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Hey everybody,
I am getting ready to do my first hand carved neck and I was wondering what the most universally comfortable neck profile is? I understand there are individual preferences but I need a place to start so I was wondering if you all could give me some advice? Thank you in advance!

Visit your nearest guitar store and see what the big manufacturers are doing.

Otherwise, carve until it feels good

I know most people like the Taylor profile but some find it a little too thin so I was possibly looking for a compromise.

For my two cents...

There's no such thing. It's like asking, "What's the most comfortable shoe size?" The size and shape of a player's hand figure heavily into the equation, and one would have to accommodate both men and women. The closest thing anyone could say is to go with an industrial standard, like the thickness of a Taylor or Martin neck. That way, even if it's not the most comfortable for everyone, at least it's what everyone's used to. And that being said, ideally the size and shape of the neck profile should be suited to the player a custom guitar is made for.

IOW, what DennisK said...

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David Morris

I really do understand there is no such thing. I just was wondering if there was something that was a compromise that might accommodate a wider range of people. Because I know there are plenty of people that do not like the Taylor profile and others don't like the Martin profile. Also part of the reason I am asking is so I can finalize some measurements since doing it by hand is hard to learn. I want to have a goal in mind that I can actually to some extent measure. Someday I may be able to do most of it by feeling but today is not that day! I have measurements for several profiles but just wanted to get some ideas if anything is possibly a little better than what the "big" companies are doing.

I use an asymmetrical profile, most players find it quite comfortable.

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Brian

You never know what you are capable of until you actually try.

https://www.howardguitarsdelaware.com/

I use a number of shapes but like Brian I use a slightly asymmetrical shape. If you figure out how thick you like your neck then sand the final shape using your left hand , you should find something you like.

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John Hall
blues creek guitars
Authorized CF Martin Repair
Co President of ASIA
You Don't know what you don't know until you know it

Find a shape you find comfortable and copy it, the thickness is probably more important to the feel than the actual shape. Luthier Suppliers has great templates if you are not interested in making your own.

Fred

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Fred Tellier
http://www.fetellierguitars.com
Facebook page http://www.facebook.com/pages/FE-Tellier-Guitars/163451547003866

Interesting you describe the Taylor as being too thin. at .840" at the 1st, its thicker than many of the custom builders including Ryan and Olson. Perhaps its not its thickness, but the lack of shoulder?

I have just heard a few people say that. Personally I have no issue with it.

You might be surprise yourself. Grab a chunk of 2x4 and rought it to neck dimensions including fretboard and carve away. Stop when it feels comfortable for you. You may just find it to be easier than you think.

If possible, carve the neck to the comfort of the owner. I once made a guitar for my brother and carved the neck while we were on vacation together. He gave me feedback through the whole process. It ended up being much fatter than I would have liked and slightly asymmetrical but it is what he wanted. I'm sure I am the only one who has ever noticed the asymmetry.

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Bryan Bear PMoMC

Take care of your feet, and your feet will take care of you.

I carved my first neck not too long ago and was quite intimidated by the process - until I started. It was much easier than I thought, much more pleasurable than I thought, and came out much better than I thought it might. If you have another guitar around it's quite easy to carve a profile for that guitar and just start whittling until you get there, or even get close then let it sit for a day and come back - "You might suprise yourself."

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Thank You and Best To All

I think folks tend to like what they're used to. Play an old v-carved Martin for a while, and one's hands will gradually adapt. Switch to a Taylor, and it will feel way too thin. Play that for a while, go back to the v-carve, and it'll feel big and awkward. Having played many drastically different neck shapes and sizes, I know a few things for certain -- 1) there MUST be a recurve to the shoulder, as much as a 1/16" taper from the bottom of the fingerboard to the top. Nothing causes me to put an otherwise well-made guitar down faster than a sharp ledge at the fingerboard edge. I can name several high-end builders who are guilty of this. 2) almost everybody's first neck is way too fat. Rough carve the neck, then fret and attach your fingerboard. You have a much better sense of neck proportions with the board included. 3) unless you're building for someone with small hands, keep your nut width at least 1 23/32", preferably 1 3/4". Anything narrower leads to hand fatigue (for me, anyway).

Hope this is helpful. Cheers.

Ken

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Mountain Song Guitars www.mountainsongguitars.com

Whatever shape you use be sure to blend the curve into the fretboard so there is not a sharp transition. That makes a big difference in feel. Whoops Ken beat me to it.

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It's not what you don't know that hurts you, it's what you do know that's wrong.

I have two hard V shaped guitars. One is a parlor guitar the other an electric. They are great for playing scales and soloing but not so great with chords and rhythm. But I totally agree you can get used to anything.

Thanks everyone for the advice! It has been very helpful.

Ken, are you talking about blending the neck curve into the bottom edge of the fingerboard, or are you talking about tapering the top edge of the fingerboard back to prevent a sharp 90 degree angle at the top corner?

Good question. I was thinking the former but now I'm not so sure. I'm curious as well.

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Thank You and Best To All

The latter. The former is a given in my book.

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Mountain Song Guitars www.mountainsongguitars.com

Ken, I've been leaving my boards straight on the side, about how much of a taper are you talking about?

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Steve Smith
"Music is what feelings sound like"

Interesting. Don't you then need to add extra width to the nut/fretboard to avoid the strings from 'falling off' that rounded edge?

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Thank You and Best To All

Apparently it's about 1/16" inch.

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Thank You and Best To All

Yes, if you do taper it bottom to top, then you would need some extra meat there. I guess what I really don't like is when it doesn't go at least vertical at the fingerboard, then it causes an abrupt and uncomfortable ledge. Some of the old v-carve Martins (and old '50's Tele's) have a strong recurve, like 1/16" or more from bottom of the fretboard to top.

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Mountain Song Guitars www.mountainsongguitars.com

Ah I'm seeing what you're getting at now. I think I might do that intuitively as I try and soften that 'upper' edge on the fret board and could see how having a 'V' that continued up to the top of the fret board could be uncomfortable. Thanks for taking the time to clarify.

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Thank You and Best To All

missed that part. I've been making mine straight with slightly rounded corner to soften the edge. I'll try the recurve on my next one.

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Steve Smith
"Music is what feelings sound like"