What do you look for in a neck?

When buying a neck, do you get:

  • The cheapest in the showcase with the materials you want

    Votes: 6 28.6%
  • The finest figured wood you want from the showcase

    Votes: 1 4.8%
  • Somewhere in between

    Votes: 11 52.4%
  • Low dollar custom

    Votes: 1 4.8%
  • High dollar custom

    Votes: 2 9.5%

  • Total voters
    21

Micahbell

Senior member
Messages
245
Somewhere in-between.
I only have one warmoth bass, but I bought the neck partially because it was the wood I wanted (canary and ebony) but mostly I settled for that neck because it had a wicked stripe in it (it is macassar ebony)
The neck did not have any extra charge because of the figuring on the fretboard, but I probably would have payed an extra $50 for it, after seeing it.
 

dudesweet157

Senior member
Messages
647
When I buy a neck I spec for the build it is a part of.  For a simple solid color Strat/Tele I'd probably just do plain maple with rosewood and clay dots.  For a body with wicked woods/figuring, you've got to have a neck that complements it well.  Then there are builds that just look wrong if you don't go the classical route.  For instance, to me, a Les Paul (carved and figured top) doesn't look like a Les Paul unless it has those big trapezoid inlays and binding.  
 

Bill in SC

Senior member
Messages
201
I'm sold on exotic wood necks. I always look for the most inexpensive exotics with the straightest, tightest grain. I don't like knots or uneven grain in a neck as this may lead to a future warp. Warmoth has some unbelievable exotics in the $250 range. The only exception I would make to spending more than roughly $250 for a neck, is an all ebony neck in the $500 range. One of these days if I live long enough... :)
BB in SC

Example:

YES! Note very tight, even and symmetrical wood grain. This should be a very true neck for many years.
http://www.warmoth.com/showcase/sc_guitar_necks.cfm?type=guitar&itemNumber=SN4121&menuItem=1&subMenuItem=0&subMenuItem2=0

NO! Note the random grain patterns. NO uniformity in the wood grain. Just looks like a possible future warp from here.
http://www.warmoth.com/showcase/sc_guitar_necks.cfm?type=guitar&itemNumber=SN4116&menuItem=1&subMenuItem=0&subMenuItem2=0

Just MHO.
 

tfarny

Senior member
Messages
4,481
I've ordered two necks from the showcase, both were impulse buys but more on the 'value' side. My custom order neck approached $500 but I LOVE it.
 

Kostas

Senior member
Messages
1,382
Necks are the tricky part in my orders. Half of the specifications have to be the same:

1) Vintage Modern construction
2) Fat back shape
3) SS6105 frets
4) Unfinished neck, no maple/mahogany/koa.

I chose rosewood for my first neck so no woods left in the vintage modern category. I paid extra for my second neck to have goncalo alves/pau ferro. I really don't like to pay extra, I hope Warmoth will expand the wood choices for the vintage modern necks. That's the reason I have a body at home and two other bodies on shipping but no necks.

I have a killer Les Paul body and in the future I'd like to order a killer neck to match it, I have decided on ziricote for the fretboard but I'm not sure if Warmoth will do such a neck in vintage modern constuction. No binding with SS frets also, so either i'll order it fretless and have a local luthier do the frets & binding or I 'll wait til Warmoth offers it as an option.

I'm sold on exotic woods, too many maple necks in guitars. I would like to try different woods, all look beautiful to me except plain ebony. I like grains in the necks but I'm not so picky as I am with the body tops.
 

-CB-

Senior member
Messages
5,427
If its my money - and it is - I get what I want, based on what conceptual idea I have before hand.  Its always - concept first, then start the procurement and assembly.

 

DiMitriR33

Senior member
Messages
604
i buy warmoth so i can get something over the top. it's all about custom. i can get a cheapo squire and upgrade the hardware for cheaper than an american strat or even a warmoth, it'll sound and play great. so when i buy warmoth it's more about custom than value. i'll get something highly figured or exotic every time.
 

simple

Senior member
Staff member
Messages
2,101
None of the pole options fit me. I buy the neck that fulfills the dream of the particular build I have in mind. Sometimes its just a Maple/Rosewood neck and sometimes it's a Wenge with an Ebony fingerboard. Sometimes its a bound and painted neck. I do really dig exotic wood necks though. They are pretty inexpensive for what they are and you save money by them not requiring a finish. The prices for exotics are going to increase dramatically as supply dwindles so now is a good time to build up the arsenol.
 

stormbringer

Senior member
Messages
286
Exotics baby! I am sold on my first and figure ALL of my future necks will pretty much be exotic.  It is a shame we are cutting them all down (well not us in particular, but society in general) and I agree with Gregg, get 'em while you can as the numbers will certainly start to dwindle in the future.

I build for whatever it is I am looking for, might be plain and simple, out of the showcase, or custom order (my preference), depends on the plan...

Bottom line, I am diggin' the exotic world and in for the long haul myself...
 

GoDrex

Senior member
Messages
3,619
For me it depends. I don't care about the look of the wood at all - but the LP neck i recently order wasn't cheap - with binding and paint. I didn't get inlays so it's a little cheaper than the more expensive inlay. Though for a strat I wouldn't pay much since I wouldn't have binding or expensive paint.
 
R

RLW

Guest
I try to find a pleasing match of neck and body. If I do, then, and only then, do I look at the price. If it's too much, sayonara. Otherwise, full speed ahead!
 
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