Fresh off the Boat and I have a specific question

[Brynmor]

I will first preface that I am not experienced with Guitars but I have been slowly reading up.  This research brought me here as I was looking overall for a Electric Guitar that would be easy for someone, such as myself to learn and play casually with Rocksmith and maybe the odd lesson, that has very large hands.

Now I have read that it is positioning that is key for your fingers, finding the 'sweet spot' when holding the neck that will allow you to only touch those strings necessary.  In my research I found Warmoth and the Super Wide neck.  My question is in relation to the 'Will it fit my guitar' statements.

Mustang, Jaguar, Warmoth 7/8 and other 24" and 24-3/4" scale necks also use the Stratocaster® rounded heal design and dimensions.

So am I correct is stating that I can conceivably consider Jaguar, Mustang and Stratocasters in my initial purchase and have the Super Wide Neck mounted with little issue?  What about the Telecaster, it says Stratocaster® necks will fit Telecaster® bodies but show a small gap at the corners.  Does that gap weaken or put strain on the mounting screws?

I've found two companies that make Strat, Tele and LP's with 1 7/8 NW (big lou & zarley) but for that cost, I would much rather purchase from a name I know such as Fender or even Squire.

At present I am looking at the Fender Modern Strat or Jag which are not painful in my eyes price wise.

Has anyone purchased and mounted the Super Wide?

Which Guitar and was it very difficult?


Thank you for your time and end with a festive emote  --  :guitarplayer2:

 

[ihavenothingprofoundtosay]

Hi and welcome!

First, the superwide is 25.5" scale only, so it will NOT work with the mustang, jaguar, and warmoth 7/8ths models.  The neck pocket is the same size, however the bridge positioning will be off so it would not be possible to intonate.  You could, however, get a jazzmaster routed like a jag and set the superwide on that.  You could also get a body with no bridge rout & do the placement yourself, if you feel up to it.  If you're looking to get a Fender or Squier body, you'd have to pick one with a 25.5" scale.

The gaps in the neck pocket when using a strat neck in a tele pocket are negligible.  Unless it's a real hack job and the bolt holes don't even line up, you won't have any issue using a strat neck in a tele body.

I have a superwide that I used on a self made Firebird body.  I had no issues with it at all, and it's the most comfortable guitar neck I've ever played.

Are you looking to do a build from scratch to be like a Fender Modern Strat?  Or just get one and swap out the neck for a superwide?

 

[Brynmor]

What I am considering is the Fender Modern Stratacaster HSH and if I run into issues with using the stock neck, purchasing the Super Wide and having it swapped out. 

My questions about the Telecaster and Jaguar (Both of the Modern models) with regards to the Super Wide, was to expand my choices for guitars that I could consider. 

I am not sure if I could build my own for my price range.

 

[Cagey]

I built a Strat for a member here that used a Super Wide neck that worked out well. The width difference will change your string spacing a bit toward the neck, but toward the bridge there's little difference. Essentially what you end up with is slightly more real estate to move the strings around for bends and vibrato. If it's your first guitar, you'd probably find it as comfortable as anything else, since you don't have much muscle memory to deal with. But, the size of the neck vs. the size of your hands isn't as big an issue as many perceive. When you spread the difference out across six strings, the change is pretty minor.

Still, you can definitely feel it and once you get used to a particular spacing, you'll find you have difficulty playing anything else that isn't set up the same way. For instance, I'm used to a 1 11/16" width at the nut and if I try to play a 1 3/4" nut width neck it feels like I've grabbed a fence post, even though there's only 1/16" difference in overall width, which works out to about .012" difference in spacing between strings. I think my pubes might be wider than that <grin>

For that reason, I'd recommend working at getting used to a more standard spacing such as you get on a 1 11/16" nut spaced neck, if possible. Day will come where you'll want to trade the guitar in or add more guitars to the stable and if you're stuck playing an oddball configuration, you'll be in the same place many left-handed players are where the trade-in/resale value and replacement choices are severely limited.

 

[ihavenothingprofoundtosay]

Ah, I see.  Well, the modern player strat (this one, right?) has a standard 25.5" scale neck, so you should be good with any Warmoth neck (aside from the 24" or the 24.75" 24 fret necks).  The superwide will indeed fit on that guitar, so depending on what you pay for the guitar, you should be able to swap out the neck & have a mostly brand new instrument for way less than a partscaster. 

One thing I'd recommend if you go that route: get the superwide reamed for the tuners you want, and sell the Fender neck with the tuners still on it.  Someone would be more likely to buy it that way; you might even be able to get rid of it it on this very forum.

+1 on Cagey's advice - the superwide might not be the best choice.  But try the strat as it is first for a while, and you might feel you want something only slightly wider. 

