So I'm building a new toy soon.

I hear the Jeff Beck neck has a faintly ridiculous chunkiness to it, but recently it was toned down. Anyone able to confirm this and contrast with, say, a standard American profile?

I am also a fan of the CS necks, and wouldn't mind using one of the modern interpretations (I'm lazy...). How would one of these stack up in comparison?

For reference, I LOVE the feel of my $@! Strat's neck. Really nice soft sheen that begs to be played. I hate thin necks with a passion- I'm used to my old PRS's neck (Wide Fat profile), my '01 American Deluxe (fairly chunky) and the '87 $@! Contemporary Standard (chunky). I don't like headstock clutter- the less string trees the better- and I like the roller nut concept. I don't like signatures on necks, but I do own sandpaper.

So yeah. All input appreciated.

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'01 American Deluxe HSS Strat.
'87 Japan HSS Strat.
'11 Custom Shop FMT HSS Strat.

"Without music, time is just a bunch of boring production deadlines and dates by which bills must be paid."

The Jeff Beck model has a thinner C profile than its ancestor. It also sports a contoured heel and a set of dual-coil ceramic stack humbuckers.

There are rumours saying Jeff recently switched back to the fat bat necks, though I'm not as 100% certain. Other sources claimed his pickups are Suhr-designed single-coils or Samarium Cobalt types, causing a controversy concerning the exact specs of his own personal guitar.

The only big difference between Jeff's main axe and the CS versions of his signature model is the Wilkinson roller nut of the early Strat Pluses.

The Custom Classics came initially with three Texas Special single-coils and a white pearloid pickguard.

In 2003 Fender replaced the TX Specials with three Modern Classic single-coils including a hot bridge pickup featuring a steel inductance baseplate.

From 2007 until their discontinuation in 2009, all Custom Classic Stratocasters were available with SCN pickups, S1 switching system and a late 1960s large headstock.

Thanks- have you ever tried the JB neck?

_________________
'01 American Deluxe HSS Strat.
'87 Japan HSS Strat.
'11 Custom Shop FMT HSS Strat.

"Without music, time is just a bunch of boring production deadlines and dates by which bills must be paid."

I have a 2000 JB with the thick neck, and I really like it. Enough that when I get to order a Custom Shop guitar, I am specifying that neck. It felt unusual at first, but very shortly I was used to it, and when switching between the Beck Strat and another one I don't really notice the difference in my playing. After a few minutes I'll think "Oh yeah, the thick neck..." but it feels fine in my hand. No problems with chords or lead picking.

Thanks! I hear the Custom Shop ones have a U-shaped neck and the standard ones from 2001 onwards are a regular C-shape. Can that be confirmed? If it is, then I'd probably get a regular one and remove the signature...

_________________
'01 American Deluxe HSS Strat.
'87 Japan HSS Strat.
'11 Custom Shop FMT HSS Strat.

"Without music, time is just a bunch of boring production deadlines and dates by which bills must be paid."

My 2000 was the last year of the fat necks and Lace pickups, then in 01 they went to the thinner C shape. I do not know for sure what the CS does, but I think they would be happy to give you whatever neck you prefer on your order. I am counting on it for whenever I get around to ordering the dream guitar.

I'm slightly cheaper than that- I'm building one out of parts. Found a gorgeous Plus body in a weird blueburst that I'd like, and want a really special neck for it. It's going to be my fiancé's engagement present to me- she thinks it's unfair that she gets a very expensive ring and I don't get anything, so she's offered to get me a guitar!

I've found lots of Beck necks on eBay, they interest me because they've got the right spec- LSR nut, locking brushed Schallers, no string trees, small headstock. Only thing I wouldn't want is the signature.

_________________
'01 American Deluxe HSS Strat.
'87 Japan HSS Strat.
'11 Custom Shop FMT HSS Strat.

"Without music, time is just a bunch of boring production deadlines and dates by which bills must be paid."