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Anyone else hate flat neck profiles?   You are logged in as Guest
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yourwhathurts69

 

Posts: 117
Joined: Sep. 16 2009
 

Anyone else hate flat neck profiles? 
After years of trying to learn flamenco guitar, I still can't figure out why neck profiles are flat instead of round. Pretty much the majority of every other stringed instrument I've encountered has had a round profile - electric/acoustic guitars, basses, violins, etc.... And not to confuse the issue with the fingerboard radius, I'm referring only to the shape of the back of the neck.

Can anyone explain to me why the neck profile of nylon string guitars are flat?!? I can't figure it out. I've heard the round shape gets in the way, but I feel the opposite. I think the shoulders of a flat neck get in the way. Of all the difficulties of trying to learn flamenco music, by far the worst for me is trying to figure out why the neck is flat.

So, am I the only flat-neck hater out there? Does anyone else feel the same as me, and if so, why do luthiers continue to build guitars with flat neck profiles? What benefit does a flat neck have over a round neck? Please folks, let me know I'm not the only weirdo out there.
  REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE |  Date Sep. 15 2013 3:37:48
 
constructordeguitarras

Posts: 1674
Joined: Jan. 29 2012
From: Seattle, Washington, USA

RE: Anyone else hate flat neck profiles? (in reply to yourwhathurts69) 
Electric and folk guitars and violin family instruments have narrow fingerboards in front of the neck so the hand is large enough for the thumb to wrap around the round neck and still allow the fingers to land on the fingerboard properly. Spanish style guitars have wider fingerboards in front of the neck. If there were a thick round neck in back of the fingerboard, hooking the thumb back there could decrease the reach of the fingers too much. But there are individual preferences. That's what custom builders are for.

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  REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE |  Date Sep. 15 2013 5:03:33
 
davidheis_24

 

Posts: 134
Joined: Feb. 4 2011
 

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Post has been moved to the Recycle Bin at Sep. 16 2013 12:38:13
  REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE |  Date Sep. 15 2013 10:44:54
 
tri7/5

 

Posts: 570
Joined: May 5 2012
 

RE: Anyone else hate flat neck profiles? (in reply to yourwhathurts69) 
I agree with you and can't stand the really flat 2x4 shaped necks. I prefer a good D shape or soft C style neck.
  REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE |  Date Sep. 15 2013 15:33:08
 
yourwhathurts69

 

Posts: 117
Joined: Sep. 16 2009
 

RE: Anyone else hate flat neck profiles? (in reply to yourwhathurts69) 
Thanks for the replies, everyone.

Ethan, I would disagree with the width of the fingerboard being a problem. My electric bass (5 string) has an almost identical width and neck thickness as my flamenco guitars, and it is still round. Also, I am not looking to wrap my thumb around the neck - I just want my thumb to relax while at the same time stay in contact with the back of the neck as I move around the fingerboard. I do agree with the need for custom builders.

David, I also thought that maybe once I got better I would finally understand why necks are flat. After years of study, several classes on technique, and over 7,000 hours of practice, I still can't figure out why a neck wouldn't be better if it were round instead of flat. It really is like a 2x4 with the corners rounded off. Why not round off the shoulders a bit so it follows the natural position of the thumb when playing?
  REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE |  Date Sep. 16 2013 5:34:35
 
davidheis_24

 

Posts: 134
Joined: Feb. 4 2011
 

[Deleted] 
Post has been moved to the Recycle Bin at Sep. 16 2013 12:38:27
  REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE |  Date Sep. 16 2013 5:59:46
 
mark indigo

 

Posts: 3625
Joined: Dec. 5 2007
 

RE: Anyone else hate flat neck profiles? (in reply to yourwhathurts69) 
quote:

Can anyone explain to me why the neck profile of nylon string guitars are flat?!?


bar/barré chords

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  REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE |  Date Sep. 16 2013 9:15:39
 
Erik van Goch

 

Posts: 1787
Joined: Jul. 17 2012
From: Netherlands

RE: Anyone else hate flat neck profiles? (in reply to yourwhathurts69) 
Actually i hate round neck profiles. I bought a 12 string Bozo recently that had one and i dislike it so much i'm thinking about reshaping it into (or replacing it by) a flat one. My father also flattened the neck of his Gerundino that was to thick/round to our taste. I feel totally clumsy on a round neck. Maybe it's just a matter of taste and/or what you're used to.
  REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE |  Date Sep. 16 2013 13:28:28
 
Ricardo

Posts: 14801
Joined: Dec. 14 2004
From: Washington DC

RE: Anyone else hate flat neck profiles? (in reply to yourwhathurts69) 
Oddly, most guitars classical or flamenco I have played are fairly curved in the back. I can recall only a couple of guitars with the 2x4 style you describe. I agree it is odd feeling. My favorite neck is my 1973 sobrinos de esteso, it's almost as nice as an electric guitar. A little skinnier maybe than my Conde's but very fun to play for some reason. The old 1923 Esteso of Monotoya's I played a few months ago had an exaggerated D shape that I did not really like, way too thick. I think the 2x4 shape is as said, for the thumb to feel more surface when barring chords, but it's not generally a better feeling for me either.

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  REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE |  Date Sep. 16 2013 16:50:10
 
Ruphus

Posts: 3782
Joined: Nov. 18 2010
 

RE: Anyone else hate flat neck profiles? (in reply to yourwhathurts69) 
One guitar I remember as most comfy to me was a Hernandez cheapo with 21 mm at first fret and very flat D profile.

Got a Miguel Rodriguez estudio which I plan to reshape at its clumsy neck. ( kind of C shape)

Ruphus
  REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE |  Date Sep. 16 2013 16:50:24
 
Nutellabrot

 

Posts: 13
Joined: Sep. 8 2013
 

RE: Anyone else hate flat neck profiles? (in reply to yourwhathurts69) 
There's more to a comfy neck, the shape of the back is only one issue I think. I have a Recording King steelstring with a beefy, really heavy and wide neck - still a pleasure to play. The edges of the fingerboard are not rounded, rather sharp ... well not really sharp and the fretboard is only slightly curved.

A 7/8 classical with a short scale and a skinny neck only 47 wide I used to play felt not as nice as my current guitar with pretty standard measurements.

But I agree: if the neck doesn't feel good, the playing will never be entirely satisfying even if the guitar sounds like a monster. And smell is important too!
My cheapo's plywood smells like Sierra Nevada a lot which is really cool...
  REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE |  Date Sep. 16 2013 17:22:45
 
tri7/5

 

Posts: 570
Joined: May 5 2012
 

RE: Anyone else hate flat neck profiles? (in reply to Nutellabrot) 
quote:

ORIGINAL: Nutellabrot

There's more to a comfy neck, the shape of the back is only one issue I think. I have a Recording King steelstring with a beefy, really heavy and wide neck - still a pleasure to play.


This is true... my old electric had a .90 - 1" offset V shaped neck and it was awesome. It also had a huge tone. I could actually play faster than with any skinny shredder necks. I think what's most important is how the guitar feels and works together as a whole.
  REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE |  Date Sep. 16 2013 17:51:20
 
Leñador

Posts: 5237
Joined: Jun. 8 2012
From: Los Angeles

RE: Anyone else hate flat neck profiles? (in reply to yourwhathurts69) 
I'd like an Ibanez neck on a flamenco if it was possible. Sacralig, but true.

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  REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE |  Date Sep. 16 2013 19:36:52
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