V-neck vs regular C-neck

[whattaguy]

I just ordered a custom G&L guitar with a soft v-neck. I like the feeling of the v since I have small hands, but I've never played on a v-neck for long periods of time.

What are the advantages/disadvantages of a v-neck over a traditional c-neck?

Thanks.

 

[faderbug]

shouldn't you have asked this before you ordered?

anyway some people like them but i once played on a vintage tele with a definate v-shaped neck and it hurt! i mean the ridge of the v or whatever you call it pressed in the palm of my hand and it started become uncomfortable after 5 minutes or so.

but i prefer flat ibanez necks so maybe my opinion doesn't really count.

 

[ocnor]

i mean the ridge of the v or whatever you call it pressed in the palm of my hand and it started become uncomfortable after 5 minutes or so.

Your thumb should be the only thing touching the back of the neck. If your palm is touching then your technique needs work.

 

[visa]

bs.

but yeah...when playing with the thumb being the only thing touching the back of the neck a V neck is great. it lets your thumb rest nicely on the neck and relaxes the muscles.

 

[whattaguy]

shouldn't you have asked this before you ordered?

anyway some people like them but i once played on a vintage tele with a definate v-shaped neck and it hurt! i mean the ridge of the v or whatever you call it pressed in the palm of my hand and it started become uncomfortable after 5 minutes or so.

but i prefer flat ibanez necks so maybe my opinion doesn't really count.

That is very true, but it takes them 16-18 weeks to build. If there is a chance to change the specs, I think it's possible.

 

[notCardio]

You can be our guinea pig

Let us know what it's like to play long-term.

Of course, it won't really matter, because what one person finds comfortable doesn't really mean much to someone else.

 

[32-20-Blues]

Your thumb should be the only thing touching the back of the neck. If your palm is touching then your technique needs work.

I call bullshit. Maybe if you're Segovia that's true Tell it to Jimi Hendrix, though, and, for that matter, any guitarist who uses his thumb to fret notes on the low E string.

 

[ocnor]

I call bullshit. Maybe if you're Segovia that's true Tell it to Jimi Hendrix, though, and, for that matter, any guitarist who uses his thumb to fret notes on the low E string.

It doesn't matter if you wrap your thumb around or not, nobody plays with their palm flat on the back of the neck. Your hand will always be arched and your palm will not touch. I know because I wrap my thumb around when I play.
http://hosted.ap.org/photos/N/NYET16001241529-big.jpg

 

[notCardio]

I would say my palm touches more often than not.

Of course, my technique, if you can call it that, does suck.

But I don't think that's why.

 

[zorf]

just a thought....
when you get your guitar, don't panic if it doesn't feel comfortable right
away. You might need to get used to it. Give it some time.
Worse case scenario, you can shave a little off the back. Or just get a different neck, it is a bolt on.

 

[pikingrin]

just a thought....
when you get your guitar, don't panic if it doesn't feel comfortable right
away. You might need to get used to it. Give it some time.
Worse case scenario, you can shave a little off the back. Or just get a different neck, it is a bolt on.

+1 for that. My dad bought me a '50s reissue (MIM) strat when he was drunk about 5 or 6 years ago. It had the V shaped neck which I hated for all of 5 minutes. Going from the C shape of a USA strat to that was a big change, but it's not that rough. It all depends on what you're used to and what you feel comfortable with. So I'm going to just shut up and go now...

 

[capnkid]

Your thumb should be the only thing touching the back of the neck. If your palm is touching then your technique needs work.

That's stupid thinking. Who's technique? Sometimes my palm touches and sometimes just my thumb.

I have small hands and a U shaped neck feels hella comfortable to me.

 

[faderbug]

Your thumb should be the only thing touching the back of the neck. If your palm is touching then your technique needs work.

bullshit. we all play differently.

 

[ocnor]

bullshit. we all play differently.

I listened to the songs on your Myspace page and I agree. Every day that I play differently from you I will count myself a lucky man.

 

[faderbug]

I listened to the songs on your Myspace page and I agree. Every day that I play differently from you I will count myself a lucky man.

exactly what are you trying to prove with that? except that you're an asshole.

 

[muttley600]

I'll add a few thoughts and a bit of experience from a makers point of view.

The thumb thing. To have a "correct" technique the thumb is all that touches the back of the neck. This is nearly always not the case unless you are classically trained. It's more common to see classical players and good fingerpickers use only the thumb on the back of the neck because the technique demands it with lots of big stretches and holding wide chords. Most of the fingerstyle players I see ask for a fairly flat neck section. There are exceptions.

As to the palm thing. As a maker you get to closely examine a wide variety if techniques. Very rarely does the plam contact the back of the neck when your playing. Most of the contact for us "self taught" players is made bt the area between the first finger and the thumb pad. If you look at your palm with thumb pointing at right angles to the first finger the curve that makes is about what most neck sections echo these days.

Another point worth mentioning is that often on some higher end guitars the section is not symmetrical. I often get asked to copy the profile of an existing neck and have measured a good number of different guitars necks and sections. Even mass produced necks are rarely symmetrical and no two are exactly the same despite being CNC machined. The differences creep in as the neck is sanded or in my case scraped clean ready for finishing. Some are very close and consistent. I always warn that copying and existing neck will not give the same feel to the original. Why because everything else on the guitar dictates how it feels and how you hold it from the body shape to the materials and timbers used. It does get you in the right ball park for most players and I'll often have the player into the shop before finishing so he or she can get a feel for the neck.

Is a V profile easier, better, worse etc than a flatter C section. Entirely down to your preference. You have to play a few to get a feel for what you like. Also I can promise if you took your favorite electric neck and put it on your favorite acoustic or vise versa you'd hate it. Horses for courses as they say.

 

[ocnor]

exactly what are you trying to prove with that? except that you're an asshole.

Thanks for the Neg Rep points. All that I did was agree with you and you called me an asshole and neg rep'd me. Why did you get so defensive when I mentioned your Myspace page? Are you afraid that someone might hear your playing and realize that you don't know what you are talking about? I'm not going to neg rep you even though you deserve it.

As to the palm thing. As a maker you get to closely examine a wide variety if techniques. Very rarely does the palm contact the back of the neck when your playing.

Now faderbug is going to have to call you an asshole and neg rep you for making him look stupid.

 

[muttley600]

Now faderbug is going to have to call you an asshole and neg rep you for making him look stupid.

W3ell I don't post here to get rep. I try to post advice that may be of use to people based on the experience I've been lucky enough to gain over the years. I relied a lot on advice when I started out. Just trying to spread some around to help others.

I have been neg rep'd before but then I do get a bit touchy when people post obviously wrong advice. Guess thats just me an the onset of old age

 

[ozraves]

There is no advantage one way or another. It's a matter of personal preference and I prefer both.

 

[faderbug]

well i don't have a reason to call muttley an asshole do i?

ocnor don't be so ignorant : if i didn't want people to hear my music why would i put the link in my signature?

you little turd.