, I get a PM with a "Thanks" or "I'm getting a Bongo!" or "Your information helped me decide to get XX bass" and so it's worth it. I know the score and I choose to occasionally deal with the ridiculous signal to noise ratio. My choice.

And here, it's not really a question of dealing with "dissent", as it were. But hang around a while and you'll figure out that the factory is not going to rush about, re-designing things and tossing out perfectly workable ideas just because a couple of guys on the internet don't think it's perfect. After all these years of being on this forum, I can tell you - we've had "dissent" and we've talked and talked and talked some more about neck finishes and string spacing and you name it.

So sometimes I do get this "God, do we have to do this AGAIN" attitude, although I try to keep it in check. Not everyone has been around this forum as long as I have. I get that.

I'm also posting this partially for my own selfish reasons, in hopes that something can be done to bring back the satin lacquer neck finishes that so many of us (but not all of us) dearly miss. I would even go so far to say that a large chunk of Stingray owners are experiencing the same problems I have, trying to keep our necks in a playable state. Possibly someone higher up can take it into consideration and possibly offer this as an upgrade option in the future. Many companies do this.

There it is, "a large chunk of Stingray owners". Anyway, this isn't rocket science. If you prefer the old satin laquer finish on the neck, either do it yourself or have it done by someone you trust. If that was my big issue with Stingrays, loved them otherwise, I'd buy some Minwax and knock it out and call myself a genius.

You see what I mean? I've always used gunstock oil on mine and I'm sitting here with one in my lap and can't imagine being happier. But if laquer was what I needed, I'd get it done. And maybe, who knows, maybe the company will someday offer it as an option. The Classic Series has that finish. Who knows?

Again, no hate intended here, just an honest discussion on improving a great instrument.

No hate, Mike, none at all. We're bassists. My comments are directed less at you than on some of the foolishness I read on TB frequently.

And lacquer's easy to do.

Jack

 

[maddog]

I like Bongos.

 

[Steve-O]

I like Bongos.

'Problem' solved.

 

[Powman]

I do not have much to add as the other posts Grand Wazoo, daddyflip, and bovinehost sum things up quite nicely.

But it does make me think of my day job and the product lines we have there. When we make a change to please some folks, other folks get mad. eg. "your buttons on product A are too easy to push accidentally, make them stiffer." Change made, now the comments are "your buttons on product A are too stiff". This is a real example, and I have many more.

For the record, I prefer the unfinished neck and the neck of my Sterling was actually the deal maker.

Also, for the record, there are plenty of choices of neck finishes with Music Man basses. The company has done its job in make sure the consumer has a choice.

 

[fidooda]

'Problem' solved.

not for me

 

[Big Poppa]

First off linking Talk bass isnt a great start. Its a fine place. but to base your understanding and position globally is like driving your car into a wall at 70 drunk. The consumer base is not represented here or talk bass...the diehards. The cayenne pepper. If I had to rely on them I would be better off with a hot dog stand.

I love the guys who said they got tired of adjusting their bass and the the seniors techs say that they are unstable...,poppycock. and at least you can adjust ours.....heheheh

You want one there is an option for you I think that you are fabulous in your opinion of what you want and prefer just a little soggy when you thinkits the majority

You didnt get jumped on either even though your title is 1000 incorrect....some people is a better wording

 

[maddog]

not for me

something did, right?

*nudge-nudge*

 

[DTG]

coulnd't bring myself to read the tb crap....been there done it too many times.as said before i love my fenders and hate the stupid trust rod on them.....but i wont log on to fender.com to slag them off. tell you what mike when you have your bass factory you can put whatever finish you like on your neck

 

[slow roasted]

My 2 cents...

Large chunk? No....not really. Most of the musicians I talk to that play EBMM's don't really say anything negative about them. They just use them like the tools they are, and the most common comment I hear about them is that they are comfortable, and reliable instruments.

Honest discussion? I won't even attempt to wrestle with that one.

Here's an honest OPINION from a jackass who's been playing bass for over 30 years, and has been on intimate terms with hundreds of basses a year for most of those 30 yrs....

I like vintage basses. I like the sound of old wood. I like settled wood that is old, well behaved and predictable. I like the feel of a worn in neck, just like a good pair of boots or a nicely broken in pair of jeans. Comfort and stabilty.

