Fat vs Slim Necks

[Elmore]

I have been researching this one. I have one question. If fat necks sound better, why does Eric Johnson always play thin ones? I know he has a '60 burst, and his strat Virginia had a thin neck, as do his 335's. Several years ago, one of his 335's was for sale at the Atlanta Guitar Center.

 

[Buffaloe]

Because he likes slim necks? I know there's an argument for thicker necks sounding different from thinner ones, but I have to have a 60's slim taper or I'm just not comfortable, and I've got big fingers. Ask any woman! I guess in the end you compensate with pups, EQ, or whatever to get where you like the sound. I honestly don't know if a thicker neck adds that much or not. I tried to play a Hamer 25th anniversary that had a little thicker neck than I like but I just couldn't get used to it.

 

[Elmore]

Buffaloe, I agree. I have decided that thick necks are not better, just different. It is true that there are many great sounding Les Pauls with big necks. There is no denying this. For me, the Eric Johnson example proves that great tone can come from smaller necks. This is nice to know. Of course, technique has a great deal to do with tone as well. My number one is an '87 Prehistoric/Standard that has a sort of chunky neck that I had to get used to. But I would not hesitate to get a Paul with a slimmer neck if it spoke to me.

 

[GlassSnuff]

Stiffer necks are better. Stiffer necks transmit more tone and have better tuning stability.

Fat necks tend to be stiffer. Still, I play thin necks and there are plenty of good ones out there.

 

[58lespaulman]

I am all about fat necks.

 

[58lespaulman]

Eric Johnson has a R9 not a R0. So that would be medium fat..Go to the SD websight and you will read this.

 

[WordMan]

Does this really need to be discussed? Let's consider the facts: Tone is a byproduct of quality guitar + what you have in your hands. EJ has some of the best damn hands in the business - right? So, if a big thick neck is critical to tone for lesser folks like you and I (and I happen to believe that this is true), for someone like EJ can handle a much thinner neck, and because of his hands, deliver the tone we all expect.

So, in other words - if you have EJ's hands and technique, fine - go thinner. If you don't, then erring on the side of thicker is probably better....

Seriously, is this really an issue?

 

[professor]

I don't think one is "better" than the other, tonewise, because different people respond differently to identical sounds. So I always chuckle when folks get into pissing matches over minutae like this.

I like BIG necks -- the bigger, the better. They feel more comfortable to me, and I believe that they may make me play a bit better. One of the best sounding guitars I EVER owned was a '66 ES-335. That thing just SMOKED... you could get a string to sustain for a half hour, just by looking at it! LOL! But, the damned neck was just so skinny, I just couldn't play the friggin' thing in the first five or six frets. Couldn't do it. So, out it went.

SO, play what feels/sounds good to you, and leave the rest of the minutae to the AVHs in the world...

 

[58lespaulman]

Eric Johnson has a R9 not a thin neck 60 reissue..

 

[Elmore]

I do now remember reading that EJ has an R9. But it is also true that on Page 117 of the Jay Scott and Vic DaPra book "'BURST - The 1958-'60 Sunburst Les Paul", it shows a pic of a 1960 'Burst that was purchased by EJ. It made me curious if he deliberately sought out the '60 because the neck was smaller. Or perhaps it was just a great guitar that was available at the right time.

 

[sickboy79]

I don't think one is "better" than the other, tonewise, because different people respond differently to identical sounds. So I always chuckle when folks get into pissing matches over minutae like this.

SO, play what feels/sounds good to you, and leave the rest of the minutae to the AVHs in the world...

Completely agree. It's all about what's best for you. We all like something different when it comes to feel, tone, playability, etc. That's what makes guitars so cool. I tend to prefer fatter/bigger necks myself for feel. But, my 72 Deluxe has a bit thinner neck than my other LPs, and it still feels, plays, and sounds fantastic. Go with what your hands and ears like best, not what the masses say.

 

[Idge]

Stiffer necks are better. Stiffer necks transmit more tone and have better tuning stability.

Fat necks tend to be stiffer. Still, I play thin necks and there are plenty of good ones out there.

Norlin 3 piece Maple necks are way stiffer than a 1 piece mahogany neck. :ahem Do they sound better? :wtf sorry.

 

[Big Al]

As has been mentioned it is the stiffness that seems to affect tone.

Fat necks may tend to be stiffer, but alot of the thin necks i have tried were stiff and stable and sounded great.

