neck contour

[Smpl9]

i have a Clapton type contour on my strat. at times the area between thumb and index gets a bit sore. i'm just wondering if that little "v" shape in the neck is doing that or if i need to adjust my technique.

would there be much noticable difference between the "wizard" and " clapton" type contour?

i have small-med hands i would say.

thx

 

[Disco Scottie]

Yeah, that V definitely sounds like a problem. I have a neck with a similar shape and it cramps my hand the same way. It's a pretty big jump from that kind of profile to a wizard, though.

 

[Patrick from Davis]

I have a slim line tele that does that to my hand as well.  I like the 59 or the standard thin profiles better.  The Wizard gets you more towards Ibanez style than Fender.  The Standard thin is more like the common new strat necks.  The 59 reminds me of an SG I used to play.  Neither the Standard thin or the 59 will cause my hand to hurt like that Thinline Tele neck.
Patrick

 

[Last Triumph]

I have a slim line tele that does that to my hand as well.  I like the 59 or the standard thin profiles better.  The Wizard gets you more towards Ibanez style than Fender.  The Standard thin is more like the common new strat necks.  The 59 reminds me of an SG I used to play.  Neither the Standard thin or the 59 will cause my hand to hurt like that Thinline Tele neck.
Patrick

I've ordered a '59 for the VIP project and I do hope it's comfy.

How might it compare to my 2000 MY Les Paul Standard? (Which I found very comfy)

I Found the Jackson a little too thin for my taste.

 

[Patrick from Davis]

It will be quite close.  If you put them next to each other and go back and forth, you'll probably notice that one is a different shape.  However, compared to another brand of guitar, it will be like two off the shelf as far as difference go.  There is always something about them that is unique, but from the larger perspective, they should be pretty much the same.
Patrick

 

[Last Triumph]

Good answer, thanks.

 

[Smpl9]

Yeah, that V definitely sounds like a problem. I have a neck with a similar shape and it cramps my hand the same way. It's a pretty big jump from that kind of profile to a wizard, though.

looks like this one will go to ebay when i save enough for another neck, live n learn.

you and patrick think the standard slim more suitable than the wizard?

guess i can't get a luthier to sand that "V" out of there huh? better to get a new neck?

 

[Cagey]

guess i can't get a luthier to sand that "V" out of there huh? better to get a new neck?

If you could find a real luthier, it would be possible. But, they're pretty few and far between. Most guys who self-identify or are called luthiers by their fans/customers aren't actually trained as such or have any actual luthier experience. Then, assuming you found one, it would be expensive. Probably better to buy the neck you want. You can help finance it by selling the neck you have, so the new one isn't such a kick in the shorts. Plus, you could get stainless frets. Everybody should have stainless frets at least once in their life.

 

[johnzah]

guess i can't get a luthier to sand that "V" out of there huh? better to get a new neck?

If you could find a real luthier, it would be possible. But, they're pretty few and far between. Most guys who self-identify or are called luthiers by their fans/customers aren't actually trained as such or have any actual luthier experience. Then, assuming you found one, it would be expensive. Probably better to buy the neck you want. You can help finance it by selling the neck you have, so the new one isn't such a kick in the shorts. Plus, you could get stainless frets. Everybody should have stainless frets at least once in their life.

Hey cagey, I've been meaning to ask... What's the difference between stainless and regular frets?? I'm going to be ordering a neck soon so I need to figure out what I want.

 

[Patrick from Davis]

Yeah, that V definitely sounds like a problem. I have a neck with a similar shape and it cramps my hand the same way. It's a pretty big jump from that kind of profile to a wizard, though.

looks like this one will go to ebay when i save enough for another neck, live n learn.

you and patrick think the standard slim more suitable than the wizard?

guess i can't get a luthier to sand that "V" out of there huh? better to get a new neck?

Wizard or Standard thin depends on what you want.  Play a Strat and like the neck, then go with the standard thin.  Same thing with the Ibanez.  If you like the Ibanez profile better, go with the Wizard.  I grew up on Strat necks so the Standard Thin fits me well.  I also loved that SG neck I mentioned, but the 24 3/4 inch scale was cramped for my hands.  But the great part about the Big W is that you can get the Gibby neck in a Fender scale.  Works for me.
Patrick

 

[Smpl9]

guess i can't get a luthier to sand that "V" out of there huh? better to get a new neck?

If you could find a real luthier, it would be possible. But, they're pretty few and far between. Most guys who self-identify or are called luthiers by their fans/customers aren't actually trained as such or have any actual luthier experience. Then, assuming you found one, it would be expensive. Probably better to buy the neck you want. You can help finance it by selling the neck you have, so the new one isn't such a kick in the shorts. Plus, you could get stainless frets. Everybody should have stainless frets at least once in their life.

roger dat. save a bit and ebay the "v clapton" neck. cheers

 

[Smpl9]

Yeah, that V definitely sounds like a problem. I have a neck with a similar shape and it cramps my hand the same way. It's a pretty big jump from that kind of profile to a wizard, though.

looks like this one will go to ebay when i save enough for another neck, live n learn.

you and patrick think the standard slim more suitable than the wizard?

guess i can't get a luthier to sand that "V" out of there huh? better to get a new neck?

