Question Neck profiles on five-stringers?

[BassMent]

So there's a lot of loose talk over at TB about Sterling 5's having a "slimmer neck" than Stingray 5's. But I see nothing in the neck specifications on this site that would suggest that there's any truth to this.

So this got me wondering... are there noticable differences between the necks of a Stingray, Sterling, Bongo and Big Al 5?

My hunch is that this is simply a subjective perception based on other qualities of the individual instruments (the first time I played a Bongo I was convinced it was 35" scale... fooled was I by the 24 frets and the overall long look of the thing!). Sterlings feel smaller overall than Stingrays, so....

Thanks for your input!

 

[adouglas]

I don't have a specific answer, but I do have an observation.

The more experience I get, the less I notice things like neck profile. I don't pick up a bass these days and go "wow, this has a really atrocious-feeling neck!"

As long as it's set up the way I like it in terms of action and string gauge, I'm good. I pay a lot more attention to how it sounds (both its amplified sound and its unamplified resonance) and how comfortable it is to wear.

So IMHO, a lot of mental energy gets wasted on things that I haven't found to be all that big a deal. Vast numbers of internet posts can issue forth on topics like this, in a manner not unlike the debate over how many angels can dance on the head of a pin.

YMMV. I know a lot of people get all wrapped up in having things JUST SO and really notice the subtleties.

 

[ekb16b]

The girth is different but the string spacing is the same in comparing the sterling5 to sr5

 

[Smallmouth_Bass]

If I am not mistaken, the Sterling 5 neck is just a hair slimmer (width) than a Stingray 5. The string spacing is the same. From back to front, it's a little slimmer too. The Big Al 5 has a Sterling sized neck. Spacing wise, the Bongo 5 is the same but the shape is different.

 

[tommixx]

If I am not mistaken, the Sterling 5 neck is just a hair slimmer (width) than a Stingray 5. The string spacing is the same. From back to front, it's a little slimmer too. The Big Al 5 has a Sterling sized neck. Spacing wise, the Bongo 5 is the same but the shape is different.

OH MAN...I did NOT know that! I can see a Big Al 5 in my future for sure then...I really love the Sterling 5 neck but I would just never use most of the tones and without a true SR5 tone it is more or less useless to me. I play a Sterling 5 EVERY time I go in the GC in Raleigh and I really dig the way it plays...I can't imagine having the flexibility of the Big Al AND have a neck like that! I am on a current quest to find another 25th 5HH/Maple to replace the one I foolishly sold to our friend JOSH...(No offense but you KNOW what I gave up....I am sure you have gone...WOW...he actually SOLD this bass? MUAAAAAAAHHHHHH what an IDIOT!!!) LOL...All jokes aside I have pretty much regretted it from the very first hour after I realized she was gone!

A 25th 5 HH(and/or a 4 string maybe??), a Big Al 5 and my SR5 Classic (coming...) I mean what else could I possibly need?




EXCEPT a Bongo?



and I KNOW there is a Bongo in my future at some point. I am secretly waiting for the Bongo with the Gamechanger though. Somehoew I feel VERY strongly that a GameChanging Bongo is EXACTLY what many of us need....

MUUUUUAHHAHAHHAAHA! MUAAAAAAAAUUUAUUAUAHHHHH!!!!!



Why yes...I am slightly mad.....

Peace,

T

 

[oli@bass]

I am on a current quest to find another 25th 5HH/Maple to replace the one I foolishly sold

I was so waiting for this sentence to come up...

 

[T Alan]

I'm very anxious to see whether or not the G string slips off the fretboard as easily on the Sterling 5 as a 'Ray 5.

 

[Smallmouth_Bass]

I'm very anxious to see whether or not the G string slips off the fretboard as easily on the Sterling 5 as a 'Ray 5.

I have heard some people mention this before and I have never had a problem with it.

On the Sterling 5s I have tried, I don't find there's a noticeable difference on the neck width compared to the Stingray 5. The profile is slimmer, but it's not a huge difference.

 

[Calaveras]

I'm very anxious to see whether or not the G string slips off the fretboard as easily on the Sterling 5 as a 'Ray 5.

I have expereinced this on one or two rays. I think its an aftermarket nut-job done by a shade tree luthier. I havent had that problem with brand new rays, only the used ones I find in local guitar shops.
Maybe could be the strings?