Baxter and Jonathan Compare the neck shapes from PRS , Fender, and Gibson. Find out what necks are similar and what ones you might need to the try next time you are at your local guitar shop! @prsguitars @fender @gibsonguitar
I like the '60s necks as well. I don't know if I can really say I prefer them but I'm good with the 59 or the 60. I don't really care for the really big 57/58 baseball bat necks.
Great episode on neck sizes. I have several guitars that range from 0.77” to 0.92” at first fret. I’m like you Baxter, I love all of them and embrace the difference between them…it’s the spice of life.
Recently got a CS Tele with a 10/56 and the V is slightly softer than others with the same profile I’ve played. At first I didn’t realise it was a V. I’m not normally a fan of V-shapes, but it’s so subtle and then goes into a chunky C. So comforty - all the support where you want it, and no wood where you don’t!
My Jimmy Vaughan Strat had the big V, it was ok but hurt my hand after a while, so I sanded it down to be close to my AV 62 Strat C neck. Now even though it is a Mexican neck, it is my fave ever now that I sanded it down. Fun video, thanks guys!
A perfect neck for me is related to the actual radius - compound radius is my preference. Over the years, I’ve moved from super thin to thicker, but I’m not in the “chunky” phase yet … progressive metal/fusion/shred player here 😂
My favorite neck carve is the one thats on whatever guitar im loving at any given time! The more diferences between them the better as far as im concerned. Each different neck brings something very different out of my playing.
Not sure what kind of necks are on my guitars but they’re all pretty similar. I don’t care as much as I used to about those things; as long as the action isn’t too high, and I don’t care for it super low either. Just a lot of medium all around, just like my playing 😮
I love all the neck shapes mentioned and am lucky enough to own a few of these. One neck shape should definitely be mentioned ….. the “Streamlined U” by the Fender Custom Shop. About a .84 first and .95 12th. sort of new, but I’ve seen them on a few of these released in the last couple years. Absolutely superb!!! Basically feels like a chunkier C that you can wrap for some leverage, or play with your thumb to the back of the neck. This is my favorite to date
I appreciate and like different necks on my guitars. After playing a '52 LP baseball bat, I settled between a '60's slim taper and the '59 shape on my Gibson custom shops. I really like the contemporary C-shaped Strat necks on my USA and two Mexi's. Shockingly, I really dig the soft V neck on my Dean V.
Although I check neck shapes, it's the way the neck plays for me. One of my favorites in my collection is a V shape on an old jazz box. It's a baseball bat, but the way it fills and contours to my hand is comfy.
The 10/56 was an accident. Someone screwed up the neck profiling, but they put it out anyway. Same with the antigua finish - it was devised to cover up a screw up rather than throw the problem in the bin.
I love my og first batch black silver sky. The neck is amazing for sure and a lot of people prefer the newer necks but not me. But I'd glady take a maple meck silver sky. Casino we are getting close to that 50k giveaway!! Keep up the good work guys!
Pattern vintage for me! I’ve never had a big preference on thick necks. Thin necks, however, I am very picky about. The carves from the 80s & 90s on shredder brands were better than today’s thin necks. 60s slim taper is the only carve I looooathe entirely
Was a little concerned about the compound radius neck when I bought a Fender American Elite Stratocaster. Now, I don't know how I lived without it. SO comfortable and extremely easy to play.
Fretboard radius and fret size should also be included in your discussion. I’m the oddball who still loves the thinner Fender necks with the 7.25” radius and vintage frets. I recently got a MIM ‘72 Thinline. One of the reasons that I love it so much is that it has the perfect vintage Fender neck.
Best neck I’ve ever placed my hands on was a 57 Murphy lab heavy relic, followed by a heavy relic 63C. Sadly neither left the guitar store with me, but great to feel them for that brief moment all the same
I have a 96 MIM strat that I bought back in 96. This was my first guitar. Had no idea at the time about any specs. I just bought it because I thought it looked beautiful
I appreciate all types of neck shapes and think each neck shape along with the pickup combination, wood type, weight, etc makes the guitar-playing experience special. I'm still hunting for that ONE magical guitar. Still haven't found what I'm looking for!
Always enjoy your videos! Thank you guys! the audio on this one is weird. I can't tell if there is super heavy compression and a gate? Maybe I'm just crazy. Keep on keepin' on.
I really like your videos with all the guitar information. I was wondering if the corporations would allow you to do a review of the Earl Slick equipment?
Dean got me into V shaped necks, but I like Fender's modern C. It's their standard one for a reason, and that's because it feels really nice. I like an asymmetric neck like on the old Roscoe Beck bass but that's not my everyday.
I think I’m the only one but I love the mid/late 60s Gibson necks with the narrow nut. My 1966 Coronet has a fairly chunky neck (.85 at the first fret and 1.02 at the second) with the 1.56” nut. Great to play with your thumb over but it fills your hand at the same time.
Switching from the violin to the electric guitar after high school, I prefer a thinner neck. My PRS Custom 24 with the Pattern Thin neck feels great for me!
