How shapely is your neck?

[Jiffler]

I'm building a bass guitar for the first time for all I've cobbled together a couple of guitars before.
It's to auction off for a charity in memory of a bassist friend that died way too young so I have no build spec to follow. I'm loosely basing it on a P bass but haven't built the neck jig yet.
I usually go with a 10" to 12" fretboard with a fairly shallow C neck for guitars but was wondering if I'm better off going for a flatter 12" to 16" radius for a bass?
Equally I know a lot of bass playing is down at the lower end of the neck - is it worth profiling the neck with a shallow C towards the nut and a bit chunkier for a bit more support towards the body?
Got a couple of nice matched pieces of bubinga wood and A grade maple for a through body so really don't want to screw the neck up!

Any advice welcome - most bidders will be looking for a rock/ metal style of play btw.

 

[Demanic]

Re: How shapely is your neck?

I would go with a compound radius. C towards the nut then flatter towards the body.

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[Jiffler]

Re: How shapely is your neck?

Thanks! I was thinking along those lines but don't play bass

 

[Demanic]

Re: How shapely is your neck?

I play bass and guitar. I like a nice thick P-bass type neck in the lower positions. If it were to flatten out into a sort of shredder neck by the time it reached the neck joint, I can't see that being a bad thing.

 

[kramersteen]

Re: How shapely is your neck?

Bass? Send it to the bassment NOW!

 

[Snake Aces]

Re: How shapely is your neck?

I love the Fender American Standard Jazz neck profile and the Music Man Stingray neck profiles for 4 string bass guitars myself. I've been playing on them for the past 16 years now. Before that I played P bass necks which are ok, but the Jazz has a faster feel IMO due to being slightly slimmer.

 

[treyhaislip]

Re: How shapely is your neck?

I really love the feel of the Spector NS series basses but my all time favorite is the Gibson Thunderbird.

 

[JOLLY]

Re: How shapely is your neck?

I don't think I've ever even heard of a compound radius on a bass neck. I really love my Carvin bass necks. I believe they are a straight up 14" radius.


I'm sorry to hear about your friend.

 

[Jiffler]

Re: How shapely is your neck?

Ok - thanks for the comments all. I appreciate the feel of a neck is a personal thing so expected quite a range
I'm going to go for a flatter radius on the fretboard and a fairly chunky C blending down to flat at around 15th fret. Managed to source some gold hardware and gold EVO 7 jumbo fret wire- only the blood sweat and tears to go now ��