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Author Topic: Electric guitar, thick neck
schodge

Posts: 3
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Post Electric guitar, thick neck
on: December 28, 2013, 14:03
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I'm a novice guitarist with two guitars - an electric Ibanez Gio that I picked up in high school and played off and on, mostly off; and a Blueridge OOO acoustic. Unlike most people, I find the acoustic easier to play - I like the thicker, and I think wider, neck. I'm not aware of a standard hand sizing metric, but think just a smidgen too small to properly palm a basketball.

Are there any good options in thick neck electrics in the <$500 range? The only two guitars I've found in new or recent production with an acceptable neck shape are the Fender Baja Tele and (especially) the Bonomossa Epiphone LP, but both were priced a little too high.

I'm in the Silicon Valley / SF area, so guitar shop recommendations are appreciated too. (I like by Gelb and visit Griffon periodically. Haven't been to Rocker, the used store near it, or FatDawg since I lived in Berkeley a few years back).

Shayne
Oinkus

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Post Re: Electric guitar, thick neck
on: December 29, 2013, 04:36
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Guitar Center is a wonderful place to examine gear. Go look there and then try and check thrift stores and craigslist for one of the guitars that you liked Personally , if you play something enough you will get used to it. I have a bunch and they are all different.You can generally get a idea by the width of the nut in the guitars specs on a website like musicians friend or sweetwater. Also can look at the company website. More are 1" 11/16 but there are more dimensions to a neck and the best way is to put hands on it.
smgear

Posts: 170
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Post Re: Electric guitar, thick neck
on: December 29, 2013, 07:26
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yeah, definitely +1 go to a big shop and just try stuff out. there were a lot of baseball bat necks in the 70's on off-brands like kay, electra, etc., but buying vintage like that can require a lot of patience and renovation. When you go to GC or wherever, pay attention to: nut width, shape (C, U, D etc.), and radius (https://proguitarshop.com/andyscorner/fretboard-radius-explained) . Since I assume from your comment that you are mostly playing bar chords, then you would probably be more comfortable with a smaller radius (meaning more arched) and a U shape... probably... I think that tele cabronita is a v shape though, maybe double check what that was. However, learning to relax your hand and adjust to different necks can open up some new playing territory and styles for you... I keep some instruments around just because they are out of my comfort zone and they force me to adjust my playing style.... which is fun for me at least. 🙂
schodge

Posts: 3
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Post Re: Electric guitar, thick neck
on: December 30, 2013, 22:30
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I went to GC one day and tried everything new in sight; everything under $1000 new seemed too thin except for the Bonomossa Epi LP; at Gelb I found the Baja Tele. https://www.musiciansfriend.com/guitars/fender-classic-series-classic-player-baja-telecaster-electric-guitar As suggested, it is a V shape.

The Bonomossa claims a "Rounded-D profile, 1959 shape" (https://www.epiphone.com/Products/Les-Paul/Joe-Bonamassa-Goldtop.aspx). It felt much more acoustic like than any other electric I've tried. I'm trying to stave off RSI-problems caused by way too much time in front of a computer, and I find thicker necks allow me to keep my wrist straighter.

Thanks,

Shayne
Oinkus

Posts: 236
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Post Re: Electric guitar, thick neck
on: December 31, 2013, 04:51
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50's profile necks are thicker from front to back not really wider.Will fill more of your hand up which is a semi- solution to some hand problems.
bear

Posts: 153
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Post Re: Electric guitar, thick neck
on: December 31, 2013, 06:00
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If the nut is wider than Gibson standard it takes away from ergonomic comfort for me. Necks that are thick front to back (shoulder matters less, so soft V is dandy) with 1 5/8" nuts are better for me, especially with a rounder fretboard radius. I get by without necks to my specific preferences.

Surprisingly, despite a flatter radius, Steinberger Spirit necks fit my hands pretty well. Otherwise, keep hunting used stuff as necks change year to year, even on cheap Squiers. Or find a bolt-on neck guitar you otherwise like built to Fender standards and get an aftermarket neck from Allparts, Warmoth, USA Custom, MusicKraft, Guitar Mill, or whoever else is out there with specific thick neck models available.

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