Its all about the feel...of the neck...

[Detroitblues]

For those few here that know me, I am obsessed with a guitar that feels comfortable in the hand.

Namely, I like thicker necks, usually in the neighborhood of .875 to .950 at the first and 1.00 at the 12th.

But the nut has to be a bit narrow.

The shape cannot have to much shoulders to them, sort of like a V-neck profile.

So here's what I'm getting at.

Gibson puts out different names for their necks....

Slim Taper 60's
Rounded
Asymmetrical Slim Taper
Slim Taper
50's

And other brands talk about '59 or '58.
or 50's Rounded
Baseball Bat
V-Neck
Soft V
Thick C

Some actually give some dimensions...

But the jargon is so difficult to read.

I've found 50's Rounded to be nothing more that a C shape instead of D shape, but still rather thin.

Its tough to find a thick neck that is actually thick.

I've purchase so many guitars online that were supposedly thick, beefy necks.

But they aren't....

Anyone else get frustrated with this?

 

[DavidRavenMoon]

Re: Its all about the feel...of the neck...

I think you'll find the majority of people prefer thinner necks, which is why they are made that way.

I like them thin front to back, and wide at the nut because I have long fingers.


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[zionstrat]

Re: Its all about the feel...of the neck...

Yes, I'm a wide thin neck guy and D doesn't always get it. Warmouth descriptions are pretty good, but my favorite neck is a Parker with similar specs.

Add this to 'no 2 guitars sound exactly the same', I rarely buy finished guitars online.

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[PFDarkside]

Re: Its all about the feel...of the neck...

Musikraft.

I think you can actually give them specs and they can CNC to them. Lots of stock dimensions as well.

I'll never understand how someone can play on those 1" - 1" necks! .830 at the 1st is such a happy place for me.

 

[Gone_Shootin]

Re: Its all about the feel...of the neck...

Sounds like you would like a Rickenbacker. IIRC, some of the EVH Wolfgangs are that way too.

 

[metalchurch79]

Re: Its all about the feel...of the neck...

I wish there was a standard unit of measurement or descriptions for neck profiles. I mean I generally get what they all mean by now, but its still sometimes a pain to try and remember what they all mean.
I generally prefer an 87-93 Ibanez Wizard or 90's era Jackson necks because they are 17mm @1st and 19mm @12th (.735/.745), but I still sand them down more to remove the clear coat and thin them out more, and then finish them off with 2,000 grit and some oil.

I liked the "elliptical taper" of the Gibson made Kramers, and the Gibson Slim Taper only because its the thinnest profile they offer as far as I know.

I know we have different tastes but I share in your sentiments, as well as alot of others likely will too.

 

[zionstrat]

Re: Its all about the feel...of the neck...

I know we have different tastes but I share in your sentiments, as well as alot of others likely will too.

I ask my younger students to switch up guitars with different necks from time to time until they get a good understanding of what works for them- Sometimes they need the space that comes with wider profiles, sometimes a shift in scale length does the trick, some of them love my narrow 62 LP/SG and some hate it.

But neck impacts everything, so it's best to get that one sorted our first and then you can plan the rest of the guitar to balance out and would really love more standardization.

 

[DavidRavenMoon]

Re: Its all about the feel...of the neck...

You guys that can't find a neck you like should seek out a luthier to build what you want.


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[DavidRavenMoon]

Re: Its all about the feel...of the neck...

Yes, I'm a wide thin neck guy and D doesn't always get it. Warmouth descriptions are pretty good, but my favorite neck is a Parker with similar specs.

Add this to 'no 2 guitars sound exactly the same', I rarely buy finished guitars online.

I have a Parker P-38 which I like quite a lot.

I'm not a fan of the way Warmouth shapes their necks. They aren't guitarists.



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[Diego]

Re: Its all about the feel...of the neck...

I like my guitar necks from reasonably chunky to gigantic.

Today I tried a few G&Ls, Fenders and Blade guitars.
Blade guitars were very nice in quality but their Telecaster model (Texas something) had a freaking TOOTHPICK for a neck. Very easy to play but I like my more conventional guitars to feel monolithic and chunky and fat.

In the end, it all usually works for me and I rarely find myself struggling with neck dimensions, unless something really wacky comes my way, which rarely happens but it sometimes does. (Gibson Historic '58 Reissue and your insane but wonderful baseball bat neck, I'm looking at you)

 

[dave74]

Re: Its all about the feel...of the neck...

Just an excuse to post this really lol (thanks photobucket!)

 

[zionstrat]

Re: Its all about the feel...of the neck...

I have a Parker P-38 which I like quite a lot.

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Thinking about picking up a p38, great quality for the money- I get the idea that the Parker heel/joint is supposed to be tighter than average bolt ons, but it keeps me from buying Parker necks for custom builds. Otherwise, they are my perfect neck.

 

[Diego]

Re: Its all about the feel...of the neck...

Just an excuse to post this really lol (thanks photobucket!)

I like this one even better.

 

[dave74]

Re: Its all about the feel...of the neck...

^if it was only in mm or at least had both.
I'm as patriotic as anyone, but sometimes I have to say metrics are just plain better for this kind of stuff.

 

[Taz Rules]

Re: Its all about the feel...of the neck...

While my taste in necks is the polar opposite to the OP, I find myself agreeing fully with his sentiment. When I switch guitars the different neck makes such a difference to my playing. On one I sound reasonably competent, but on a different neck I sound like a first lesson student with the muscular coordination of a caffeinated gorilla. Its amazing the difference.

I LOVE the Jackson necks, especially on the Dinkys.

But I agree, it sure would be nice to have a single source of info that put them all into one perspective for comparison.

 

[Demanic]

Re: Its all about the feel...of the neck...

D or C shaped any day of the week.

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[PFDarkside]

Re: Its all about the feel...of the neck...

If you can't find a Musikraft profile you like then....

This provides a little more data on the historic necks:

 

[Clint 55]

Re: Its all about the feel...of the neck...

I just changed the radius on my Dot from 12" to 11" and it feels way different. It feels like I'm playing a Fender. I like it.

 

[Joey Voltage]

Re: Its all about the feel...of the neck...

I don't think I pay attention, I just play the damn thing regardless. Although I do find the finishing important, gravitating towards an unfinished or lightly finished neck

 

[Mr. B]

Re: Its all about the feel...of the neck...

When I began playing years ago, I thought thin necks were best. After hearing better tone out of tons of guitars with thicker necks, I now play both. If you spend time with any neck, your hands learn how to deal with it. I don't have big hands, and I play thin Ibanez and thick Les Paul necks and like them both. Each one has pros and cons. If you choose one and reject the others, you are definitely missing out on some great guitars.