I do not like the price tag of those basses however.Thousands of dollars worth of tools around here, and they better be making me money. And some of them are. Gradually appreciating... But they are worth too much to take on some of the rough dates I've been on lately.

But I need to have GOOD TOOLS to bring to Billy Ray's bowling alley, and that outdoor gig at my wife's bosses house in August every year. THAT'S when I reach for my revolver.... ( Name that tune!)

Actually, my Stingray 5 or maybe the Big Al. Because they are comfortable. They feel like a nice broken in old bass, but without the hassle. I set them up, and they stay pretty damn stable. And I live in the volatile weather vortex of Chicagoland where it is 3 degrees below freekin' zero right now. And no fret sprout or movement of any kind on the half dozen EBMM basses in my casa at the moment.

I always size up any bass I play before playing a show. If the neck moves on my Stingray, I take a jewelers screwdriver and adjust the truss wheel. And away we go...... try that on most anyone elses bass and get back to me...

I've used basses made by other folks that have similar oil and wax finishes as well. Dozens of them. All paid for by me on the used market, no endorsement deals of any kind.

And as nice as some of those basses were, they are all living elsewhere at the moment.

Because they were either:

1. Fitted with necks that were difficult to adjust and/or unstable.
2. Had fit and finish isssues that were not in line with a $1500 + instrument.

Or ( more often than not), all of the above.

I haven't had these issues with EBMM basses. Some I have liked better than others, and some didn't stay long because they didn't fit into my designs at the time. But they all have had the same constant.

The fit and finish are amazingly consistent. The oil and wax necks are far more user freindly than anyone elses USA production instruments. And if you have a problem, they have real customer service human beings that get things done in a "non-smoke blowing fashion".

Simply revolutionary friend!

 

[Jimmyb]

I thought this was another BBQ thread....

 

[Psycho Ward]

I love EBMM basses but I hate TB, I'm cool with that.

 

[T Alan]

The oiled neck was a big part of how EBMM won me over; that and the neck profile. The oiled neck is just a part of what makes them so comfortable to play.
Anyway...I've never EVER had my 'Ray4 fretless setup once. It's just as perfect today as it was when I bought it 9 years ago.

 

[Stephen]

Well, it's a free world, and a free market, too. Actually, a free market is one of the most democratic institutions there is: vote YES by buying, vote NO by passing on product X or brand Y ... it's that simple.

And as in politics, manufacturers will adjust to their "voters" demands, both by changing or discontinuing products that don't sell and by keeping or even improving products that do. It seems that EBMMs oil & wax finished (see, they are finished!) necks are doing pretty well, opposed to green or orange bodies, aren't they?

But the point here is this: Musical instruments will react to their environment, so it's a good idea to maintain at least a friendly storage environment. And if occasional adjustments are needed, for Pete's sake, adjust it! All the tinkering bits are there for a reason! And by the way, I completely fail to recognize 3-4 times per year (as some dude at TB stated) as "often".

And ultimately, if this seems just unacceptable, you can always buy something else, or have a custom finish made, or pick up something less complicated, like collecting bricks or somethin'.

*gnarf*

 

[Big Poppa]

it boils down to what you decide your product is will never please everybody...sopme think that because they want it differently that everybody else must also and the manufacturer musta fallen and hit their head to miss it. I cant please everybody...but I will repeat one thing....

You can adjust ours. Yeah! without removing the strings pickguard ...you can use a nail use can use a screwdriver.....no allen wrench that you left at uncle charlies or some rare slot one....

 

[the unrepentant]

i didn't read most of this thread, and i definitely didn't read the talkbass thread as i dislike that place, but here is what i think.

First off, i've had no problems with the unfinished neck, it was a bit dirty from the previous owner when i got it, but it was nothing a bit of scotchbrite and lemon oil didn't solve (could do with some gun oil soon), and to me the oil finish just feels better than satin laquer, which to me just feels cheap, which is why the OLP basses had it. I've owned a few other basses from other certain brands (a t****s and a w*****k) with natural oiled necks, and in my opinion they play so much better and feel much faster and more natural than satin laquer. I'd rather have the feel of the wood than the feel of a plastic laquer.