Fatback Neck Concerns
- Thread starter eef13
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I have been going back and forth about this for a while now. Sometimes I feel like I should just try the fatback, it can't be that much different. But other times I think how that 59 roundback is a perfect match for my favorite neck. Someday when I'm not broke 35 dollars for that contour wont be so bad.
If you think about it, and experiment a bit with thumb positioning, you may find as I have, that hand size and neck thickness aren't really that interrelated. Finger length and neck width, yes... but put all your fingertips and thumb together and point it at your eye, then look at what happens to your available finger spacing when you start to pull your thumb away - Voila! It might even seem as though people with small hands should use thicker necks....
I could simply never get on with "Wizard" necks until a bandmate told me the secret there, which is to keep your thumb right in the middle of the neck and point your thumb straight backwards toward the tuners. Viola! I cringe a bit when I read sumgai posting that their Squier Boofdelootie has the "perfect neck for them" and they're on a search for a "luthier" to duplicate it - and the only guitar they've ever tried to get on with for more that three minutes was the mighty Boof... one should ideally play as many different necks as possible and make a manly attempt to get the most out of each one, before even thinking about the "perfect" neck.
All else being equal (it never is) I have found that the more meat in a neck, the better the guitar sounds. Makes more diff than body woods, for sure. I find the 1" boatneck style, even down to a .960" one I got at USAG (AKA "super-soft vee"), is a little more comfortable for long periods that the 1" "C" or Fatback. I'm pretty sure that the extra few percent of wood in the boat does probably sound that much better... Cello!
It's always impressive to watch the long twirtchy spiderfinger guys like Steve Vai and Paul Gilbert zipping around and about the neck, but if adequacy issues plague you just look up some videos of Shawn Lane and Danny Gatton.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RyjtW-rvWoQ&feature=list_related&playnext=1&list=AVGxdCwVVULXfeDopD5OsZ96xsA5wWbLjN
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iw1sojT-V1c&feature=related
They both have the left hand that's like a Warner Brothers cartoon hand, a big blob with some wiggly little nubs attached.... so when you've learned that Shawn Lane solo, lets us know which neck worked out best! Ahem. :hello2:
I could simply never get on with "Wizard" necks until a bandmate told me the secret there, which is to keep your thumb right in the middle of the neck and point your thumb straight backwards toward the tuners. Viola! I cringe a bit when I read sumgai posting that their Squier Boofdelootie has the "perfect neck for them" and they're on a search for a "luthier" to duplicate it - and the only guitar they've ever tried to get on with for more that three minutes was the mighty Boof... one should ideally play as many different necks as possible and make a manly attempt to get the most out of each one, before even thinking about the "perfect" neck.
All else being equal (it never is) I have found that the more meat in a neck, the better the guitar sounds. Makes more diff than body woods, for sure. I find the 1" boatneck style, even down to a .960" one I got at USAG (AKA "super-soft vee"), is a little more comfortable for long periods that the 1" "C" or Fatback. I'm pretty sure that the extra few percent of wood in the boat does probably sound that much better... Cello!
It's always impressive to watch the long twirtchy spiderfinger guys like Steve Vai and Paul Gilbert zipping around and about the neck, but if adequacy issues plague you just look up some videos of Shawn Lane and Danny Gatton.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RyjtW-rvWoQ&feature=list_related&playnext=1&list=AVGxdCwVVULXfeDopD5OsZ96xsA5wWbLjN
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iw1sojT-V1c&feature=related
They both have the left hand that's like a Warner Brothers cartoon hand, a big blob with some wiggly little nubs attached.... so when you've learned that Shawn Lane solo, lets us know which neck worked out best! Ahem. :hello2:
I have heard that the bigger (fatter) necks are more comfy for older players, and for long duration playing. I want to try a fatter neck on my next build, probably a 59.
I think troubledtreble has a 59 that I played once and it was very easy to play. All of mine are standard thin, and I like them, but wanna try a different feel, if they sound better that will be a bonus.
I think troubledtreble has a 59 that I played once and it was very easy to play. All of mine are standard thin, and I like them, but wanna try a different feel, if they sound better that will be a bonus.
I had a birdseye/birdseye maple fatback on my 8-Ball strat for a long time, and I found it became uncomfortable to play. I've got fairly chubby hands. So I bought a new standard thin Wnge/Pau Ferro for the strat and it's much better.
However. My folks then bought me a La Cabronita tele body which I've made up and put the fatback birdseye on, and for some reason it feels more comfortable on the Tele. Dunno why?
I like it!
However. My folks then bought me a La Cabronita tele body which I've made up and put the fatback birdseye on, and for some reason it feels more comfortable on the Tele. Dunno why?
I like it!
I don't have very large hands myself. I think about 7 inches from my wrist to the tip of my middle finger (when we were all taking measurements for that on the forum here one time...) and I LOVE my Fatback contour neck. Big fan! To be honest if you like HUGE necks I don't think you'll be satisfied, but if you like a good solid chunk of wood then it'll be perfect for you. It's not nearly as overly large as some people make is sound to be in their descriptions. I wouldn't personally want a larger neck though.
O
OzziePete
Guest
I'd suggest that you compare the measurements of the Warmoth necks (both 59 & Fatback) to those of your neck on the LP Deluxe... :icon_thumright:
Super Turbo Deluxe Custom
Epic Member
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I've played a Strat with a Fatback, and the taper, or lack of, might take some getting used to. Open chording felt as fat as the rest of the neck.
Ace Flibble
Hero Member
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The Gibson 58/59 neck is thicker than the Warmoth 59 measurements, or at least the one's I've had have been. Warmoths is a tiny touch thinner, while their 1" Fatback is that little bit thicker.
Then again I've played Gibsons with 60s necks that felt thicker than my 59, 59s with necks thinner than most 60s, etc. Gibson necks vary an awful lot so you can't really draw comparisons, there's no real standard for them. The only necks Gibson make that do seem consistent are the asymmetrical ones on the more recent Standards.
edit: for what it's worth, the last Gibson I had with the alleged 58/59 contour measured 0.84-something at the 1st fret, 0.91-something at the 6th fret and was 0.97-something at the 12th fret. But that was a guitar I picked out specifically because it had a very slightly thinner neck than most others.
Then again I've played Gibsons with 60s necks that felt thicker than my 59, 59s with necks thinner than most 60s, etc. Gibson necks vary an awful lot so you can't really draw comparisons, there's no real standard for them. The only necks Gibson make that do seem consistent are the asymmetrical ones on the more recent Standards.
edit: for what it's worth, the last Gibson I had with the alleged 58/59 contour measured 0.84-something at the 1st fret, 0.91-something at the 6th fret and was 0.97-something at the 12th fret. But that was a guitar I picked out specifically because it had a very slightly thinner neck than most others.
Well my neck just got in today. I don't know if they got my order wrong but the neck is not that fat. Almost feels like my Les Paul. It is fatter than my American Standard Strat but maybe the same size as my LP. It's very comfortable. If it is a Fatback then I don't understand how people can complain it's too fat. Overall it feels very nice.
Thanks guys for the help.
Thanks guys for the help.
B
back2thefutre
Guest
Pics?!!
I have several different profiles on several different types of guitars and I alter my styles to those guitars. So I guess I shred on my shredder guitar and I dig in and bend and shake and wiggle on the fat neck. The standard thin is the old standby just because it is the most common for me. My middle of the road strat has a standard thin and that's definitely one that's always out on the stand and gets trucked along for back up.
