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Post subject: Dilemma, which neck to go with?
Posted: Sun Apr 30, 2017 8:49 pm
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Joined: Tue Nov 29, 2016 6:30 pm
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Hey guys, looking for some opinions about what neck to keep.
I'm building a partscaster and am into playing blues. I've got two necks that I really like and have played on the guitar and each have their advantages and disadvantages. I don't want to keep both and build another guitar so I need to decide which one I should go with and wondering if anyone has been in this situation before and/or can give any kind of advice.

The first neck is a John Mayer neck. I love the feel and play of this neck in nearly every way except it's a bit thick and wide for my hand which makes thumb over chording difficult. I can do it but I really have to concentrate on positioning my arm and hand is the exact perfect position and find that I have to squeeze really hard to nail down the strings properly. This neck is nearly 1.7 wide at the nut and a thick C as described by Fender, 9.5 radius with 6105 frets. It's a joy to play in every way except thumb over chords. Any kind of fast playing with those chords just tends to be very sloppy because it's so difficult to chord that way with this neck.

The second neck is a rosewood neck from a road worn classic player guitar. It's a lot slimmer at 1.64 at the nut and pretty thin modern C profile. Also 9.5 radius and is supposed to have medium jumbo frets but they feel a little on the small side to me. Obviously I can thumb over very easily with this neck and it plays quite fast being so small in comparison. What I don't like about it is that the frets feel small and my fingers scrape against the wood. It doesn't hinder my playing, just a feel thing. I've contemplated keeping this neck and having it refretted with 6105's or jumbo's. If I did that, it would still come out costing less than the JM neck listed above. I will say though that barre chords and bending feel much easier on the JM neck with the thicker profile and bigger frets, but I can really wrap my hand around this neck and don't have to fight against it at all for thumb over chords, they're very natural and easy feeling.

I'm not really sure which is the better neck to go with, I will say that my biggest influences and favorites to play come from SRV/Hendrix (no surprise). What do you guys think, any suggestions or advice?


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Post subject: Re: Dilemma, which neck to go with?
Posted: Mon May 01, 2017 12:51 am
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Joined: Fri Jan 02, 2015 6:57 am
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Location: UK
I think we can all get hung up on specifications. I have 3 guitars which, based on specification, should feel the same but they don't.

I have guitars with very different necks. They feel different and there are things I can or can't do with them but I still get on and play them.

As far as telling you which neck to choose that is impossible. I have guitars that, based on specification, I wouldn't have bought 5 years ago but I now love them despite not being what I thought I liked.

Of the two I would probably choose the one that allowed me to use my thumb (a big help for Hendrix stuff). But I'm not you. If I had two necks I'd make two guitars.

And a lot may depend on the individual neck. It might be a JM or EC or Vintage, or what ever, but if the neck is twisted it isn't going to be as good as a less exotic straight standard neck.

At the end of the day it is a Strat. You can try both and see which one you prefer.

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Post subject: Re: Dilemma, which neck to go with?
Posted: Mon May 01, 2017 4:01 am
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Sounds to me like refretting the slimmer neck will get you the best compromise between necks. But it will be a compromise. Would be handy if you could try a neck similar to what yours would be if you refret it.


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Post subject: Re: Dilemma, which neck to go with?
Posted: Mon May 01, 2017 6:58 am
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A neck swap is relatively easy on bolt-ons.
Put on either of those necks, switch it later at the next string change if you're not happy.
If things still aren't right, sell both those necks and get a new one with your preferred specs.


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Post subject: Re: Dilemma, which neck to go with?
Posted: Mon May 01, 2017 6:24 pm
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No offense, but sounds like you should get rid of both of them and find one you like completely!

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Post subject: Re: Dilemma, which neck to go with?
Posted: Mon May 01, 2017 8:36 pm
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You could always get a double neck body.


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