I have always played a good ole maple neck, standard radius standard thin neck from the 70s then the 80s (which I still have) (9.5 I think).

Recently got a CS Strat with a rosewood neck, bound with vintage binding and WLS satin finish. I have never played anything so good feeling. Only thing close is a 60s slim LP but even then, not as nice.
I don't know if the binding has anything to do with it. Maybe psychological but I'm amazed.

I suspect that most of us Strat players have little or no experience with a bound Strat neck (since there aren't very many of them --- ever).

So you'll have to tell us about it. Do you think the binding gives a smoother edge than on an unbound neck?

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Member #26797
My other guitar is a Strat.

I have two Strats with bound rosewood fretboards......





Both necks are CIJ.

I love them!

Arjay

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"Here's why reliability is job one: A great sounding amp that breaks down goes from being a favorite piece of gear to a useless piece of crap in less time than it takes to read this sentence." -- BRUCE ZINKY

I played one of the older Eric Johnson sigs with a bound neck. Didn't really play it long enough to really know how I felt about it, but first impression was good. I wouldnt mind owning one.

Binding on Strat necks just looks wrong.

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Tune Low, Play Hard & Floor it!

Those are some SWEET Strats!

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I have played an 87 strat as my main since 87. I also have a Gibson with a rosewood neck and binding that I have always thought was a better feel and easier to play if I may. My personal opinion is that I have to kind of fight with or conquer the standard maple neck and I've always loved it and felt like I accomplished something by playing it and making it sound good.
This thing however is so much easier to play. Easier than even my Gibson. Like butter.
I know it's a combination of the fretboard, the WLS finish and the binding. I know it looks strange for a strat and I'm blown away. If you get a chance, try one.

Forgive my ignorance but what is a bound and unbound neck?

Dayum that's sexy!!!! I'm gonna have to get me a bound neck one of these days...

Unbound means the edges of the neck at the fret board are uncovered. Fretboard and neck wood.

Binding on an electric is typically cosmetic and is a strip of material (I'm not sure what it is exactly) at the edge of the fretboard like in the photos on this post. Has a classy look (IMHO) and very smooth feel. On this photo it's the smooth white/yellowish strip at the edge of the neck.

ah ok thank you very much

Thats a unique lookin headstock. I kinda dig it.

Thanks! Here's the whole guitar with the bound neck. I love this thing!

screwed up

Somehow managed to post more than once.