Guitar Neck
Considering the Neck of a Guitar
- Guitar Neck
The neck of a guitar - the long part along which the strings are run, and which includes the frets, can vary in length depending on not only the shape that the manufacturer wishes to create, but more importantly, the tone or sound that the strings will make. Naturally the longer the strings the deeper or lower the note, which is why banjos have such a high pitch - with a neck very much smaller than that of guitars or guitar like instruments, such as the sitar for example. Two of the most well known makes of electric guitar are Fender and Gibson, both of which have necks of different lengths. The Gibson is slightly shorter, at 24.75 inches, with the Fender only marginally longer at 25.5 inches. Conversely, the longer the neck, the more spaced out the frets. Naturally, when you consider the overall difference in length of the necks of guitars being only in the region of one to two inches, the difference is marginal. However, it is well worth bearing this fact in mind when choosing a guitar, as for a beginner the frets being placed very closely together can cause a little fumbling of the fingers to begin with. On the other hand, some people argue that having the frets further apart can lead to extra straining of unfamiliar tendons and missed notes or slow chord changes. Practising with a guitar and trying out a variety before you buy is essential, but one of the aspects often forgotten or ignored is the length of the neck, and the necessary spacing of the frets. It would be well worth trying a variety of neck lengths to see which suits you best. If you find your fingers bunching up too much, perhaps a longer neck may help. If, on the other hand, you’re finding you’re struggling to stretch your fingers across the frets, perhaps a slightly shorter and more tightly packed one? The difference is clearly very little, but sometimes it can be the minor differences, such as the length of a guitar’s neck and the spacing between the frets that makes a big difference to the ease of use, the confidence and ultimate skill of the player, and to the music it is used to create. Bolt on necks provide great ease of adjustment, which can help to make a guitar feel more comfortable and sound just right.
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June 18th, 2009 at 2:43 pm
[...] Neck - The neck is another extremely important piece of equipment, seeing as how it is the other part of the wood that makes up a guitar. The neck can be attached to the body with screws (Bolt-on) or can be attached to the body in one piece of wood (Neck-through). On top of the neck there is a lot going on, with the Fretboard. Rosewood fretboards are associated with darker tones and a firm feel, where maple is brighter and smoother. The type of fretboard you want on your guitar is almost entirely personal preference, and you must take into account the effect it has on the sound of your guitar overall. Sometimes the choice of a fretboard comes down to preference in looks, but in most cases, guitars will already have a neck on them, and you won’t have much choice in fretboard anyway unless you replace the neck. Another important point to notice when you pick up a guitar is the Thickness and Shape of the neck. The way a neck is formed can give mass to the guitar, changing its sound, but ultimately, you want to choose a neck that is comfortable to your hand, and allows you easy access to the frets. Depending on the size of your hands, some guitars with fat necks might not be as easily playable as thin ones. [...]