Being a guitarist, you already know that not all guitars are exactly the same in shape and size. When it comes to the neck, you'll also find different neck shapes in each guitar. The shape of a guitar neck doesn't contribute to the sound the instrument makes but it does affect the playing quality. The three major factors that play a vital role in the feel of a guitar neck would be its depth, width, and fretboard radius. In this article, we will discuss the most common types of guitar necks based on their shape:
V-shaped necks are somewhat old school and you're most likely to see them on old guitars or reproduced models. The shape is further divided into two categories - soft V and hard V. The soft V-shaped guitars have a rounded profile so that the finger and the "V" make a perfect gap between the thumb and the finger as you play the guitar. Some Stratocasters have soft V-shaped guitar necks and the most famous ones will be the 1960 Stratocaster and the SRV Stratocaster. On the other hand, the hard V-shape has a pointed apex but it is rarely found in modern guitars. Guitars having a hard V-shaped neck are preferred by most guitar players as it allows them to hang their thumbs over the fingerboard easily.
A C-shaped neck is round in shape and looks like a half oval. It is a very popular guitar neck shape and is found in almost every modern guitar. It provides a very easy grip and you can easily cup your hand around it. Another reason that this shape is very popular is that you can play any style you want. As the C-shape guitar necks are thinner than other shapes, it allows you to play with more speed and move your hand up and down the fretboard very easily. C-shape guitar necks are further divided into slim, extra-slim, fat, nut-shaped, and huge C-shapes.
U-shaped guitar necks are very similar to the C-shaped guitar necks in terms of the radius but they have higher shoulders. Some players often call it a "baseball bat neck" due to its bulkiness. This shape is often preferred by guitarists with large hands and those who like to place their thumb on the backside of the neck instead of above it. Fender's Telecaster and Nocasters are the most popular guitar models that come with a U-shaped neck. The only disadvantage associated with these necks is players with small hands won't be able to play the guitar comfortably. In severe cases, some guitarists end up damaging their hands.
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