Neck profile question.

[gentrym76]

My hands are getting old and rickety. My strats deluxe neck used to be wonderful, but now it's getting to the point that I can't fret the G string on an A minor chord, and my hand cramps.

So I was playing a John Mayer strat copy whatever it is and the neck was so much more comfortable. So I looked up the specs on the model number and compared it to warmoth specs. The closest, measurement wise was a 59 roundback. I'm wanting to get a neck with that profile and was wondering everyone's opinion? Has anyone been able to compare the two?

On Facebook I was told that a boatneck with an 1 7/8 nut was extremely comfortable and was going to try that. But it's impossible for me to find something with that particular profile.

Now I don't know which route to take.

I have large 47 year old mechanic hands, not andre the giant hands but I don't have any problem using my thumb on the low E if that gives an idea.

Any advice? Particularly on those two profiles or the comparison I mentioned above?

Thank you for the help.

 

[bonesofwrath]

Its hard to answer because people... and it depends a lot on your hands, technique, and whats causing your pain.

I have a fatback neck. Its huge. Its not uncomfortable to play but it feels weird. I think more because of lack of taper than the actual girth. I have a boat neck and its really weird. Its noticeable and more about the v shape than girth I don't find it particularly hand filling despite what the measurements might suggest. I think its closer to a flat sided standard thin than a fatback.

When people say they have big hands that can mean wide palms or long fingers. I think it probably has more to do with what you do with your thumb than your genetics.

This is where Aaron says "I told you so" but My next neck will be standard thin. I have an old ESP neck I love that I always thought of as girthy, probably because my next guitar was an Ibanez. But I no longer consider if super fat. Its just a little bit fatter than thin.

 

[gentrym76]

I'm in the longer fingers boat.

Having played a few reissue Les Paul's, that PRS, and a lp studio I used to have, all of which were thicker, or should I say more hand filling than my strat, I think I'm just gonna go with the 59 roundback. At least I know I'll be able to sell it if needed. I plan on getting a basic neck for my strat, and if I like it I'll get a premium one for my full tilt build that needs a better neck. I also want to go with a 12 inch radius. So basically a Gibson neck on a strat platform.

That PRS was very surprising. And it's amazingly close to the 59 spec wise.

I've never looked at the measurements of the standard thin compared to fenders medium c.

And I believe your correct about thumb placement over hand size. I also think my hand condition has a lot to do with my issue.

 

[stratamania]

If you have already tried something (Mayer) that is similar to 59 profile specs and found it comfortable, then go with those specs.

Perhaps also consider seeing a physio or some other specialist for your hands. 47 is not that old.

 

[somebodyelseuk]

It's the wielding spanners that does it, frequently in the cold. My Grandad warned me against it, so I did it for a hobby...
I find doing the washing up helps - in a sink with hot soapy water, not loading a machine up!

Regarding the neck profile. You have to go out and try some. '50s vintage reissue Strats tend to have boatneck profiles IIRC.
Trouble is, hands vary, and neck profiles vary as well - Fender Custom Shop's '59 Deep C' is not the same as Gibson's.

 

[NedRyerson]

Perhaps also consider seeing a physio or some other specialist for your hands. 47 is not that old.

The wear & tear, definitely. I'm 50, but I've been in IT for all of my adult professional life so a lot less physical destruction on my hands than the OP.

My brother-in-law is only a year older than me but because he had a more physical job for most of his career, he had similar issues as the OP. He was experiencing random numbness and had increasing difficulty in making a fist. He got carpal tunnel surgery a few years ago that greatly improved his outlook, though.

 

[gentrym76]

That's most likely the real solution.

 

[NedRyerson]

That's most likely the real solution.

Get it checked out as soon as you can. Before it gets worse. "Quality of life," and all that. At our age, we're not going to rebound like we would've in our 20s.

 

[Rick]

You need more space. Also think about trying a 1 3/4 nut width. Gives you a little more room, like being on highway vs on a narrow surface street. And try the Wolfgang profile. I have a 1 7/8 neck and it's forgiving. I found the wider the neck the thinner the profile so at 1 7/8 the thickest for me is a Wolfgang.

You gotta try a bunch to see what you like.

 

[PFDarkside]

I have a Mayer Strat and a ‘62 Hot Rod which the neck profile was taken from, I believe a 1-11/16” and SRV or 59 would be closest to what it is. 59 is slightly fatter and SRV is slightly slimmer with the offset.

 

[Rick]

Did you look at the measurements on warmoth.com

 

[Waraxe]

Its hard to answer because people... and it depends a lot on your hands, technique, and whats causing your pain.

I have a fatback neck. Its huge. Its not uncomfortable to play but it feels weird. I think more because of lack of taper than the actual girth. I have a boat neck and its really weird. Its noticeable and more about the v shape than girth I don't find it particularly hand filling despite what the measurements might suggest. I think its closer to a flat sided standard thin than a fatback.

When people say they have big hands that can mean wide palms or long fingers. I think it probably has more to do with what you do with your thumb than your genetics.

This is where Aaron says "I told you so" but My next neck will be standard thin. I have an old ESP neck I love that I always thought of as girthy, probably because my next guitar was an Ibanez. But I no longer consider if super fat. Its just a little bit fatter than thin.

I have a 59, a fatback, and a boatneck.

The lack of taper is definitely an eye opener for the uninitiated, but it makes sense at least for those that lay thumb around.

Regarding the v, to me it's the best of both worlds. Those worlds being the 59 and the fatback.

I like the thicker depth when barring chords, as well as the ease of motion the thinner sides of the v affords. It's my new standard. My old fave was the 59. I can play much longer and more comfortably, with no loss of performance.

I'm also in construction, and have done my own auto and bike repair for nearly 4 decades. I know what the OP means regarding working hands.

It IS a weird profile, but you get used to it quickly. My daughter thought it was too odd (compared to an ibby wizard) , but has grown to like it.
Her words: it's like a comfy couch for your hand! Lol. She's 5'5" btw.

 

[Hodgo]

Im not sure if you mean a Mayer Strat or a Silver Sky, but both have a 1.65 nut width. The Mayer Strat had a 9.5” radius, the SS is a 7.25” radius. On the Mayer Strat it had 6105 frets, the SS uses vintage style Jescar frets. These are all critical to overall neck feel.

The SS is, IMHO, a better feeling neck and that is due to PRS doing a great job with the fretwork so that the action can be slammed… another big factor in hand feel

Neck profiles on both are based on a 60s Strat profile that is chunkier than the standard Fender thin C. A 59 Roundback is likely to have bigger “shoulders” (U/D shape vs Fender C) but I very much like that feeling in the palm. The older I get, the more I want necks that fill the hand vs the wizard necks I played as a teen.

Sage advice about getting to a doc about your particular medical needs, but fat necks do seem to offer most players a more comfortable extended playing session.

 

[Hodgo]

The point being - every factor must be considered if you are chasing the dragon of a particular neck feel. Another one I did not mention is fretboard rollover. Your skin is sensitive to the degree that if the Earth were a basketball, you would be able to feel the Empire State Building. To that end, every dimension is critical.