[ktrainhurricane]

I am sure a similar thread has already been created and for that I apologize, but I felt like I just had to share this:

I played a guitar other than my Setzer 6120 for the first time in about 5-7 years, and I could not believe how weird the neck felt to me. I was at the local GC and picked up two SGs (a Standard and a Classic), a Les Paul, and a Strat with a V-neck. The SGs were first, and I felt like I couldn't even hold the damn thing because the neck was so wide!

Anybody else ever have a similar experience?

[berto119]

Before getting my 5122, I was playing a Peerless Tonemaster Player (6120 copy) and the difference between the necks is unbelievable. The 5122 is a fair bit smaller, and so nicer to play.

[Addie]

My experience was exactly the opposite. I've always played shredder guitars like Ibanez as well as strats and teles. When I first started playing my Gretsch sslvo I was really uncomfortable. I had to modify the way I use my fretting hand. That is, I have always played with my thumb behind the neck. With the SSL I tend to have my thumb creeping up the side. Probably because of the V shape.

[cowmoo]

Gone from FAT lesters and tele's to Gretsch and although i LOVE Gretsch's the 03 silver falcon i had was about as thin as i could like, the 59 ltv was bearable but my Japan spectra sonic is way too generically thin.
my usa spectra is fine and my old 62 anni is ok but i wish they made them with necks like a 58 lester.
it just seems odd that a big bodied guitar should have such weedy necks.

[Axis39]

I own a 70-ish SG and it's neck is very narrow... Though it's profile is very rounded, so it works out, long as you're accurate with your fingertips down near the nut!

I own an LP with a 50's neck. It's a tad thicker in the shoulders than most of my other guitars. I like it a lot.

I own a Strat with a V-neck and love it as well. I also own a Strat with a 60's C neck... I'd like it if it were a bit thicker, but it gives me no issues.

I own a Tele with a TMO-FAT neck form AllParts. This is one of my favorite necks of all time.

I own an Electrojet 5127 and it's neck is shallow front to back, but not narrow width wise. It really is a modern 'C' shape. It's certainly playable, but I would like it just a hair more if the neck were thicker. It still gets lots of stage time.

I own a 6129tls Sparkle Jet. It has a nice soft V neck, thicker than everything but the Tele and the LP's necks. It is as thick as the LP's front to back, but with a little less size in the shoulders at the lower frets. This is my favorite guitar. The neck sits in my hand like it was made just for me.

Of the guitars, some have 7.25, some 9.5 and some 12" radius fretboards. Some have bigger frets, some smaller. I hop back and forth constantly. I usually take 3 guitars for a four hour gig.... One set up for slide, one with flats. And barely notice a difference in playing swapping back and forth. I know I can feel the difference, and I know which ones I prefer overall. But, the difference in the necks never even causes a hiccup in my playing or my feel.

About the only neck I couldn't get along with (and it was more about live playing, than noodling) was an Affinity Strat I had that was actually a really nice guitar, the neck was just too thin front to back and I would cramp up during gigs.

[ktrainhurricane]

It just seemed to me like the distance between the high and low E string on those guitars was like 6" !!

[Anni_Lover]

Compared to the Epiphones I find the Gretsch necks nowhere near as thin at the headstock. The Epiphone Dove is a lot thinner than the Rancher Junior and all the other Gretsch guitars I own. To me the Dove takes a lot of getting used to and settling into seeing as all the others are Gretsch guitars. But to be fair, it is a cheaper guitar too.

Personally I won't own any guitar with a nut that's less than 43mm - so that rules out most Fenders. I find the 16" radius and 45mm or 1.75" nut of a Taylor absolutely perfect. I also loved than about the old '64 6192 I used to own. One day I'll buy a G6122-959 as that has the same neck as the old 6192.

[The Marlin]

Originally Posted by Addie

My experience was exactly the opposite. I've always played shredder guitars like Ibanez as well as strats and teles. When I first started playing my Gretsch sslvo I was really uncomfortable. I had to modify the way I use my fretting hand. That is, I have always played with my thumb behind the neck. With the SSL I tend to have my thumb creeping up the side. Probably because of the V shape.

