Guitar Neck Choices
A guitar, like many other musical instruments, is a finely crafted assemblage of many individual parts coming together to (hopefully) create beautiful melodies and harmonies in the hands of a gifted musician. Specific tonewoods are chosen and picked especially for their resonating qualities in an effort to make the body ring and vibrate pleasingly with the notes produced by the strings. In a previous article, the effects and qualities of popularly chosen body tonewoods were discussed and detailed. In this article, the aim is a dialogue concerning different aspects and considerations to be mindful of when choosing the type of neck for your favorite guitar.
The neck of the guitar is usually composed of a different wood than the fretboard or body. Most commonly necks are made from mahogany or maple. These two woods are known for their beauty, stability, and ease of carving. Newer companies have been experimenting with other materials than wood for neck construction. Graphite and carbon have become popular because they are extremely lightweight yet possess enormous strength and resistance to bowing over time. Necks have a metal rod inside the neck called a truss rod that must be adjusted periodically in order to keep the neck straight and in tune. A neck is constantly subjected to the stress put upon it by the strings, so a strong straight neck is direly important. In addition to the wood or other material used for the neck itself, necks are available in different neck shapes and widths, and some might feel more ergonomically natural to your hand or playing style than others. The variations of neck curvature can be anywhere from a gentle “C” to a more angular, almost “V” shape. Depending upon your style of playing and hand size, the neck’s curvature and width is definitely something to experiment with. A wider neck would possess a larger space between each string; a thinner neck the opposite. The way in which the neck is attached the body can affect the tone and sound of the guitar as well. Cheaper guitars have a bolted on neck. The body has been manufactured and a suitable neck has been bolted on. This is an easy and inexpensive process versus the more labor intensive, neck-through design used on many high end, custom guitars. Most players swear by neck-through construction claiming that the neck feels much more like an extension of the body and possesses much more sustain and tone because of this relationship.
In a subsequent article, fretboard construction will be discussed, and its effects on guitar sound will be outlined. In order to get a feel for the different necks described in this article, it is essential to get down to a local guitar dealer like Austin’s Strait Music Company and try all the different guitars they have in stock. One will feel just right in your hands, promise!
About the Author: Clint Strait is a third generation owner and assistant manager of the Strait Music, Austin Music Stores, providing the best selection of electric guitars and guitar accessories to Austin and the surrounding area for over forty years. For more information please visit www.straitmusic.com.
The neck of the guitar is usually composed of a different wood than the fretboard or body. Most commonly necks are made from mahogany or maple. These two woods are known for their beauty, stability, and ease of carving. Newer companies have been experimenting with other materials than wood for neck construction. Graphite and carbon have become popular because they are extremely lightweight yet possess enormous strength and resistance to bowing over time. Necks have a metal rod inside the neck called a truss rod that must be adjusted periodically in order to keep the neck straight and in tune. A neck is constantly subjected to the stress put upon it by the strings, so a strong straight neck is direly important. In addition to the wood or other material used for the neck itself, necks are available in different neck shapes and widths, and some might feel more ergonomically natural to your hand or playing style than others. The variations of neck curvature can be anywhere from a gentle “C” to a more angular, almost “V” shape. Depending upon your style of playing and hand size, the neck’s curvature and width is definitely something to experiment with. A wider neck would possess a larger space between each string; a thinner neck the opposite. The way in which the neck is attached the body can affect the tone and sound of the guitar as well. Cheaper guitars have a bolted on neck. The body has been manufactured and a suitable neck has been bolted on. This is an easy and inexpensive process versus the more labor intensive, neck-through design used on many high end, custom guitars. Most players swear by neck-through construction claiming that the neck feels much more like an extension of the body and possesses much more sustain and tone because of this relationship.
In a subsequent article, fretboard construction will be discussed, and its effects on guitar sound will be outlined. In order to get a feel for the different necks described in this article, it is essential to get down to a local guitar dealer like Austin’s Strait Music Company and try all the different guitars they have in stock. One will feel just right in your hands, promise!
About the Author: Clint Strait is a third generation owner and assistant manager of the Strait Music, Austin Music Stores, providing the best selection of electric guitars and guitar accessories to Austin and the surrounding area for over forty years. For more information please visit www.straitmusic.com.
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