 

[Brynmor]

Cagey,

Thank you for letting me know that the Super Wide should not be any issue - I am still curious to see if anyone has placed it in a Telecaster or Mustang (since the 'Does it Fit' notes they use the same neck types).  And I do know that once you get used to something it is hard to change, but my logic was to basically get a skill set then look at maybe another guitar... quiet honestly I love Arch top hollow bodies as well but the neck looks really too narrow...

ihnpts,

Yes that Strat HSH is one I found in my online search - I build up a list of those that would not break the bank and honestly I am waiting until after the holidays just to see what after Christmas sales pop up at Guitar Center, Austin Bazaar... maybe even musiciansfriend.com...

http://www.fender.com/series/modern-player/modern-player-telecaster-plus-maple-fingerboard-honey-burst/

http://www.fender.com/series/modern-player/modern-player-jaguar-rosewood-fingerboard-black-transparent/


http://www.fender.com/guitars/stratocaster/blacktop-stratocaster-hh-rosewood-fingerboard-black/

http://www.fender.com/guitars/stratocaster/standard-stratocaster-hss-rosewood-fingerboard-black-no-bag/

Anything I might need to consider?  Is it best to get a guitar with a single pickup or can you make due with just Humbuckers?

 

[line6man]

I will first preface that I am not experienced with Guitars but I have been slowly reading up.  This research brought me here as I was looking overall for a Electric Guitar that would be easy for someone, such as myself to learn and play casually with Rocksmith and maybe the odd lesson, that has very large hands.

Warmoth parts are for people that know what they want. Reading about things is not a good way to determine what specs work for you. You need to go out and play a bunch of guitars, to take note of the specs you like, before making any build decisions.

 

[Cagey]

Thank you for letting me know that the Super Wide should not be any issue - I am still curious to see if anyone has placed it in a Telecaster or Mustang (since the 'Does it Fit' notes they use the same neck types). 

Strat necks (even the super-wides) will fit in Tele pockets, but not vice-versa. There's no mechanical disadvantage, although if you put a Strat heel in a Tele pocket, there's some slight forward gappage. Nothing you can see because there's some fretboard overhang, nothing to worry about. It's just that a Strat heel has a slight radius to it, while the Tele heel is square. I have 5 Teles here, all with Strat-heeled necks, and you'd never know it if I hadn't told you.

Neither Strat nor Tele necks will work in Mustang pockets at all due to scale length considerations.  It's not a matter of pocket/heel fit so much as the Mustang is a smaller, student-scale guitar, unique unto itself.

 

[stubhead]

The issue of pickups IS one area where I think you can identify some of your needs based on the idea "Who would  I like to sound like?" Or perhaps better phrased - first off, try to identify certain recorded tones you like, and find out the guitars involved. It's gotten fairly easy with the internet. If you like Mark Knopfler's early tones, you need a three single-coil pickup Stratocaster. If you like the big, round "stadium" tone, anything from early Clapton, Duane Allman, Santana, to Slash, you really need a humbucker in the bridge position at least. Newer heavy metal guitar is virtually ALL humbuckers, really overwound powerful ones. If you were to watch any or all of the three "Crossroads" on YouTube, benefits organized by Eric Clapton, I think it's safe to say that the Stratocaster is a overwhelming choice of modern blues players - 70%? 80%? It won't manufacture talent in you, but you at least get off to a start, knowing that the music is IN there.

 

[bagman67]

The issue of pickups IS one area where I think you can identify some of your needs based on the idea "Who would  I like to sound like?" Or perhaps better phrased - first off, try to identify certain recorded tones you like, and find out the guitars involved. It's gotten fairly easy with the internet. If you like Mark Knopfler's early tones, you need a three single-coil pickup Stratocaster. If you like the big, round "stadium" tone, anything from early Clapton, Duane Allman, Santana, to Slash, you really need a humbucker in the bridge position at least. Newer heavy metal guitar is virtually ALL humbuckers, really overwound powerful ones. If you were to watch any or all of the three "Crossroads" on YouTube, benefits organized by Eric Clapton, I think it's safe to say that the Stratocaster is a overwhelming choice of modern blues players - 70%? 80%? It won't manufacture talent in you, but you at least get off to a start, knowing that the music is IN there.

Agreed all around. 


The one thing I would add is that a lot of the awesome recorded tones you hear are the result of doubling or tripling tracks to beef them up and make them sound more awesome-er (Rush, Queen, Zep) or more annoying (Boston).  So all bets are off if what you're trying to reproduce with one guitar is the opening riff, say, to "Limelight."  You'll need to grow at least two more arms and hang at least one more guitar around your neck and plug it into at least one more amp.  Or get a modeler that will mimic the phenomenon, about which other entire threads have been generated.  Also, the internet will often provide you with a lot of info (some legit, some apocryphal, some total hogwash) about what gear was used for whatever track you'd like to emulate.


And speaking of Crossroads shows, that Derek Trucks kid has me really feeling a way I haven't since my early twenties, which is to say, wanting to have a guitar just like one of my favorite players - in this case, an SG with whatever neato buckers he's got installed.  His "Sahib Teri Bandi" makes me really want to practice my slide playing.

