Can someone explain different neck types?

Well, theres some guitar necks that seem to have a sideways U, V, or straight C neck. That means that from your perspective, the neck would feel like a U or V that was flipped on its side, or like a C. Its just the way the neck is shaped. And yes, they really do make V necks. My friend has an acoustic guitar that has quite a V neck.

 

Quartersawn is the method of cutting the log. It would be easier to draw, but I'll try to explain. A log is quartered and boards cut from the flat sides so the grain runs perpendicular (to the flat board looking from one end) like this llllllll this results in a portion of the log being wasted, but has superior stability as apposed to slab sawn where the log is just cut into as many flat (and progressively wider) boards as possible. The slab cut will yield effectively quarter-sawn boards from the center of the log.
The only actual V neck bass that I'm familiar with are from Linc Luthier. They use horizontally laminated quarter-sawn woods in what I believe is a pantented process. On a bass normally you would choose between symetrical (rounded evenly across the back of the neck) or asymetrical (usually thick under the low strings).

 

The Linc Luthier V neck is fast and comfortable.

 

The Pedulla Rapture has a soft V profile.

 

I played a Washburn Explorer Bass, and it had a V that tapered down into a, well, shallow V, and it was fairly comfortable. Not to fast, but the V fit right in pocket between my thumb and fingers.

 

Player covered off how it is achieved. Then there's the "why?";

- Some say the tone quality is superior. Well, maybe so if you're a bat. I don't buy that unless you're talking about a soundboard/acoustic instrument top.

- Second, many/most wood species simply look better quartersawn. Flatsawn wood tends to have a wilder. more irregular grain while quartersawn has its grain lines close together all across the face (depending on the specie).

- Third and best reason is that quartersawn wood resists twist and warp better than flatsawn wood. The grain is perpendicular to the stress of the neck as opposed to parallel, like flatsawn.
That's a generalization and refers to bass necks and the stresses they endure. Flatsawn can be used successfully if the builder is selective about the particular pieces they are using and the species they are using (more homogenous, flatsawn, woods can work fine)

Unfortunately, quartersawing is said to be a dying art, largely because it is a more expensive process. It involves more labor (turning the wood to cut one flat side, then the other).
Baseball bats usually break because the batter turned the bat where the grain was "flatsawn" (parallel) to the force of ball meeting the wood..........comme ca -