Wizard or Standard thin depends on what you want.  Play a Strat and like the neck, then go with the standard thin.  Same thing with the Ibanez.  If you like the Ibanez profile better, go with the Wizard.  I grew up on Strat necks so the Standard Thin fits me well.  I also loved that SG neck I mentioned, but the 24 3/4 inch scale was cramped for my hands.  But the great part about the Big W is that you can get the Gibby neck in a Fender scale.  Works for me.
Patrick

yeah, i saw that about the gibson with a fender scale. i'll get to a GC store and try an Ibanez and see how it feels. never held one but i do know what the thin strat feels like. i think my hands are smaller than i thought.

appreciate the help!

 

[Cagey]

Hey cagey, I've been meaning to ask... What's the difference between stainless and regular frets?? I'm going to be ordering a neck soon so I need to figure out what I want.

Stainless steel is a much harder alloy than the nickel-silver (which, oddly enough, contains no silver - it's a copper/nickel/zinc alloy) normally used for frets on most guitars/basses, so play is much smoother and the wear is dramatically reduced without affecting the tone of the instrument. The only problem with them is the raw material is slightly more expensive than the nickel-silver and they're slightly more difficult to shape/polish, so some techs/shops like to charge a lot more to work on them. But, considering that not all techs are opportunists, and the frets won't need their attention as much or as often, that doesn't really matter. From Warmoth, it's only a $20 adder to get them new, and it's money well-spent.

Warmoth also makes available a "gold" fret which is pretty nice, too. Also much harder than nickel-silver, although not quite as hard as SS. Those also feel really nice - like playing on glass. They're good for getting the performance of SS but the aesthetic appeal of gold. Here again, the metal is named for its appearance rather than its composition, as there's no gold in the fret wire - that would make them much too soft. It's a copper/iron alloy, which looks gold but is much harder. It's also hypo-allergenic for those who react to nickel.

 

[Last Triumph]

Hey cagey, I've been meaning to ask... What's the difference between stainless and regular frets?? I'm going to be ordering a neck soon so I need to figure out what I want.

Stainless steel is a much harder alloy than the nickel-silver (which, oddly enough, contains no silver - it's a copper/nickel/zinc alloy) normally used for frets on most guitars/basses, so play is much smoother and the wear is dramatically reduced without affecting the tone of the instrument. The only problem with them is the raw material is slightly more expensive than the nickel-silver and they're slightly more difficult to shape/polish, so some techs/shops like to charge a lot more to work on them. But, considering that not all techs are opportunists, and the frets won't need their attention as much or as often, that doesn't really matter. From Warmoth, it's only a $20 adder to get them new, and it's money well-spent.

Warmoth also makes available a "gold" fret which is pretty nice, too. Also much harder than nickel-silver, although not quite as hard as SS. Those also feel really nice - like playing on glass. They're good for getting the performance of SS but the aesthetic appeal of gold. Here again, the metal is named for its appearance rather than its composition, as there's no gold in the fret wire - that would make them much too soft. It's a copper/iron alloy, which looks gold but is much harder. It's also hypo-allergenic for those who react to nickel.

I've ordered 'gold' frets for the VIP - can't wait to play them.

 

[Cagey]

You'll be very pleased, I'm sure. I have a Strat with them on it now, and the VIP in process will have them. The Strat looks/plays like a dream. Definitely a huge step up. When you consider what you're paying to build a custom guitar, it seems foolish to not put either stainless or gold frets on it.

 

[TonyFlyingSquirrel]

I would venture to say that with SS frets only being a $20 markup, it's one of the most significant upgrades that you can make for your neck, requiring one decent setup that may cost you slightly more in the beginning, but it will save you so much more in maintenance in the long run. 

Many techs curse them because it means that they'll receive less business from the person that has ss frets.

 

[Cagey]

I would venture to say that with SS frets only being a $20 markup, it's one of the most significant upgrades that you can make for your neck, requiring one decent setup that may cost you slightly more in the beginning, but it will save you so much more in maintenance in the long run. 

Not only that, but they play so much better. It really is a significant upgrade.

Many techs curse them because it means that they'll receive less business from the person that has ss frets.

I hadn't heard that one before, but I suppose it makes some sense.

What I've heard repeatedly is that they take much longer to work and will tear up your tools in the process. So, techs want to charge more for the added time and the more frequent tool replacement.

But, my experience hasn't really borne that out. It's true they don't work as easily as the nickel-silver frets, but not significantly so. I mean, it's not like they wreck your plans for the day. As far as the tools go, I'm sure some don't like to chew on stainless, but diamond files just laugh at it. So, it's just a matter of having the right tools for the job.

 

[TonyFlyingSquirrel]

Well said Cagey.

It would seem to reason, that if you're a full time tech, you'd invest in diamond files anyway.

 

[Cagey]

I'm not a full-time tech, but I learned a long time ago not to scrimp on tools.

 

[Torment Leaves Scars]

Yeah, that V definitely sounds like a problem. I have a neck with a similar shape and it cramps my hand the same way. It's a pretty big jump from that kind of profile to a wizard, though.

I have a Wizard profiled neck on my guitar.  It's very thin.  While it feels great and is fast-moving, sometimes it's nice to play a thicker neck with a little bit of meat behind it.  While I absolutely love the neck, it doesn't feel "substantial" or "solid," I guess.  It kinda leaves you feeling like you're playing air.

That being said, I think I'd probably go for a neck with a little more meat the next time.  I really like the neck on my 2003 Jackson KV2.  Unfortunately, I can't find any specs on the measurements.  It's a somewhat narrow neck but with some meat behind it.

FWIW, I haven't experienced any discomfort playing the Wizard neck for prolonged periods.