Neck back contours are driving me crazy! HELP!

[Loobs]

Realise this topic has been done to death! I'm Scared to order standard thin in case it's too thin. I read some stuff on here where people say it's pretty much the same as a Std. Fender neck - if that's the case, I'm fine with it, anything thinner than that is definitely gonna be too thin. Some guys however say it's thinner than one of these.

Trouble is I'd much rather go with a padouk and zircote neck from the showcase, but it's only available in standard thin. I don't wanna order that and find it too thin, so the alternative is to go with a wenge and ebony neck in '59 Roundback. Help me out, I can't seem to find any definitive help on this. If it's like a modern Fender neck, I'm good to go. I don't have huge hands and find those necks pretty comfy.

 

[mullyman]

I got the standard thin back contour on my latest build. In my opinion, it's not the same as the Fender, but it's not so far off that you'd feel uncomfortable with it, at least I don't. It's not as thin as some of the Ibanez necks I've seen. I've been playing Wolfgang's and Music Man guitars for quite a while now and am used to the thicker neck. I also have  Fender Clapton model with the V back. This is much thinner than those, but again, I'm comfortable with it. You really won't know unless you get a chance to play with it and see.
MULLY

 

[DslDwg]

My suggestion is find a neck that you are really comfortable playing - maybe you even own already. Take a few measurements and compare to what "W" offers - pick the most similar sized neck - order - rock on :rock-on:

 

[JaySwear]

i think the standard thin from warmoth IS thinner than the standard fender necks. it's been a long time since i picked up a Fender Strat, though. and the only other thing i have to compare it to is my Nashville Deluxe Power Telecaster. not sure what the neck on those is supped to be. it's almost like a thin V contour. not the most comfortable for leads, but i like it for chord work. the standard thin from warmoth reminds me A LOT of the wizard II neck from ibanez, but slightly more thick.

hope that helps  :icon_biggrin:  tried to be as specific as i could without actually looking up measurements on the different necks.

 

[tfarny]

I really don't think the warmoth thin is thinner than the standard USA fender strat neck, sorry Jay. The standard thin is a bit thin for me, I have one but I like the thicker necks anyhow. Just playing my guitarists new Les Paul I even find that neck too thin now.
New Fender strats don't have a V contour at all, so maybe that power tele is a very different shape.

 

[Aaronic]

I started out a Les Paul guy and developed a taste for thicker necks. I ALWAYS play 59 Roundback necks which are even a bit thicker than my Les Paul 50s style.  However, I have 6100 frets on it and that definitely makes it feel even thicker, which is just an awesome feel, imo.  I also have a Warmoth standard thin with the regular sized frets and it's basically been back in it's box for 4 years now (gotta get around to selling that ;-).  Can't stand thin necks.  That being said, I also own a Fender Deluxe Strat (2005) and the neck on that is a happy medium. Quite comfortable; not as thin as a "standard thin" but not as chunky as the '59.  If you're really worried (and, I understand, neck profile is of number one importance to me also) I'd go with the fatter neck... at least you could sand that down to where you like it, if need be...

 

[mayfly]

I went through several warmoth necks, starting at standard thin.  These were nice necks, but ended up cramping my hand during long gigs.

I progressed through roundback 59, right up to boatneck.  I'm currently loving boatneck and have no plans to change.

And all those necks I went through?  Sold them all on the forum and recovered a sizeable chunk of the original cost.  The balance I chalked up to the pleasure of trying one of each for several months.

I suggest you get a standard thin and a roundback - both in the cheapest variant that you can find on the showcase.  Live with them for at least 3 months, then order that custom exotic wood neck in the profile that makes you the most happy.  Then sell off the other two.

 

[JaySwear]

New Fender strats don't have a V contour at all, so maybe that power tele is a very different shape.

definitely then, because my tele has a very definitive V to it. i'd really like to know more about the contours too. it's too bad the only way to figure out whats best for you is to take a chance and order one! i'd love to try the wolfgang and '59 and boatneck, but i'd be so afraid i'd receive it and absolutely hate it.

 

[mullyman]

New Fender strats don't have a V contour at all, so maybe that power tele is a very different shape.

definitely then, because my tele has a very definitive V to it. i'd really like to know more about the contours too. it's too bad the only way to figure out whats best for you is to take a chance and order one! i'd love to try the wolfgang and '59 and boatneck, but i'd be so afraid i'd receive it and absolutely hate it.

Well, I played a Peavey Wolfgang for a number of years. When I placed my first order with Warmoth I did a full order on the neck and requested the back contour and the radius to match the Wolfgang. The guy on the phone told me they had a Woflgang neck they could get the dimensions from. I'm sorry to report that it's not exactly like a Wolfgang. It's close, and I'm 110% pleased with it, but it's not exact.
MULLY

 

[JaySwear]

i'm a tiny bit worried about that. i liked my wolfgang, but the neck bothered me the most. it was small, but too large to be as comfortable as my RG570's wizard neck. and not quite as large as the neck on my Gibson BFG was, which i loved. i guess it was just too much of an in between to be comfortable to me  :-\  makes me sound picky as crap lol but thats why i ended up selling that guitar. besides that i loved it! most beautiful flame maple top i've ever seen in person.

