How does it compare to C neck? Is V thinner than C? I have Highway One (C neck) which fits me like a glove but I've played some other C necks (ie. Mexican) which are thicker than HWY One at the nut so I don't have a great deal of faith in Fender standards.

It refers to the profile shape of the back of the neck.

"V" shaped means that the back of the neck has high spine and. A lot of people see the "V" shape as a 50s style neck. The Clapton Strat is a very good example of the "V" shaped neck. If I remember correctly it was the first official "V" shaped neck that I can think of. If you check out Warmoth.com (A guitar parts website) it will show you the different types of profiles. I think Warmoth calls their "V" shaped neck as the "Clapton profile."

"C" shape has a rounder shape and very common. There is also a "D" shape and "U" shape. The "U" shaped necks are very popular with super strats.

When Fender started making guitars there was not real neck shape. Everything was done by hand so neck shapes would vary.

I personally really like the "V" shape. It's the neck I have on my signature guitar.

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1975 Sunburst Stratocaster rosewood finger board
1979 Stratocaster with roseowood finder board
2001 Candy Green Clapton Stratocaster
2007 Andy Summers Inspired Telecaster
2007 '51 P-Bass
2012 Taylor 110
2015 Mystic Ice Blue Deluxe Stratocaster Plus

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Strat's had V-shaped necks starting at least as early as Oct. 1956, maybe earlier than that. When you see a relic or CS guitar of some sort with "10/56" neck, October of 1956 is what that's referring to. They kept the V shape until either '58 or '59 when it was changed to a C shape.

I personally love a V-shaped neck. Three of my four Strats have V necks.

Great info guys. Thanks for posting it. The picture really explains alot. I love the V neck it fits my hand great.

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Vintage Hotrod '57 Strat, 81 G&L L2000 Series E Bass, Fender Musicmaster Bass Amp.

i have a MIM with a C neck, love the big chunky feel of it... my hand cramps on a v neck...

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blues - its a religion...

+1

Shimmilou...a picture is worth a thousand words

T2

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What time is it? It's Fender Time.

The change from a soft "C" profile to a soft "V" can be more comfortable for you.

Personally I like neck profiles with an extra bit of real estate to grasp. YMMV.

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