Need help picking correct neck

[stratguy805]

Hey everyone! I'm pretty set on getting a strat neck from Warmoth, but I'm having a hard time narrowing down the options. I play a Mexican strat right now which feels ok, but I have trouble with the thumb over grip. I'm curious how the Boatneck, Roundback, and Clapton feel. Can anyone recommend guitars with similar profiles I can test out?

On a related note, I need to play with some different nut widths and radii. How does one determine if a neck feels good because of the profile, width, or radius? I wouldn't want to get into a situation where I think the neck feels great because of the profile but when the real thing that felt great was the radius.

Thanks for the help!

 

[Wizard of Wailing]

    I'm a thumb over player and love the Warmoth Clapton profile. I don't know what guitar has a similar neck (except I assume a Clapton signature strat).  I say when in doubt about the radius, go with the standard 10-16 compound radius.

 

[TBurst Std]

I say go try a bunch of different guitars, find the one you like the neck on, then research those neck dimensions. 

Without knowing hand size, flexibility, relative size plan to finger, etc.  it’s nearly impossible to say which you would prefer. 

My Strat was a W boat neck on it at 1 11/16.  I can thumb over both E and A.  I have bigger hands, but by no means huge.

 

[zebra]

Re Radius:  Folks who do lots of chording and little soloing seem to prefer a tighter radius, and shredders prefer a flatter radius.  The 10-16 compound radius is a Goldilocks scenario that is pretty popular at this forum.  Unless you're an outlier (either all about chords or all about soloing), the 10-16 is a pretty safe bet.  But like TBurst said, it's a good idea to try out different guitars.

As for relationship between nut width and profile, it seems to get messy.  For example, some folks find some profiles too thick in 1 11/16 width, and perfect at 1 5/8.  Here are a couple of links to member polls that might give you some idea of preference folks around here have and why.  Warmoth offers a lot of choices - it can be overwhelming!

http://www.unofficialwarmoth.com/index.php?topic=5461.0

http://www.unofficialwarmoth.com/index.php?topic=26484.0

 

[Strat Avenger]

I'd like to be able to chime in and help, but unfortunately this is something where you really need to know what you like, which comes from experience playing different neck profiles.

My preference may not be yours, but I'll tell you anyway. My hands are not large.
I really like the Standard Thin.
The "Wizard" is too thin and flat, and anything thicker is too thick. I like the back to be round, like a "C" or "U" shape. I like a 1-5/8" or 1.65" nut width. I like medium-jumbo frets (6150), and either the 10"-16" compound radius or a straight 12" radius..
I like a graphite nut if it is non-locking. I like locking tuners. I like pretty much all popular fretboard materials; maple, rosewood, and ebony. All my guitars have maple necks except for one that is mahogany. I like top-adjust truss rods, and non-angled headstocks. I prefer traditional-shape headstocks rather than pointy. I like a guitar to look like a musical instrument, not a weapon.

You need to decide what you like.

 

[rauchman]

Lots of good info here already.

Regarding nut width and contour, I would guess the thinner the nut width is, the fatter you can go on contour, which will probably aid you in your thumb over technique.

I wear a size L-XL glove size (depending on make), and I don't consider my hands large by any means.  I usually try to play with thumb in center of back of the neck, but also do thumb over depending on chording and what not.  I've found meatier necks to have some positive attributes especially with a thinner nut width.  However, I don't necessarily "like" them.
I have an older MIM Strat with what I believe is Fender's modern "C" profile.  I like it a lot.  The fattest neck I have on a guitar is a G&L USA Legacy Special.  It's not much meatier than the Fender modern "C", but it is noticeable.  When I first got the guitar, I really thought about getting rid of it, but I've adjusted to the neck and have grown to like it.  There are pro's/con's to the fatter neck for sure.  Conversely, I also have an Ibanez S series shredder with a wide really thin neck.  I've grown to like that too.

I'm in the process of building a Warmoth Tele and the neck has a Wolfgang profile.  Kind of the best of both worlds for me.  Really really like this neck profile.  On the back side of the neck, chunkier in the top half (the half closest to your face when you play) with a wider shoulder, and slimmer with a less pronounced shoulder on the bottom half (the half closest to your feet when you play).

 

[Toulouse_Tuhles]

Oh... about a decade and a half ago, I got a little tipsy, and ordered a Warmoth Fatback neck, after I got to play an SG Jr that had had a neck that still had the faint impression LOUISVILLE SLUGGER on it....
I have not be disappointed, and I have been spoilt.  No Chester the Lester Paul neck comes close, and the really fat SG Classic neck is just "ok" by comparison.  Therefore, I shall meet my maker with clear regard within my own self, knowing that the Fatback is indeed the stuff holy dreams use for as their own inspiration.

 

[mayfly]

To really know, you need to have it in your hand strung up with your favorite strings.  Everyone's hand is different, which makes neck profile a very personal thing.

I ended up going through several warmoth neck profiles until I ended up at the boatneck.  I bought all the necks on the showcase and sold them for what I paid for them, so I was only out postage.  I suggest you get close by going through guitars at the local music store, then make a couple of choices knowing you're going to sell one of them.

"...big hands I know you're the one..."

 

[BigSteve22]

"...big hands I know you're the one...

Gotta love Violent Femmes.......

 

[stratamania]

If you want to do thumb over the neck I find the width and the profile makes a difference. If either of those two elements is too big then you will be challenged with that technique. I prefer 1 5/8" for this style of playing. 1 11/16 would be less so but OK for other styles.

Radius I have not found to be too much of a relevant variable here. But comfortable rolled edges help.

 

[Rick]

With a 1 5/8 std profile  I have no problem with thumb over.  Problem is the rest of the time it’s cramped.  Since I don’t play bo diddley style, I use 1 3/4 or 7/8 with a Wolfgang profile. My finger tips need the real estate.

 

[stratamania]

I should add that regardless of what one person finds suitable it will not be the same for everyone. You need to go try a lot of guitars and find what works for you.

 

[spe111]

I'm a thumb over player with medium length fingers, I have found that the profile matters for other things, but not how well I can get my thumb around. The only thing that matters for my thumb is the neck width. 11/16" is okay for me, but 5/8" is better. Like everyone else has said here, you should probably just try different things because everyone is different.

 

[beltjones]

As others have said, the nut width is the most important factor, but I think fretboard radius matters too. The rounder radii sort of "curve back" into your hand, making it easier to reach with your thumb.

Of all the current strat players who use a lot of thumb over the top, John Mayer is an interesting study. He designed his dream "strat" from the ground up, with whatever nut width, fretboard radius, fret size, etc he wanted, and he chose a 7.25" radius with a 1.65" nut width and vintage size (small) frets. If you don't have big hands like he has, you might like a 1 5/8" nut width.

 

[ChrisPBacon]

Hey guys, I too am having a similar issue. I was thinking of the SRV profile but it doesn't seem to be as popular around here for the thumb playing. If anyone has any experience with it, I would like to hear your thoughts. I do prefer a thicker feel for my necks but the fatback seems a little much. I'm still pretty new since I've only been playing for a little over a year now. My main is an Epiphone SG pro, but that neck feels just a little too thin for me, but I don't know how it compares to a MIM strat, which is what I am currently saving up for. Does anyone know if the modern C shape is comparable, or just a little thicker than the slim taper "D"?

Thanks for the read guys