A little thinner Neck

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Arash

Posts: 4495
Joined: Aug. 9 2006
From: Iran (living in Germany)

A little thinner Neck

Would you guys recommand to maybe make the neck just a little thinner (not much, maybe 0.5mm to max 1mm) for a better feel and playability (when you order a guitar to be built, i don't mean to change it on your already built guitar) ?

And would you in this case recommand neck reinforcement or isn't that necessary?

I never tried a guitar with thinner neck, but a friend of mine told me that he played one flamenco guitar recently with a slightly thinner neck and it felt somehow better than the standard.

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Apr. 30 2013 10:58:08

tri7/5

Posts: 570
Joined: May 5 2012

RE: A little thinner Neck (in reply to Arash)

There's no standard as far as I know as you mention in the last sentence. Neck thickness is a personal thing. I recommend you get some calipers to figure out what you have and what your friends is to give you an idea on the specs. I've seen builders start at thin as 20mm.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Apr. 30 2013 12:27:35

Sr. Martins

Posts: 3077
Joined: Apr. 4 2011

RE: A little thinner Neck (in reply to Arash)

Recent studies made by my hands show clearly that an increase in string spacing at the nut makes the neck feel thinner than decreasing neck thickness.

See if your hands agree with that.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Apr. 30 2013 12:41:08

tele

Posts: 1464
Joined: Aug. 17 2012

RE: A little thinner Neck (in reply to Sr. Martins)

Well I have one normal sized about 22mm at 10th fret neck and one quite thin and flat neck and I must say the thinner neck feels a bit more comfortable. I think its also important if you want to have a guitar with D shaped or flat neck. The thinner neck guitar gets a bit more relief on the neck than the thicker one so maybe if one wants less relief a reinforcement is a good idea.

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Apr. 30 2013 13:14:23

Andy Culpepper

Posts: 3023
Joined: Mar. 30 2009
From: NY, USA

RE: A little thinner Neck (in reply to Arash)

Yeah there isn't really a standard.

I made a guitar (custom order) with a neck that was 20 mm all the way down to the 10th fret. To me it felt kinda thin and flimsy.
I also get pain in my left thumb when I play a guitar with a flat neck shape.

So I like a nice rounded shape with some meat, about 22 mm at the first fret and 24 mm at the 9th.

I put a carbon fiber rod in when going to 21 mm or less.

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http://www.andyculpepper.com

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Apr. 30 2013 22:41:49

keith

Posts: 1108
Joined: Sep. 29 2009
From: Back in Boston

RE: A little thinner Neck (in reply to Arash)

i am 6'2" with hands to match and play a thin neck guitar and find it very comfortable. i never thought it would be comfortable but yet it is. others may find it uncomfortable--chalk it up to individual variation.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Apr. 30 2013 23:09:28

Anders Eliasson

Posts: 5780
Joined: Oct. 18 2006

RE: A little thinner Neck (in reply to Arash)

quote:

Would you guys recommand to maybe make the neck just a little thinner (not much, maybe 0.5mm to max 1mm) for a better feel and playability (when you order a guitar to be built, i don't mean to change it on your already built guitar) ?

Arash, you have have to put soe numbers on. If not, we dont know what we talk about. How thin is thinner?

I dont think you´ll notice 1/2mm very much if any. 1mm... maybe, but it depends on other factors as well. (width, string spacing and frets)

My personal experience is that 22mm down the whole neck does not need reinforcement. Nore does a 21/23mm taper.
I would personally not like a thinner neck. Just like andy says, it feels flimsy and it can be difficult to relax.

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date May 1 2013 7:56:26