I've had a 1967 Fender custom telecaster that I have owned for over 25 years. It as the shape similar to the 1963 Fender C. The frets were played to next to nothing and lacquer finish was worn and got very sticky. This one has a rosewood fret board. I was told this had the sideways frets and I could not find anyone who would attempt a refret. I removed the neck and put on another. A few years go by, and I find someone who knew how to refret a neck like this. At the same time the sticky paint was removed and refinished. Since I am never selling the guitar, the refinish did not bother me. Once I got the neck put back on....wow, welcome back old friend. I can play any neck shape, but this is my favorite. Like the old saying goes, size does matter.
I keep bringing this up but it has to be said, the Korean-made Squier ll Strat necks are awesome... not too thin but not chunky, with a 12" radius just feels perfect! My other go-to is the Mex Nashville/Thinline Tele neck, again 12" radius and slightly thicker than the Squier but just plain feels like "home"...
I love my Fender ’71 neck…Is it D or Something. And I have ordered custom luthier made based on that. It’s so magical. By now I have started to expand. Like you said, different thing makes you play differently.
I have a moderate size collection of guitars. Some rather expensive, some not so much. The one I always go back to is my ‘94 MIJ 72 Tele Thinline. Primarily because the neck carve is magnificent. It just feels like home. My easy second choice is my ‘88 MIJ 57 Strat reissue because it’s very similar, maybe a touch smaller.
Comfort is what I’m looking for. 60s oval C, pattern thin and 60s slim. I do have a fender telecaster with something called a deep C and like that too.
I like a 56 strat shape too. I always thought it was called a boat neck and 57 was the V neck though. 58 shape for the Les Paul for me. I am enjoying a smaller Wolfgang contour shape from warmoth lately too.
My two cents... I don't really have a neck preference. I started playing on a Spanish classical guitar so almost any electric is easy to get used to after that. I have an SG with a slim taper that I like. I also really like the bigger necks on R7s. Fenders are just as good for me. I'm not that picky about it and it's not that high on my list of factors when judging a guitar. The only necks that I don't really like are hard, drastic V's. I own both Fenders and Gibsons and I find that my playing is more precise on Gibson guitars. Fenders fight me a little more. Yet my favorite guitar is my Telecaster. For me, it's all about what I hear. The actual feel is a relatively distant second. Cheers guys!✌
For Fender, I love the 63 C. I mostly play “thumb over,” so that rounded full neck helps me comfortably lay my thumb on the deep E string. Eric Johnson’s V neck is good too
@@matthewgordon2655 No, it’s nowhere near as thick as the U, but It fills the hand much more than a modern C. The actual shape of the V doesn’t feel weird in the hand. I think it’s pretty subtle. Great feeling neck for sure
Not sure of the name / model of the neck - but I had an early 2000 PRS McCarty with a solid Rosewood neck - P90’s- loved it for several reasons … the shape and the feel - particularly the back of it …. Smooth and non-sticky
I got back into guitar 2 years ago. I thought a very standard C was my favorite. Then I discovered the J Mascis Jazzmaster's amazing fat C neck. Probably the best neck I've ever played. I got a Fender JV Japanese strat with a soft V and its absolutely my favorite neck on a strat style guitar. Its been a fun journey.
Neck size/shape not a deal breaker for me as long as everything else on the guitar is great. I find that my hand will simply adjust after a few minutes of playing. Having a variety is actually kinda nice, keeps things interesting and gives each guitar their own personality!
I played a Gibson LP twenty years ago and fell in love. I finally bought an Epiphone LP and it was all shoulder. I was let down. Now I have to save up again and buy "authentic" if I want a good neck shape on a LP. For the record though, all my Squire necks feel amazing.
My favorite Gibson neck is the early '90s mass produced "59 Oval". The perfect round smooth every-man's neck. Nothing extreme or unique, just a damn nice neck.
after buying 150 guitars, and playing daily for 55 years, I finally had my dream strat neck made. .910" first and .940" 12th. 1 11/16" nut. It feels and reverberates FAT. For a 1.65" neck i like the U .920 to .950" low shoulder for faster shredding.
Favorite necks profile fender Modern C and gretsch Thin U, the neck profile I most perfect is a c shape neck .080 on the 1st fret and .085 on the 12th fret hands down my favorite cause I have a chubby hand short finger
While I'm a newbie, for Gibson, I like the 61 vs the 59 neck. I have smaller hands and while playing on th 59, I get pocket hand pains after a while, doesn't happen with the 61. I have the Clapton "Blackie" with I believe is the V neck and I like that. 3 PRS SE guitars which I don't know what the necks are, but they all feel the same. My local shop doesn't designate what necks are on, ;but they let me play so I can decide.
As I get older, I seem to gravitate towards a thinner neck with a compound radius. My first guitar was a Squier II and until recently that was the perfect neck to me - chunky and sticky. 40 or so guitars later and I got a KM-6 MKII and that is the smoothest, easiest neck I've ever played. Younger me = chunky neck, heavy guitar. Old me = thin, smooth neck, light guitar.