 

[jackthehack]

If you are comfortable on the neck that's on a Fender American Standard Strat (NOT a MIM/Artist/Custom shop or any other model(s)) you can go with the Warmoth Std. thin neck. If you can tell any differentiation by feel, you've missed your calling in life and should rent yourself out as a human micrometer.

Spend $12 bucks and buy one of these: http://www.amazon.com/Neiko-Pro-Quality-Digital-Caliper-Stainless/dp/B000R8ZUG4/ref=sr_1_9?ie=UTF8&s=industrial&qid=1260938279&sr=8-9 $12 is a very prudent investment compared to the aggravation of exchanging a custom neck on the trial period and waiting on a replacement.

Compare measurements of whatever neck you are comfortable with to the specs on the Warmoth neck contour page and order accordingly.

 

[exalted]

For what it's worth, I have two standard thins, and one feels thinner than the other. Granted, I don't have a ton of play time invested in the newer one, but that was my first impression.

 

[Super Turbo Deluxe Custom]

Of the 8 contours, half of them are aquired tastes, IMO.  Anything with a "V", soft or otherwise, or an asymetrical contour you may love or learn to love, but the 1st impression may leave a bas taste in your mouth if you've never played anything comparable.  It sounds like you're wanting a thin neck but don't want it too thin.  That leaves, the Standard Thin, '59 Roundback, and perhaps the Wolfgang if you don't mind asymetry.  I have a 90s MIJ Strat, the Standard Thin is very close to that.  Of W's back contours, I've played on Fatback, Boatneck, Standard Thin, and '59 Roundback.  The '59 Roundback is by far my favorite, and that's the one I own.  The Fatback felt great from the 7th fret on down, but closer to the nut I would've liked it to taper off some.  It's the same thickness at the 1st and 12th frets.  The Boatneck, well it has a V.

 

[Loobs]

If you are comfortable on the neck that's on a Fender American Standard Strat (NOT a MIM/Artist/Custom shop or any other model(s)) you can go with the Warmoth Std. thin neck. If you can tell any differentiation by feel, you've missed your calling in life and should rent yourself out as a human micrometer.

Spend $12 bucks and buy one of these: http://www.amazon.com/Neiko-Pro-Quality-Digital-Caliper-Stainless/dp/B000R8ZUG4/ref=sr_1_9?ie=UTF8&s=industrial&qid=1260938279&sr=8-9 $12 is a very prudent investment compared to the aggravation of exchanging a custom neck on the trial period and waiting on a replacement.

Compare measurements of whatever neck you are comfortable with to the specs on the Warmoth neck contour page and order accordingly.

I really like the necks on the American Standards, I don't have huge hands and find them perfectly comy. Maybe I should just bite the bullet and order the standard thin.

 

[jackthehack]

One further note, besides the back contour, you have to consider the radius. The Fender American Std. neck has a straight 9.5" radius, where the Warmoths come with a 10-16 compound neck, so the feel may be a little different south of the 12th fret. Other radii are available on custom neck orders for an upcharge.

I know there are some brands (Jackson's?) that have a similar compound neck radius you could go check out in a store; another board member can chime in with make and model(s)?

 

[dr.jb]

Realise this topic has been done to death! I'm Scared to order standard thin in case it's too thin. I read some stuff on here where people say it's pretty much the same as a Std. Fender neck - if that's the case, I'm fine with it, anything thinner than that is definitely gonna be too thin. Some guys however say it's thinner than one of these.

Trouble is I'd much rather go with a padouk and zircote neck from the showcase, but it's only available in standard thin. I don't wanna order that and find it too thin, so the alternative is to go with a wenge and ebony neck in '59 Roundback. Help me out, I can't seem to find any definitive help on this. If it's like a modern Fender neck, I'm good to go. I don't have huge hands and find those necks pretty comfy.

I have a 59 roundback ( my favorite, I did sand it down just a tad to fit my liking) ,  a standard C shape on my custom shop strat (good also, but not as thick as the 59)  , and had a standard thin which I sold because my hand would start to cramp up not even halfway thru a gig.  I'm 5'8" and have relatively small hands.  Also, the width at the nut you choose will have an effect.  For me a thicker neck is balanced by having a thinner nut width. Hope this helps.

 

[blue313]

If your store has Jacksons, a lot of them have a 12"-16" compound radius boards.  Warmoth's is 10"-16" so it'll be a little more comfortable for open chording, but will feel about the same from the 12th up.

I know the JS-1 Dinky should be in one of those stores if anything.