I believe the truth lies in the same area as the weight issue.
COMFORT!!!
I like fat necks, they are more comfotable for me to play on. I also really like the Vintage 60-63 thin necks. The newer necks seem way too thin for comfortable playing in my case.

Neck profile also has a big influence on feel. The profile on the 76 Reissue Explorer was way clubby in my hands, and even though I prefer a fat neck, that was way too clubby for me.

I had a 1960 Jr with an awesome neck ,yet the newer 60 thin neck profile I detest!!!

I do not believe that you can predict a guitars tone based on neck shape, much the same as you cannot on weight.

BTW the best most stable necks I have used were the three piece Mahogany Norlin necks. Too bad the headstock shape, angle and neck tenon comprimise the tone of these great necks.

 

[Zhangliqun]

There are -- obviously -- two issues regarding neck size*: tone and ergonomics.

TONE: In my experience, all other things being equal, beefier neck = beefier tone (seems especially true with Strats). Of course all other things are rarely equal, so it is possible to find a guitar with a tree trunk neck and ice-pick tone, and vice versa. I don't know if science will back me up on that generalization or not, but maybe the thicker neck transfers lower frequencies better because it can handle the longer wavelengths? Just a thought...

ERGONOMICS: A big neck gives you less fatigue if you play a lot of chords ("comping" as jazzers refer to it), especially if you play a lot of barre chords. Your hand is in a more open position even with a death-grip, so you get less cramping and fatigue. On the other hand (so to speak), a small neck allows most players to get around on the fingerboard faster for single-note lines.

So with regard to neck size, a case can be made that there really is such a thing as a "lead" or "rhythm" guitar.

As for me, I can get along okay with either one. Psychologically, I do like the sense of sturdiness and durability a fat neck gives me. But on a physical level, the smaller neck allows me -- ironically enough in view of neck ergonomics -- to play a lot of big chords I couldn't otherwise, especially those that require me to fret the low E-string by hanging my thumb over the top.


(*Well, I guess three if you count the neck size's effect on the overall weight and balance.)

 

[zoommutt]

My 77 Deluxe neck is thin,sometimes too thin.
My 00 Gary Moore neck is thick and really wide.A tree trunk.Greeny would aprove.
My 02 Standard 59' neck is just right.Beautiful!
Love them all.

I've played the 60' neck Standard,and I found the neck of that guitar to be thinner than the Deluxe neck.

Zoommutt

 

[Tristram]

Jimmy Page customized his neck... "shaved" it. I guess he liked it a bit thinner too. Anyone here have one of his sig guitars? How is the neck?

 

[58burst]

My two best sounding guitars, a '59 tele & a '58 LP, both have quite thin necks-
But I also have several guitars with thick(er) necks that ALSO sound great-
I second the stiffness/resonance theory.

It's down to the specifics of the particular instrument's wood, NOT any particular formulas (weight, shape, etc.)- they're all unique! (and the good ones sound real fine in whatever way they do...)

 

[Cream Fan]

From what I know, Eric Johnson has an origional '60 burst. He also HAD an R9. I know this because I just bought it in Austin, TX last week. It has a wonderful '59 profile neck, killer washed cherry top, weighs about 8.7 lbs. and has a custom authentic finish. He's also agreed to sign the cover plate for me. So as soon as I have it in my possession pictures will be up for all to enjoy. I've named her Audrey, by the way, after a woman I've longed for over nearly 25 years...about how long I've longed for a burst--reissue or otherwise-- so I thought it was fitting. Stay tuned. Oh, and it sounds killer, too. Not too surprising that it would since he owned it. I was told he only put it up for sale because he'd just bought an original Bluesbreaker. Guess his loss is my gain. I'm stoked!

 

[55Custom]

What hit songs were made with a fat neck Les Paul?

 

[Idge]

Jimmy Page customized his neck... "shaved" it. I guess he liked it a bit thinner too. Anyone here have one of his sig guitars? How is the neck?

:toobad

If you watch the video that came with the Sig Page LP's, he said, "The LP came to me from Joe Walsh with the neck already shaved so I just play it that way. And it's funny that it found it's way next to my Tele that just happens to have a simular neck. And it also came to me that way, so I just play it." :bh
The interview is at this site....
http://www.gibsoncustom.com/flash/home.htm

The neck goes from normal by the nut, then thinner through the middle, then back to normal. :2zone