Duarte
Well-known member
They have just come down in price, so I might check them out.
- Thread starter Duarte
- Start date
adouglas
Well-known member
No experience with those necks, but a general observation:
If it ain't broke, don't fix it.
What is it about your existing neck that you don't like? If you like your existing neck, what would prompt you to drop cash on a graphite replacement?
Graphite necks, in my experience (I owned a Steinberger XL2), have two main advantages:
1) The bass doesn't go out of tune readily.
2) No trussrod adjustment.
The tuning thing is fun to impress people, but it doesn't really impact you in any meaningful way.
The trussrod thing is a big deal if you've got a trussrod that's a PITA to adjust, but with MM basses that's not the case. The capstan wheel we've got makes adjustment so easy it's utterly trivial.
So, neither advantage applies IMHO.
If it ain't broke, don't fix it.
What is it about your existing neck that you don't like? If you like your existing neck, what would prompt you to drop cash on a graphite replacement?
Graphite necks, in my experience (I owned a Steinberger XL2), have two main advantages:
1) The bass doesn't go out of tune readily.
2) No trussrod adjustment.
The tuning thing is fun to impress people, but it doesn't really impact you in any meaningful way.
The trussrod thing is a big deal if you've got a trussrod that's a PITA to adjust, but with MM basses that's not the case. The capstan wheel we've got makes adjustment so easy it's utterly trivial.
So, neither advantage applies IMHO.
the unrepentant
Well-known member
apparently they make the bass a bit attackier and brighter sounding, and also tend to eliminate dead spots, not that i've actually really noticed any on mine, although i'm sure it probably has a couple.
Duarte
Well-known member
Thanks for the advice, although I am thinking of getting fretless - and converting my existing fretted to fretless. So there is some other reasoning behind it, but at this stage I am just toying with the idea.
iamcatwarrior
Well-known member
Once while in a new-and-used music shop, I played, on two different occasions, a used Zon and a used Modulus Flea bass, each of which had graphite necks. I was thorougly unimpressed with both of them, primarily because of the feel of the necks and the lack of "personality" in the tone.
I think that the technology is cool, but I'd rather play with a maple neck for the sake of a more natural tone and a growl to go with it. The wood necks also just feel smoother to me and easier to travel back and forth on while playing.
I also think that a Stingray won't be a Stingray anymore if you replace the original parts with aftermarket components (pickups, necks, preamps). Ultimately, it's up to you, but this is just my $0.02.
I think that the technology is cool, but I'd rather play with a maple neck for the sake of a more natural tone and a growl to go with it. The wood necks also just feel smoother to me and easier to travel back and forth on while playing.
I also think that a Stingray won't be a Stingray anymore if you replace the original parts with aftermarket components (pickups, necks, preamps). Ultimately, it's up to you, but this is just my $0.02.
MrMusashi
Well-known member
im sure someone in here owned/owns a 100th namm show bass (which had a status graphite neck) and can chime in with some information 
MrM
MrM
Lynottfan
Well-known member
- Joined
- Feb 22, 2008
- Messages
- 367
I have a stingray with a status graphite neck and if you want the absoulte best possible set up for slap in particular (imho) you are hard pressed to beat a status neck, superb tuning stability, great note definition, nice chiming bell like harmonics, when EBMM put a graphite neck on the Stingray it was a Status, that in itself speaks volumes I think.
GreyDad
Well-known member
I have a Zon fretless with a graphite neck and I really like it. Since I bought it I have played a fretless Stingray and really liked that too, although it was a very different feel. I do think you get lots of mwah from the graphite, but that may also be the single coil pups. It makes the neck very light as well.
I thought Tony Levin had a Ray with a Graphite neck? He generally seems to know what he's doing. Anyway, it's not a permanent change, if you don't like it you can always swap it out and put the old one back on.
I thought Tony Levin had a Ray with a Graphite neck? He generally seems to know what he's doing. Anyway, it's not a permanent change, if you don't like it you can always swap it out and put the old one back on.
IMO, if you want to sharply minimize damage created by using roundwound strings on a fretless surface, carbon graphite is the way to go.
Phenolic/ebonol fretboards (of which I own two) are adequate for this in their own way, but can still be abraded over time with roundwound strings, depending on the player's style.
Funk styles involving snapping and popping seem to tear it up the most, in my experience.
Many players have had little or no wear on properly prepared wooden surfaces, but graphite solves the problem somewhat permanently.
As to the 'mwah' or resonance factor with such fretboards...I think that's up to the player, really. It either does it for you, or not.
