My Player Strat feels extremely different than my Hendrix Strat

[Napthol]

My Player Strats neck feels really different than my Hendrix Strat. I know of course all necks feel different but this is more extreme. I was wondering if what my fingers feel (on the top of the fretboard) is the fact that my Player Strat went through the Plek machine, and my Hendrix Strat had its frets leveled by hand.

I love 'em both.

 

[Mincer]

Fender's measurements differ pretty wildly across different models, so I'd say to compare the specs of both guitars. I bet the radius of the neck is different, which can contribute to a very different feel.

 

[Napthol]

Radius is the same on both.

 

[Mincer]

How about the shape of the neck?

 

[GuitarDoc]

Pleking won't dramatically change the feel of a neck. It's just a quick easy machining process of levelling the frets to reduce manual labor.

 

[Top-L]

My Player Strats neck feels really different than my Hendrix Strat. I know of course all necks feel different but this is more extreme. I was wondering if what my fingers feel (on the top of the fretboard) is the fact that my Player Strat went through the Plek machine, and my Hendrix Strat had its frets leveled by hand.

I love 'em both.

Its possible that they have significantly different relief or action.

Which one do you like more? If you honestly like the player strat more, then get the Hendrix one leveled or plekked.

 

[GuitarDoc]

Do the fretboards have different wood? Are the frets more polished on one? What exactly are you feeling that is "extremely" different?

 

[GuitarStv]

Neck shape, radius, nut width all make for very different feeling guitars. FWIW, I can happily get along with just about anything except narrow nuts or very thin necks.

 

[solspirit]

The Hendrix Strat has a classic C neck and the Player Strat has a modern C.

 

[Napthol]

My Player Strat feels very new and quite stiff. I bought my Hendrix Strat new also. But the Player feels like it was finished yesterday. I suspect the relief is less because when I got it from Sweetwater the action was extremely low. The strings were really close. Maybe before they put the guitar in the Plek machine they have to take the relief out of the neck.

 

[Seashore]

Do they have the same gauge strings?

 

[Napthol]

Yup. Same gauge string and brand.

 

[Seashore]

Huh. The Hendrix has a reverse headstock. Maybe that's doing it? I've never felt a difference but I haven't done an apples to apples comparison between two guitars that were otherwise so similar.

 

[beaubrummels]

Reverse headstock changes everything. Having the longer bass strings and short top strings totally changes the feel of the strings on the neck.

 

[solspirit]

Reverse headstock changes everything. Having the longer bass strings and short top strings totally changes the feel of the strings on the neck.

I don't particularly care for it.

 

[Spaghetti Bolo]

Do they have the same relief?

 

[Napthol]

Probably not. I suspect my Player Strat's neck is more straight than my Hendrix Strat is. Actually the more I play my Player the more I'm getting used to it. Happy to have two Strats which are great guitars.

 

[GuitarDoc]

Neck shape, radius, nut width all make for very different feeling guitars. FWIW, I can happily get along with just about anything except narrow nuts or very thin necks.

By "narrow nuts" are you referring to the width of the neck at the nut (ex: 1 9/16", 1 5/8", etc.)?

 

[GuitarStv]

By "narrow nuts" are you referring to the width of the neck at the nut (ex: 1 9/16", 1 5/8", etc.)?

Yeah . . . for me, nut width is really important to how a neck feels in the hand. 1 11/16ths is where I'm happiest. I've learned to tolerate 1 3/4 on my Taylor but it's not my preference. Smaller is a real turn off when I pick up a guitar.

 

[Napthol]

Well now I'm having buzzing problems on my Player Strat. This Strat I bought from Sweetwater and it had a Plek job. Played beautifully when I got it and for a short time afterwards, but now the neck has moved or shifted and I'm getting buzz.

I will see what I can do to get rid of it, but I may need your help.