Same thing here. I played wide and skinny necked 'shredding guitars' for years before growing up and getting a proper guitar (Black Phoenix).

I sold my favourite Ibanez (RG750) a year ago. I always thought I'd never part with that one, but other than today, I never think of that guitar anymore.

I love all my gretschs, but am utterly besotted with my G Love Corvette at the moment..... It's tremendous FUN!

Marlin

[freddyfingers]

I always felt the gretsch's were wider than than my strat. After playing the hotrod now for a while, and my eastman, my strat feels like a toy guitar. It did take a bit of time for me to get used to the gretsch, or wider thicker neck, but its growing on me, and yes, my approach had to change. But now my approach to the strat is different. I blame Fred Gretsch!

[cybermgk]

Depends what your used to. Most LP types, and Teles have very chunky necks. Few SGs I've picked up do as well (except for the thin profile necks). Epis are generally thicj, again except for those with thin profile necks. Ibanez' are truly thin by and large, even their Artcore semis. My Double Jet is a little thicker than my Vette. In fact the Jet, is about as thick as I'll go on a neck now.

[The Marlin]

My Rutters superpine tele has a HUGE fat baseball bat neck. When I first got it, it was a bit freaky fat, and a bit scarey (considering my Ibanez Wizard neck background) - but now I adore it. It feels great in the hand, it's full, and comfortable, and it tapers as you move up the neck, makeing for faster soloing.

The tone is in the neck you know!

Marlin

[WATThouse]

I just remember the first time I placed my hand around the neck of my 6120 and said, "Okay. Perfect!" I never have to look down because it seems to be the perfect neck and the perfect spacing. I hate a neck that has huge frets and is beefy like a nylon string acoustic. My fingers stumble everywhere.

[MatchlessMan]

Fattest neck I own (other than the one currently lurking within the collar of a Rolling Stones T-shirt and a lumberjack shirt) is on my '58 reissue VOS Les Paul.

Thinnest is my on Duo Jet.

Both comfy in their own ways...

[workknot]

Because my fingers are a bit short and chunky, I really like the thin narrow neck of my White Falcon. Same for my 6120 Jr and 5122.
Pop's

[Lee Erickson]

My thinking is that Gretsch necks are average. They just fit in with my '71 Gibson J50 and my '72 Martin D28. My G400CV may be a bit thinner than average.

Wayne[Worknot], thanks for letting your Falcon guitar last spring at Little Falls. I remember it as an easy playing tone king. A guitar worth celebration. But also I remember it as one of the fattest necks I've ever played.

For those of you that like a thick neck the 7593 might be a way to go.

I'm not sure if any one has cataloged Gretsch neck thicknesses, but I'm thinking most are about average.

Lee

[ReverberatingDream]

I was a bit surprised when I got my 2003 Anniversary and found the neck was chunkier than the 2005 Tennessee Rose - but it's still comfortable to play. I would never say the Anniversary has a thin neck!
I prefer the Fender C shape to the Anniversary's neck shape.

[fretbuzzard]

Wait, are we talking about the width of the neck (nut width) or about the depth of the neck, front to back? For my part I like a "narrow" but kinda "deep" neck...

[ktrainhurricane]

Originally Posted by fretbuzzard

Wait, are we talking about the width of the neck (nut width) or about the depth of the neck, front to back? For my part I like a "narrow" but kinda "deep" neck...

I was talking about the neck/nut width...

[GreatGretsch]

If you change any; the neck girth, nut width or string spacing it will change the feel of the guitar. If you change any of these factors, it will completely change the feel.
My brand new Martin OMCPA4 is in the shop now, because I hate the wide string spacing. I hope this makes the neck more comfortable. It comes back home on Tuesday.

[fretbuzzard]

Originally Posted by ktrainhurricane

I was talking about the neck/nut width...

Gotcha. Stay away from Rickenbacker! Gretsches seem to fall in around 43mm, Ricks are closer to 41!