Phenolic/ebonol fretboards (of which I own two) are adequate for this in their own way, but can still be abraded over time with roundwound strings, depending on the player's style.
Funk styles involving snapping and popping seem to tear it up the most, in my experience.
Many players have had little or no wear on properly prepared wooden surfaces, but graphite solves the problem somewhat permanently.
As to the 'mwah' or resonance factor with such fretboards...I think that's up to the player, really. It either does it for you, or not.
strummer
Enormous Member
I like them british necks, and I could see one on a Bongo fiver some day;-)
thunder
Well-known member
check out the cutlas 1 and 2 (necks were made by modulas) as well as the namm 100th annv basses (neck made by status). those are some pretty cool mm basses with graphite necks.
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the unrepentant
Well-known member
arghh, the cutlas 1 basses were some of the sexiest instruments ever made!
Sonnyonbass
Well-known member
- Joined
- May 31, 2006
- Messages
- 481
Graphite necks will always feel the same when you pick the bass up.
In every kind of weather conditions.
So that can be a positive point if you are living in areas with a lot of different changes in terms of weather.
It's also a bit snappier and brighter. (I also have a Steinberger XL2)
Groundbreaking sound and design. Just like Musicman basses.
In every kind of weather conditions.
So that can be a positive point if you are living in areas with a lot of different changes in terms of weather.
It's also a bit snappier and brighter. (I also have a Steinberger XL2)
Groundbreaking sound and design. Just like Musicman basses.
oli@bass
Well-known member
love the sound hate the feeling...
...it is quite a unique combo and also very different from the Cutlass.
Some basic corrections:
- the fretboard is phenolic
- you need to adjust the trussrod on weather change
- it can have dead spots
Soundwise they are very clean with great even sustain and piano like ringing quality but can also be said to lack warmth. They tend to have a more nasal midrange with very tight lows and precise crisp top end.
...it is quite a unique combo and also very different from the Cutlass.
Some basic corrections:
- the fretboard is phenolic
- you need to adjust the trussrod on weather change
- it can have dead spots
Soundwise they are very clean with great even sustain and piano like ringing quality but can also be said to lack warmth. They tend to have a more nasal midrange with very tight lows and precise crisp top end.
Marco
Well-known member
I agree with what Oli said. I really like the way they sound but I much prefer the feel of oil, wax and maple. I think that Status now gives you the option of a satin vs gloss neck. I would go with the satin.
Duarte
Well-known member
Thank's for the responses guys. I reckon I will try them out at some point, although not necessarily on one of my MMs. I think they are perfect how they are.
bbernard
Well-known member
I have an Alembic Series I with a graphite neck. I don't see a big difference in feel between this and any other finished neck. The tone is as descrobed above - tight lows (but still substantial, not thin), piano like sustain. Its a great sound. Mine doesn't have a truss rod and has been dead stable for 29 years.
Having said all that, I prefer my HH Bongo 5.
Having said all that, I prefer my HH Bongo 5.
I have two status graphite basses, one is throughneck (early 90') and the other is a Groove bass (Status's MM copy) that came from the factory with a Musicman graphite replacement neck (originally should have a wooden neck).
I just love the status neck profile.
more to graphite necks:
-never go out of tune, its a bit annoying when the strats go flat with the heat of the stage lights, humidity, or whatever but you are spot on with the keyboard.
-great articulation and brighter so they actually highlight your mistakes.
-can sound a bit harsh, but that is due to not sitting down to play with the EQ
-they do have truss rods now (my '90 doesn't, but I use the same gauge its designed for, so everything is perfect)
-the sound is very versatile so some could say they lack personality, though the midrange of graphite is unattainable any other way.
-they lack the "sound of wood" (very subjective matter) but that is why I have my MM
-the through body has infinite sustain and incredible slappability.
cheers
I just love the status neck profile.
more to graphite necks:
-never go out of tune, its a bit annoying when the strats go flat with the heat of the stage lights, humidity, or whatever but you are spot on with the keyboard.
-great articulation and brighter so they actually highlight your mistakes.
-can sound a bit harsh, but that is due to not sitting down to play with the EQ
-they do have truss rods now (my '90 doesn't, but I use the same gauge its designed for, so everything is perfect)
-the sound is very versatile so some could say they lack personality, though the midrange of graphite is unattainable any other way.
-they lack the "sound of wood" (very subjective matter) but that is why I have my MM
-the through body has infinite sustain and incredible slappability.
cheers
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