Fender VI neck width.

Discussion of newer designs, copies and reissue offset-waist instruments.
Post Reply
eggwheat
PAT. # 2.972.923
PAT. # 2.972.923
Posts: 5151
Joined: Sat Mar 03, 2007 8:30 am

Fender VI neck width.

Post by eggwheat » Thu Mar 08, 2007 11:29 am

When did Fender make the Bass VI neck width thinner? I owed a 62, 3 switch and the neck seemed really wide. Then the 63' seemed to get a bit thinner. Until you have the 70's models which have ultra thin necks. Can anyone give year specifics to when these changes happened? At the nut the my 63' measures 1 and 9/16" the '75 measures 1 and 7/16"

User avatar
sookwinder
Mods
Mods
Posts: 11179
Joined: Mon Sep 11, 2006 6:47 pm
Location: Melbourne Australia

Re: Fender VI neck width.

Post by sookwinder » Thu Mar 08, 2007 6:01 pm

I always thought that all bass VIs had the A width neck

never seen a (fender) bass VI with a B width neck
relaxing alternative to doing actual work ...

User avatar
thewizardofaz
PAT. # 2.972.923
PAT. # 2.972.923
Posts: 565
Joined: Thu Oct 12, 2006 5:23 pm
Location: Tucson, AZ U.S.A.
Contact:

Re: Fender VI neck width.

Post by thewizardofaz » Thu Mar 08, 2007 6:51 pm

And isn't that and the 7.25 radius just nuts?
Rick
"Some people are like Slinkies . . . not really good for anything, but you still can’t help but smile when you see one tumble down the stairs."

User avatar
sookwinder
Mods
Mods
Posts: 11179
Joined: Mon Sep 11, 2006 6:47 pm
Location: Melbourne Australia

Re: Fender VI neck width.

Post by sookwinder » Thu Mar 08, 2007 8:28 pm

I actually like the extremel thin A width neck on the BAss VI  ... the reason is that the strings are so close you never get to feel fret board whjen you are playing so your fingers slide from string to string very easily.... I can play things on the Bass VI far quicker than say on my J basses.

Even though the cramped string spacing would seem a disadvantage to the playabilityy of the Bass VI, for me it actually helps.

[I  have medium to large hands fwiw]
relaxing alternative to doing actual work ...

User avatar
i love sharin foo
Mods
Mods
Posts: 5649
Joined: Tue Sep 12, 2006 8:26 am
Location: Pittsburgh, PA
Contact:

Re: Fender VI neck width.

Post by i love sharin foo » Thu Mar 08, 2007 8:45 pm

sookwinder wrote: Even though the cramped string spacing would seem a disadvantage to the playabilityy of the Bass VI, for me it actually helps.
I feel the same way. On paper, I always thought it would feel too tight. But in reality, it feels perfect to me.

Justin
The whispers cut like hard rain, Like sugar in a hurricane

User avatar
DB
PAT. # 2.972.923
PAT. # 2.972.923
Posts: 1050
Joined: Wed Dec 06, 2006 7:18 pm
Location: Breckenridge, Colorado, USA

Re: Fender VI neck width.

Post by DB » Thu Mar 08, 2007 9:06 pm

I have an RI and an 06 CS, and they are both 1.5" wide at the nut.  I have big hands and fingers (though not long), and I find the VI just fine.  And I'm a bass player who is typically used to wider spacing.  FYI, the neck width of the VI is the same as a Jazz Bass or Jaguar Bass.  I'll admit it does take a different playing technique.

DB
Last edited by DB on Thu Mar 08, 2007 9:36 pm, edited 1 time in total.
IV, V, VI, XII...

User avatar
thewizardofaz
PAT. # 2.972.923
PAT. # 2.972.923
Posts: 565
Joined: Thu Oct 12, 2006 5:23 pm
Location: Tucson, AZ U.S.A.
Contact:

Re: Fender VI neck width.

Post by thewizardofaz » Thu Mar 08, 2007 9:24 pm

So, if you could, you wouldn't want a 1.65 neck with a flatter radius?? That's what I'm thinking about having USA CG make for me. I can alter saddles, assuming I use saddles with height adjust screws, very nicely. What's the neck profile on these btw?
Rick
"Some people are like Slinkies . . . not really good for anything, but you still can’t help but smile when you see one tumble down the stairs."

User avatar
DB
PAT. # 2.972.923
PAT. # 2.972.923
Posts: 1050
Joined: Wed Dec 06, 2006 7:18 pm
Location: Breckenridge, Colorado, USA

Re: Fender VI neck width.

Post by DB » Thu Mar 08, 2007 9:35 pm

thewizardofaz wrote: So, if you could, you wouldn't want a 1.65 neck with a flatter radius?? That's what I'm thinking about having USA CG make for me. I can alter saddles, assuming I use saddles with height adjust screws, very nicely. What's the neck profile on these btw?
Good point.  If given the choice, I would go with wider spacing and a flatter radius.  I used to be really picky about neck dimensions, but going between bass and guitar has made me more flexible.  But yes, in an ideal world I'd go for a bit more elbow room. And the flatter radius is nice if you're not doing a lot of bending, which isn't very likely on the VI.

Sorry, I do not know the neck profile of the VI.  Tell me what to measure and I'll do it for you.  I can tell you the Bass VI necks are not all that thick (deep) - nothing like a Gibson neck which IMHO is quiite close to a baseball bat (but I can still adjust to a Gibson neck fine - they're just different - but not my favorite).

DB
Last edited by DB on Thu Mar 08, 2007 9:39 pm, edited 1 time in total.
IV, V, VI, XII...

User avatar
sookwinder
Mods
Mods
Posts: 11179
Joined: Mon Sep 11, 2006 6:47 pm
Location: Melbourne Australia

Re: Fender VI neck width.

Post by sookwinder » Thu Mar 08, 2007 10:14 pm

for me , I don't know ...  the A width on the vintage Bass VI necks makes it play like a guitar for me.  If the neck were wider maybe it would not play the same for me.

you really need to get a hold of one and play it for half an hour to see how you feel about the vintage widths.
relaxing alternative to doing actual work ...

User avatar
mjet
Expat
Expat
Posts: 4207
Joined: Tue Sep 12, 2006 2:03 pm
Location: Prague, Czech Republic

Re: Fender VI neck width.

Post by mjet » Fri Mar 09, 2007 4:08 am

sookwinder wrote:
you really need to get a hold of one and play it for half an hour...
Don't we all...
"You eventually learn that true priorities are like arms; if you think you have more than a couple, you're either lying or crazy."

User avatar
thewizardofaz
PAT. # 2.972.923
PAT. # 2.972.923
Posts: 565
Joined: Thu Oct 12, 2006 5:23 pm
Location: Tucson, AZ U.S.A.
Contact:

Re: Fender VI neck width.

Post by thewizardofaz » Fri Mar 09, 2007 2:54 pm

By size and shape I mean, is it a C or a D, I suspect a c, which is not so big. How thick at the nut and the 12th fret? I've got this little Tele I'm building and it's over 1 at the nut and a bit more at the 12th and a D shape. Fat chunkey monkey I call it.

Rick
Rick
"Some people are like Slinkies . . . not really good for anything, but you still can’t help but smile when you see one tumble down the stairs."

Post Reply