During this time of panic and hysteria, I would like to open a discussion on something not as pressing but still very important to every guitarist. As the saying goes, some like it hot and some like it cold. Does this matter of preference apply to guitar necks or is there really a profile that is, ergonomically, king? Regardless, whether you believe different neck profiles are a unique feel to each player or a firm believer that slimmer means faster, I want to hear from you and your experiences….
Before you do that, here is some food for thought… On my 16th birthday, I got a Gibson Les Paul Studio Shred (very interesting guitar… I will explain in a bit); which was an amazing gift because I was a relatively newer guitarist and have dreamt of owning a Gibson Les Paul. This guitar meant a lot to me, but it was an unusual guitar. It was not a “typical” Les Paul, it had a Floyd Rose and a 50’s neck profile. In other words, it was meant for shredding heavy in terms of specs but, in terms of construction, it was meant for 12 bar blues. Weirdly enough, it allowed me to pick me a street because being stuck in that awkward compromise made me realize which aspects of playing I wanted the most. Unlike what most people seem to go towards, I went towards the vintage specs. I preferred the 50s profile because I liked anchoring my thumb on the 6th string and the slimmer necks caused my thumb to overlap to the 5th string. I am sure I could have practiced out of this habit or I could change my technique but isn’t that why we have several options?
As a prospective guitar builder, I want to know what a lot of guitarists prefer or if they would want their other guitars to have radically different profiles (a 50’s neck on a Gibson and a “U-shaped” profile are similar enough to show that the individual prefers fatter necks). I know that there will be fans on both sides of the spectrum and even people standing up for the middle ground, but I would want to know why you gravitated towards your preference. I know people that have smaller hands than me and prefer fatter necks and vice versa. So, I find it important to understand if it is just mere preference, if it is about the objective ergonomics, or it is about what guitar you started off with.
Let me know in the comment thread below! And check out my other blogs!
-ZAC
Drop Z Tuning 