Lets talk about necks!!

psyx

Hey guys!

I thought I would start a thread about necks, since this is the place where most of my focus as a guitarist is.
First off, Scale length:
Fender-type guitars as well as most shredders are 25-1/2", which according to stewmac.com: "produces a rich, strong, bell-like tone, and defined low-end"

PRS' have 25" scale lengths, of which they say: "The bass strings on a 25" scale are fuller sounding than some 24-3/4" instruments, which can sometimes sound muddy. The treble strings are not only easier to bend than on a 25-1/2" scale, but also have a warmer, and fuller tone"

Gibsons typically (note I say typically since Gibson have dwelled off from spec over the years) have 24-3/4", of which they say: "Being shorter than the Fender 25-1/2" scale, the Gibson 24-3/4" scale has a lower tension/easier to play feel, and a warmer tone."

I have actually never played a PRS ?, but I have had my share of the other scale lengths and I can't really say I prefer one over the other. When tunings are dropped, shorter scale lengths may not be as good since the string tension is lower and strings may get a little "flabby" apparently, but I don't drop tune too often... The tone of 24-3/4" to me sounds more harmonic than on the shorter lengths, although that may just be me...

Nut width:
Well this is very open to personal preference... And something I've been wondering about. Now it seems Gibson have increased the nut width on their latest guitars, but they traditionally used 1.68" (43.053 mm), where fender uses 1 11/16" (42.8 mm). Some guys have said that as they got older and wiser they have taken a liking in broader necks...

22/ 24 Frets
I have more 24 fret guitars than 22 fret guitars, but I really wouldn't say that I use the 23rd and 24th frets too often, so again I have no particular preference on this. Maybe it's more complicated than that?

The size of the frets
Again there are different sizes frets, small to jumbo... Bigger frets wear slower, but apparently slightly obstruct fast playing...

Neck material
Well there are main 3 players here:
Maple necks
Maple with rosewood fretboards
Mahogany with rosewood fretboards

I haven't played too many plain maple necks, but these apparently give you a brighter sound than rosewood, with maple/rosewood necks being slightly darker and mahogany/ rosewood necks being the darkest.

Fret radius:
This is the radius of the rounding of frets... Again I'm a little uninformed, but bigger radii make for faster playing and smaller radii make for easier chord playing.
Alan explains it pretty well here:
http://www.ratcliffe.co.za/articles/radius.shtml

There are a thousand other things which play a role in guitar neck construction and some other rarities like scalloped frets and fanned frets, but those are pretty rare... If you have a guitar blessed with those, please chime in (And post pics ?)

So all things considered I like mahogany/ rosewood necks with 24 frets and 1.695" nut width with a 12" fret radius... Share your thoughts on necks!!

V8

I did a similar exercise last year - motivated by the idea that if I should be lucky enough to spec custom build, what spec's would I want?

As yet, no definitive answers - just a rough set of observations that may lead to some awareness of personal preferences?

I've only really noted specs that affected feel/comfort - tone is less of a priority for me, though I might mature as I investigate... :?

On a electric guitar, usually a 25.5 scale w/9's - feels comfy. Width and neck profile I really notice - even 2mm in width makes a world of difference to me! I'm a bit undecided on radius, 9-12in depending on the profile of the neck. I find a very clubby neck profile (hohner/classical guitars) makes for a easy playing rhythm guitar, but leads are compromised and the reverse when it's a flatter, wider neck (explorer style). My current go-to is a Cort Garage 2 w/asymmetrical neck (maple, 25.5, 12in) though I still feel more comfy on the 95 MIJ strat (25.5, slightly narrower neck, 9.25 radius). I've loads more experimenting to do on what profile/width works for me.

On a bass, I realllly notice scale length. I wondered for a long time why traditional P bass style basses just do not work for me...34in scale. My basses are 32in and they just work for me. The neck profile is quite clubby on my favourite, but I don't notice it as much on the bass. I played a old samick the other day that had a ultra slim profile & slightly wider neck (also 32in scale) and that felt quite sweet.

On a classical I've tried to live with the traditional measurements (650mm scale, 52mm neck width, clubbier profile) - but I just can't achieve comfort for 20mins+ playing. I've tried a "electric style" classical w/ slimmer neck, radius fretboard & slim body - me no like. I've found getting comfy on a classical very tricky - trying to find a happy balance between right hand (fretting) , left hand (picking) comfort and tone. ATM, I'm on a 635mm scale, 48mm width, flat fingerboard and a fairly slim profile - this seems to work for me - no tone on this particular guitar though, sounds like a cheep cardboard box ☹.

Only things I can definitively say is : 32in scale bass works for me, and traditional sized classical's do not...I'm usually happier on a 25.5 scale fender style electric - but probably cause I've put a good few hours into playing the strat and it feels familiar.

Chocklit_Thunda

You forgot profile! (As pointed out by V8) Coz even that makes a world of difference!
All my guitars have different profiles... The Tele is fat, the yorktown is thin but round, the x-1 is super slim, the Strat is just perfect.... Each one feels completely different from the last. To me it makes more of a difference than those other factors

studmissile

I've always been a fan of vintage fender fugi gen necks, only to find out recenly that those guitar necks where actually made by company called atlansia. http://www.atlansia.jp/

Ray

25 and a half. one and three quarter at the nut .Fatback. Action high. everything the same for acoustic except the scale. cant remember.

singemonkey

Fat is good. I thought I knew fat necks until I tried one of lapdawg's guitars. Real bat of a neck. And it felt so damn good. I don't know what it is. It just allows your hand to relax. With blues type playing, your hand is sort of at an angle with your thumb over the top of the neck. A fat neck really seems to work with that style.

Gibson scale length is my fave - again, especially for blues style playing with lots of bending. I like a Fender twang too. But PRSs are so in the middle that, lovely as they are, they sound like nothing to me.

I like a flatter board because bends don't fret out, and they're easier to rig for slide guitar. If I were having a custom guitar made, the board would be ebony, since that's what all the other woods were originally just cheap substitutes for.

Mahogany is really a bit weak for necks, but it's traditional in Gibson designs, so there we are.

Keira-WitherKay

my personal preference when it comes to neck specs ....

as a tele fan i like one piece maple necks with skunk stripe down the back in a fat 50's tele profile with a 7.5 inch radius....and obviously fender scale length ....and i don't like skinny/narrow nuts give me a fat ,wider neck

so yep me i'm pure dinasour so to me 'vintage " specs are the most desirable

but i own rosewood fretboard guitars with various radius too and gibson scale length too ... and at end of the day comfortable on anything ... ?

singemonkey

Keira WitherKay wrote: but i own rosewood fretboard guitars with various radius too and gibson scale length too ... and at end of the day comfortable on anything ... ?

Yeah. We have our preferences, but ultimately you can always enjoy something about the neck of a well-made guitar.