Guitfiddle options for bass player

rcfs1834 · October 7th, 2008, 10:26 AM

What do fellow bass players use for a guitfiddle? A few years ago I started out playing guitar then switched to bass and now I'm in a gigging band. So I'm playing a lot of bass but still like to switch off to the 6 string once in a while for fun.

I play an American Series Precision bass. I love the chunky neck, it feels great in my hands. For 6 string, I play a G&L ASAT Classic with a 12" radius and 1 5/8" nut width. The neck just feels tiny to me now.

What's my best neck option for switching to guitar? Thanks.

Tim Armstrong · October 7th, 2008, 10:32 AM

I have fairly small hands, so I'm perfectly comfortable on my Beloved 1966 Telecaster, as well as a very nice 1968 Guild Starfire III and a cool little Epiphone LP Junior.

Seems to me that Nocasters have big beefy necks, right? I'm so out of the loop!

Cheers, Tim

4mal · October 7th, 2008, 02:17 PM

A d18 ?

I love a P Bass I really do - but I'm a J Bass guy. The reason ? Switching back and forth between a P and a guitar is too difficult. My J necks are just enough smaller that I'm not so far out in the weeds. So you can predict my advice ... get a MIJ J, preferrably one from the late 80's early 90's, and preferrably a 62 or 75 RI variety and be done with it. You'll find it to be more than a match for your MIA P.

I have a MIA Deluxe P that I like a lot. It's neck is the 1.625 width. I can just get by with that one but it's still easier with the J's. I just traded out an incredible 87 62 RI P Bass for this reason. Got a 62 RI J in the deal. The guy on the other end had exactly the same problem but in reverse. He's an upright Bass player and swiching down to the J neck was too difficult - he really needs the P...

Chris S. · October 7th, 2008, 05:11 PM

Another G&L player here: an L2000 with a #6 (J-size) neck. Small neck + BIG sound = happy bassist.

CS

Dave W · October 7th, 2008, 07:28 PM

If I'm reading it right, he's asking for a guitar recommendation -- one with a chunkier neck like his Precision.

But I haven't had enough caffeine today, so maybe I misunderstood the question.

Tim Armstrong · October 7th, 2008, 07:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dave W

If I'm reading it right, he's asking for a guitar recommendation -- one with a chunkier neck like his Precision.

But I haven't had enough caffeine today, so maybe I misunderstood the question.

That's how I read it, too!

Cheers, Tim

Chris S. · October 7th, 2008, 08:40 PM

D'OH! Now that I've re-read it, that is what he was asking.

And I don't have a ready answer

, although G&L does offer a 1.75" nut width as an option when you order a new guitar. That plus a fat V-neck profile would give you something substantial to grab onto. Hope it helps, CS

Big Mike Simpson · October 7th, 2008, 10:40 PM

What you NEED is a Tele or partscaster with an Allparts TMO-fat neck.

4mal · October 8th, 2008, 02:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dave W

If I'm reading it right, he's asking for a guitar recommendation -- one with a chunkier neck like his Precision.

But I haven't had enough caffeine today, so maybe I misunderstood the question.

You got the question right - truth is, the answer to the OP's issue might lie outside the question he asked ... there's two ways to approach it.

rcfs1834 · October 8th, 2008, 09:08 AM

Oops, sorry if my wording threw people off. I meant what guitar neck option would be chunky enough to compete with a precision neck.

Switching to Jazz neck isn't an option for me, I have gorilla hands...

I did have a parts tele with a Fat neck from warmoth before my bass playing days. It did seem chunky enough and I have a tele body and hardware laying around. Maybe it's time build a partscaster again. Would people suggest a boat or fat neck from warmoth for optimal chunkiness?

bobbybigmac · October 8th, 2008, 04:20 PM

I have 2 PBasses. When I feel like bashing away on 6 strings.
I pick up my Squier 51.
1/2 Strat 1/2 Tele.
In-expensive guitar that has a cult like following.
Often available on Ebay or CL fro under $250.00

October 7th, 2008, 10:26 AM	#1 (permalink)
rcfs1834 TDPRI Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Portland, Maine Posts: 12	Guitfiddle options for bass player What do fellow bass players use for a guitfiddle? A few years ago I started out playing guitar then switched to bass and now I'm in a gigging band. So I'm playing a lot of bass but still like to switch off to the 6 string once in a while for fun. I play an American Series Precision bass. I love the chunky neck, it feels great in my hands. For 6 string, I play a G&L ASAT Classic with a 12" radius and 1 5/8" nut width. The neck just feels tiny to me now. What's my best neck option for switching to guitar? Thanks.

