Going from Boatneck to Fatback....A Bridge Too Far?

[musicispeace]

As a recent boatneck convert I've recently noticed quite a few fatback necks available in the Showcase. Does anyone have both? Is the fatback just a bit more filling in the hand than the boatneck or is it like trying to play a phone pole in comparison to everything else period? Thanks.

 

[Tonar8352]

Boats have a slight V, fatback's are more of a D shape. Another way to look at it is the fatback's have more shoulder on them so if you like wrapping your thumb over the top of the neck you better have some big hands.

They are not like a phone pole but they feel to me similar to a Gibson R4 neck.  Although I do not own one I have built several guitars for others with them and the thing I have found is they tend to produce consistently great sounding guitars. The guys I have built guitars for using them have all come back for seconds, seriously every one has had at least two of them built. 

 

[ChristopherG]

The fatback puts me in mind of the necks on seventies Yamaha acoustics.

 

[Strat Avenger]

There's nothing worse than a guitar neck that feels like a damned baseball bat.

 

[bagman67]

Man, there's nothing quite as satisfying as a guitar neck that feels like a damned baseball bat.


:icon_jokercolor:


One man's trash, etc., etc.

 

[musicispeace]

Much appreciated all of you. I'll try to scope out something in a shop with a substantive D shaped neck to get an idea. This is one of the most subjective aspects of a guitar and there really isn't anything magical that will change how your hands fit or don't fit with a given neck. I know something like a .75 would drive me nuts but there are others who love them. I think for me its a question of how far can I go if I've had a happy experience with the boatneck. I thought I would be a Standard Thin guy but have really taken to chunkier necks, something that was unexpected but there you go. I have a Warmoth boatneck, a Warmoth Clapton, and a .870 soft V from USACG. Hands wise I still have some room to spare with the boatneck so I will ponder this. Sometimes there are some great fatbacks in the showcase.

 

[fdesalvo]

I had a fatback.  Had.

MASSIVE, hand-filling, girth.  HUGE shaft.  ( :laughing7

I couldn't get along with it - maybe if went smaller than 1-11/16", it would have been tolerable, but man - that depth combined with those big shoulders was too much for a guy that mainly plays lead.  I wish I'd have tried the boat in that regard.  Seems like the shoulders would be more out of the way.

 

[TonyFlyingSquirrel]

StreetAvenger & Bagman.

I've been playing a Wizard profile for 20+ years, and am gravitating now towards the 59 Roundback.  The perfect marriage between the two.

I'm finding that playing on a smaller neck actually is taking more effort for my aging hands, and I don't have to squeeze up so much on the larger necks.

 

[bagman67]

That's pretty much my story as well.  I used to really like the slim necks, but more heft is more comfortable now.  All together now: Getting. Old. Sucks.  (sometimes, anyway).

 

[fdesalvo]

59 is the most comfy Warmoth carve I believe.  I was pleasantly surprised by the comfort of Fenders new Modern C carve.  Very fast and comfy.  It combines the speed of the Wizard with the comfort of the 59, though at a much smaller depth.

 

[TonyFlyingSquirrel]

59 is the most comfy Warmoth carve I believe.  I was pleasantly surprised by the comfort of Fenders new Modern C carve.  Very fast and comfy.  It combines the speed of the Wizard with the comfort of the 59, though at a much smaller depth.

I think I played one of these Fenders recently, and I must agree.  It's like they went for the Gibby 59 on a Fender item, and it works wonderfully.

 

[mayfly]

back to the OP,  if you really want to find out for sure, order up the cheapest fatback in the showcase with your frets of choice and slap it on your best guitar.  Then you'll know.  If you don't like it, cut your losses and sell it to a fellow forum member.

I went through three neck shapes before I landed on the one that works best for me.

 

[rgand]

I currently have a standard thin profile. At times, it's a little too skinny and I seem to have a lot of extra finger length. I'm thinking of the 59 roundback for my next neck.

 

[fdesalvo]

I currently have a standard thin profile. At times, it's a little too skinny and I seem to have a lot of extra finger length. I'm thinking of the 59 roundback for my next neck.

The 59 was the first neck profile to give me that "a ha!" Moment.

 

[swarfrat]

I like fatback. Yes, it's chunky. The only thing I really found awkward was that it has no taper. No clue why that would matter - if it's comfortable here it should be there, but it did take some getting used to.

But I have a broad hand and long fingers. When I had an Ibanez my hand would cramp. I don't get cramps playing the fatback, and it sounds wonderful.

 

[TonyFlyingSquirrel]

I like fatback. Yes, it's chunky. The only thing I really found awkward was that it has no taper. No clue why that would matter - if it's comfortable here it should be there, but it did take some getting used to.

But I have a broad hand and long fingers. When I had an Ibanez my hand would cramp. I don't get cramps playing the fatback, and it sounds wonderful.

Yup, I've had the cramps too.  Glad I'm not alone.

 

[rgand]

I currently have a standard thin profile. At times, it's a little too skinny and I seem to have a lot of extra finger length. I'm thinking of the 59 roundback for my next neck.

The 59 was the first neck profile to give me that "a ha!" Moment.

Well, I look forward to finding out.

 

[monchavo]

I have quite small hands. I cannot wrap my thumb over the top of the neck- every time I see Jimi do it (and especially where he chords partially with the thumb -- fab!) it makes me  :guitarplayer2:
I find the standard thin to be perfect for my size hands. However I have recently ordered an SRV and a Wolfgang to test them out. Woo! :cool01:

A very large neck (as per 2003 mexican 72 custom tele) doesnt get on - I get cramp from that.