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What makes a fast neck???

bassman74

bassman74

Jan 2, 2007
2,282
720
Montreal
#1
Hey Guys,

I always thought a thin neck with flatter radius fretboard would make a fast neck...

With all i have read here in the past, i was convinced that with these 2 condition i would have a lightning fast neck, boy i was wrong...

I have played medium, thin, ultra thin neck with 12'', 16'', 20'' radius fretboard, none have been has fast..

BTW they all had 1.5'' nut width

Now I just bought a Classic Musicman sterling, with a medium thickness neck and a 7.5'' radius fretboard, The neck is amazing!!! It's confortable a fast like i have never seen before in my life. For the past month, i did not have too much time for practicing but since i have my classic sterling, i can play song that were too fast before for my fretting hand...

I'm confused but amazed!!!
 
#3
Josh Emmons said:
I have noticed that a fast neck is governed by the player. a thin neck isn't always the best for many players. I have always loved thick necks without a high gloss finish. I think that might be the answer....:hiding::hiding:
Click to expand...


This, it's all in your own hands. I have huge hands and think that skinny jazz necks are not really that "fast". However my warwick vette has a small skinny neck and is very fast for me.
 
#4
Neck finish has a huge difference. Matte or flat finished necks dont 'stick' to your thumb like gloss does.

I have an ibanez that I find plays fast because it is thin with more of a 'D' profile to it rather than fully round like a 'C' and has a slightly matted finish, the finish is a big difference but I also find the shape helps.

The "fastest" neck I have is one that came off an epiphone goth thunderbird which are finished flat black, seemingly almost no friction on my fingers.
 
#7
C'mon Francois, with your understanding of ergonomics you should know that a neck that allows the player the most natural physical hand position will always ease the playing, therefore something you do not have to curl around too much which makes your tendons stretch thus impeding the range of motion, and something you don't use your fingers from too flat a palm position which is like fighting the neck. It's all about natural hand position.
 
#14
I've been playing a heck of a long time and I still have no idea what a "fast neck" is. Sure, many, if not most necks feel different from one another, the finish, the radius, the thickness or depth, but none seem faster or slower to me. And if I find one a little less comfortable, it just takes a while to get used to it then I am good. I think a "fast neck" is a myth. Different necks for different folks, but the neck itself is not what makes it "fast". IMO.
 

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