October 7th, 2008, 10:32 AM	#2 (permalink)
Tim Armstrong Moderator Poster Extraordinaire Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Berlin, Maryland, USA Age: 49 Posts: 9,717	I have fairly small hands, so I'm perfectly comfortable on my Beloved 1966 Telecaster, as well as a very nice 1968 Guild Starfire III and a cool little Epiphone LP Junior. Seems to me that Nocasters have big beefy necks, right? I'm so out of the loop! Cheers, Tim __________________ http://www.moodswingers.org

October 7th, 2008, 05:11 PM	#4 (permalink)
Chris S. Friend of Leo's Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Near TELE-Town (Wash. DC) Posts: 2,894 7 Photos	Another G&L player here: an L2000 with a #6 (J-size) neck. Small neck + BIG sound = happy bassist. CS __________________ "I go online sometimes, but everyone's spelling is really bad. It's depressing." – Tara, from "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" "It was born at the junction of form and function." – Bill Kirchen, from "Hammer of the Honky-Tonk Gods"

October 7th, 2008, 08:40 PM	#7 (permalink)
Chris S. Friend of Leo's Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Near TELE-Town (Wash. DC) Posts: 2,894 7 Photos	D'OH! Now that I've re-read it, that is what he was asking. And I don't have a ready answer , although G&L does offer a 1.75" nut width as an option when you order a new guitar. That plus a fat V-neck profile would give you something substantial to grab onto. Hope it helps, CS __________________ "I go online sometimes, but everyone's spelling is really bad. It's depressing." – Tara, from "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" "It was born at the junction of form and function." – Bill Kirchen, from "Hammer of the Honky-Tonk Gods"

October 7th, 2008, 10:40 PM	#8 (permalink)
Big Mike Simpson Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Gilbert, AZ (PHX) Age: 52 Posts: 1,501 62 Photos	What you NEED is a Tele or partscaster with an Allparts TMO-fat neck. __________________ http://www.myspace.com/bigmikesimpson

October 7th, 2008, 02:17 PM	#3 (permalink)
4mal Friend of Leo's Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: The Gorge Posts: 2,153	A d18 ? I love a P Bass I really do - but I'm a J Bass guy. The reason ? Switching back and forth between a P and a guitar is too difficult. My J necks are just enough smaller that I'm not so far out in the weeds. So you can predict my advice ... get a MIJ J, preferrably one from the late 80's early 90's, and preferrably a 62 or 75 RI variety and be done with it. You'll find it to be more than a match for your MIA P. I have a MIA Deluxe P that I like a lot. It's neck is the 1.625 width. I can just get by with that one but it's still easier with the J's. I just traded out an incredible 87 62 RI P Bass for this reason. Got a 62 RI J in the deal. The guy on the other end had exactly the same problem but in reverse. He's an upright Bass player and swiching down to the J neck was too difficult - he really needs the P...

October 7th, 2008, 07:28 PM	#5 (permalink)
Dave W Tele-Afflicted Join Date: May 2003 Location: Guadalupe County, TX Age: 61 Posts: 1,773	If I'm reading it right, he's asking for a guitar recommendation -- one with a chunkier neck like his Precision. But I haven't had enough caffeine today, so maybe I misunderstood the question.

October 8th, 2008, 09:08 AM	#10 (permalink)
rcfs1834 TDPRI Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Portland, Maine Posts: 12	Oops, sorry if my wording threw people off. I meant what guitar neck option would be chunky enough to compete with a precision neck. Switching to Jazz neck isn't an option for me, I have gorilla hands... I did have a parts tele with a Fat neck from warmoth before my bass playing days. It did seem chunky enough and I have a tele body and hardware laying around. Maybe it's time build a partscaster again. Would people suggest a boat or fat neck from warmoth for optimal chunkiness?

October 8th, 2008, 04:20 PM	#11 (permalink)
bobbybigmac TDPRI Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: West Coast Canada Age: 49 Posts: 84	I have 2 PBasses. When I feel like bashing away on 6 strings. I pick up my Squier 51. 1/2 Strat 1/2 Tele. In-expensive guitar that has a cult like following. Often available on Ebay or CL fro under $250.00 __________________ No ma'am I'm not Elvis, I'm just the bass player.