Anything bigger than a Gibson slim taper is fine. My favorite necks are '50s rounded (LP '50s Tribute, '14 LP Melody Maker, LP Junior Tribute DC) and whatever the neck is on my Vintera '50s Telecaster with a 7 1/4" radius. I think it's about an inch thick at the 12th fret.
0:03+ I own quite a few guitars including all the brands discussed. I find the neck shape or feel of the neck is important to the style of music but more importantly what my mood is at that particular time if that makes any sense. Different necks tend to enhance my mood while playing. The guitar body doesn’t seem to matter it’s the neck that is the magic.
Definitely depends on the specific guitar. My Pattern Thin neck is quite thick; much thicker than my PRS with a Pattern Regular. Which is completely contrary to the published specs...
My favorite electric guitar neck profile is my Brad Paisley Tele neck which Fender markets as Custom Enhanced "V"-shaped which I believe is a variant of a soft compound V. Otherwise the more common Modern C is my goto.
That Brad Paisley neck was my favorite also until earlier this year when I had a partscaster hardtail Strat built with a Mexican made Road Worn 50 Strat neck.
I think you can get used to almost any neck with enough time. My Collings has their "vintage now" neck and when I got it it seemed like it was bordering on too big. But now my #1 electric has a 54U. Variety is the spice of life, my friends.
I agree. I have several guitars and all have different neck shapes. I mostly play acoustic guitar and I am mostly concerned with nut width. I do tend to play the chunky V on my Martins more often because I like how they feel. I don't often think about it.
I have to disagree. To some people too skinny or too chunky necks are not playable. It even hurts in the wrist or something. Necks are super personal. If you can play every neck. Lucky you ;)) peace
@@Gaslight.Guitar Guitar necks are personal, but a personal preference. Guitarists are spoiled. How much variance do pianists have for wider or narrower keys or a "left handed" instruments for that matter? I have large hands and a preference for guitars with bigger necks. But when I pick up a mandolin I still have to make my way around that toothpick it has for a neck. By shifting their style and getting used to the dimensions of a different neck I think you'd be surprised what a variety of neck shapes people can play. They just don't have to because we're blessed as guitarists with so many options.
I got most of mine “pre-owned” (in Kentucky so there’s a theme…) so the neck’s are just part of the personal connection I made with each. Like Jonathon said, variety. Give the elf a little catnip. Who knows what happens then
I love a big chunky neck. I grew up playing Fender U necks, and a '65 Strat neck. I like the original Jeff Beck neck and then Fender changed the shape. How about a '57-'58 Les Paul? HEAVEN!!! I owned a '87 PRS that had a wonderful neck I haven't found since. I just had that don't scratch the furniture mentality with that guitar I couldn't get over, so I flipped it.
I've been smitten by the PRS Studio (Purple Iris 10-top) at the LGS. It's on sale ($1000 off). Wife said just buy it. So I went to test drive it earlier this week and found the Pattern neck carve is thicker than the neck on my PRS SE Custom 24 (Wide Thin). Supposedly it's similar to a 59 Les Paul. The Studio wasn't uncomfortable to play, but I was always aware of the extra chunkiness in my hand. I left without buying it. I'm going to give it another chance tomorrow... But in general, I don't care what I play and all my guitars feel different in the hand, but they're all thin-ish (modern C, 60s Slim Taper D, Suhr even C slim, etc). I was both surprised and disappointed because I wanted to love it and take it home but it didn't say "BUY ME RIGHT NOW".
I had a chance to drop a few bucks on a new guitar. I played a 335...was pretty good. Played a Custom Shop 59 Les Paul reissue...hated it. Picked up a PRS CE24 Semi-hollowbody and it was perfect for me. It's sitting on my guitar rack right now, next to my Tele.
I had an EOB Strat which had a 10/56 V neck, and that thing was actually a bit too chunky. It was playable, but just a bit too extreme. I now have a PRS 594, and I really dig that neck. It's chunky, but more reasonable. I'm assuming it's the asymmetrical carve that makes it feel chunkier than an old Gibson. I also have a PRS with a Pattern Regular, and that's a nice goldilocks C shape neck.
I used to think it was neck shape but discovered it was nut width and string spacing that was important for me having had a broken pinky metatarsal/surgery as a younger man. Need 42.8 mm nut.
The PRS pattern and the DGT are almost identical and similar in the hand. Only difference is the ever so slightly more narrow width (1/32”) of the DGT at the nut which helps with wraparound thumb chords, mainly. I think the string spacing is the same. Maybe a slight sculpting of the shoulders in the DGT compared to the pattern but very slight. Neck depth are identical at the 1st fret and 12th. BTW the pattern vintage is basically the same as the pattern but a slightly thicker neck at the 12th at 25mm, which is 1/32” deeper (.8mm). To me, the R9 feels like a pattern shape, more or less.
Anyone have any recommendations on chunkiest SG neck? I have a 64 SG Standard Reissue, and the neck is thicker than the 61, but still really slim for me.