 

[Ace Flibble]

Yes that Strat HSH is one I found in my online search - I build up a list of those that would not break the bank and honestly I am waiting until after the holidays just to see what after Christmas sales pop up at Guitar Center, Austin Bazaar... maybe even musiciansfriend.com...

A note about the 'modern player' Fenders: they are made in China, at the same place and by the same people as many of the Squier brand of guitars are made. They feature mostly the same parts, but come at a higher price because they've got 'Fender' on the headstock instead of 'Squier'. So, if you're thinking of buying a Fender Modern Player guitar, look at the Squier guitars instead.

Anything I might need to consider?  Is it best to get a guitar with a single pickup or can you make due with just Humbuckers?

Depends what you're playing and what appeals to your taste. Some people like guitars with one pickup, some peopel like guitars with three. Some people prefer single coils, some prefer humbuckers and other people prefer designs that are entirely different to everything else.

Same goes for the nut width, really. Some people have large hands but prefer narrow nuts. Other people have small hands but prefer extra wide necks (especially people who are used to playing classical acoustic guitar).

I think you're jumping the gun here. You're talking about buying replacement, custom necks when you don't even know yet what sort of pickups you like or what the stock neck feels like to you.

Go to a shop which sells musical instruments. Pick up whatever guitars look nice to you. Forget what the websites' specification sheets say and what people on forums and reviews say. Just pick up whatever guitar looks nice to you. See how it feels and how it sounds. If you really, really don't know where to start, just see if you are comfortable with the weight and how it feels to hold. Then make a note of all the guitars you liked and all the ones you didn't like and look up their specs online so you can get an idea of what common features suit you. Or maybe something will take your fancy in the store and you should just buy it there and then, regardless of what it is. The important thing is that you go out and try some guitars, try a wide range of guitars, so you can begin to work out what appeals to you and what doesn't. Sitting on forums talking about hypothetical replacement parts and the theory behind how particular tones are made is absolutely pointless if you don't know what it is you want and nothing can top real-world experience with just sitting down with a bunch of guiatrs and trying them all for yourself.

 

[Cagey]

...I am waiting until after the holidays just to see what after Christmas sales pop up at Guitar Center, Austin Bazaar... maybe even musiciansfriend.com...

Just so you know - Guitar Center and Musician's Friend are the same company. GC is just the "brick and mortar" version of MF, where few things are in stock and what is in stock is probably a return. They don't publicize the fact out of fear of the impact on the local presence, but it's true. If you can wait 2 days, you can get anything you want delivered to your door - new - without dickering or having to deal with the musical version of Walmart People.

edit: I just found out they also own LMII, among other businesses. Details

 

[stubhead]

AW jezzuz Cagey, you about gave me a spell of m'vapors with the LMII talk - Guitar Center owns LMI - one eye - of the famous 27-bell set, among others:

http://www.guitarcenter.com/LMI-27-Note-Bell-Set-with-Case-G-A-470079-i1145060.gc

Apparently something to do with Lyons Musical Instruments, GC is obviously trying to step up in class a bit?

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/lyons

It was bad enough when those stink-butts at Gibson managed to drag LMII (DOUBLE -Eye) through there sordid li'l "Mean ol' Obama's out to git me! WAAAH!!" Limbaugh-fueled hallucinogenic right-wing morality play. Hint: try OBEYING THE LAW, like all the other guys who got the memo in 2002 from the {bush-era?} Wildlife Poohbahs... It was one thing when Gibson & Henry received their first stern warning in 2007 from the {bush-league?} Fish & Wildlife Service. But it's pretty goddam dumb to go insulting any federal law agency, saying "nah-nah you can't catch us" then forgetting to erase the e-mails discussing breaking United States federal law... but sticking a bunch of other people's labels on your woods and "storing" it there, coming by to "innocently" pick up a few sticks at a time was the lowest, trying to drag everyone else (Martin, Taylor, Fender too) down to make you look less... alone? It may be a very long time before Gibson ever gets to buy wood from LMII again, put it that way.

(Then there's the question of how Gibson got their "limited-edition" "Government Raid" guitars, supposedly made with fingerboards seized in the raids, on the market - before they'd even got their wood back...(?)

http://forum.gibson.com/index.php?/topic/100055-government-series-les-paul-real/

But each one is personally signed by Gibson caporegime CEO & Champion of the Free Stooges Henry Juszkiewicz! :hello2: And unfortunately, that nonsense works..... Gibson can get away with any damn thing they want to, until Jan. 20, 2015, at least. I imagine you can set Prez. Obama's PR handlers into violent oscillations with just the whisper of "rosewood" or "guitars" at this point! :laughing7:

LMII, meanwhile, are just swell folk - http://www.lmii.com/

 

[Cagey]

Sorry about that. Surprised me, too, but I didn't dig too deeply into it. Glad you did.