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Who is using or has opinions on asymmetrical necks?

I'm currently carving a neck for myself, and am planning to leave the portion under the higher pitched strings slightly thinner and move the highest point of the neck about 1/8" or 3/16" towards the low E. It feels quite comfortable in raw form, but who knows once the strings are on. I suppose folks that fret with their thumb wouldn't like this.

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David White, Toronto

"All my favourite singers can't sing."

I assume you're talking about a steel string? I usually do mine that way but I bring it back to symetrical by about the 6th fret. People like it. Most don't even realize it. I think it works fine for people who fret with their thumb too.

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http://www.chassonguitars.com

check out allan beardsell's guitars. he talks about his asymetric neck on his web site but i don't think he shows a picture of the cross section. the "v" on his cross section leans toward the treble side. this gives the player the thin and fast feel they want under their thumb and by the web of skin between the thumb and fore finger. at the same time, the extra wood under the treble side provides stiffness in the neck without being in the way. it's very comfortable for me and my lousy fretting technique. but i think it must be especially comfortable for those who use proper thumb placement.
phil

I played one recently and didn't immediately notice it was asymmetrical. That's the was it should be done if it's done at all. IMO! I played a Fender years ago and hated it! Wasn't a big fan of the Martin ridge either.

The asymmetrical that you mention was a little odd but comfortable in the overall. I think I could get used to it. Don't know if it's worth the trouble, do you like them that much? It does seem to give more leverage for the thumb by shifting emphasis. I guess it would depend on one's style.

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Billy Dean Thomas
Covina, CA

"Multi famam, conscientiam, pauci verentur."
(Many fear their reputation, few their conscience)

I do a mild asymmetry on most necks, but the opposite of what you describe. They are flatter on the bass side to make a more comfortable rest for the thumb. And the crown peaks in the center. No one ever notices the asymmetry.

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Howard Klepper
http://www.klepperguitars.com

When all else fails, clean the shop.

slightly asymetrical on current build. I haven't rounded the nck binding over yet, so it isn't quite finished. It's slight, but I'LL know it's there. (intentionally done, btw)

I did one on my last guitar, mine leaned toward the treble side as well, it was very comfy and the customer loved it.

Cheers,

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Gwaltney Guitars

It would be nice to have a sample of all of these necks to compare.

Kent, yes it is a steel string. Any particular reason for making it symmetrical further up, or do you just like that feel.

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David White, Toronto

"All my favourite singers can't sing."

I tend to rotate my hand (thumb goes farther down) as I go up the neck and use my thumb in back for bar chords more.

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http://www.chassonguitars.com

Many of the vintage guitars of the 40-50's were asymetrical. I had a 50's strat that was that way as well as several old Gretsch's. I like them alot, and will probably incorporate that more into my own style.

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Joe

I do just the opposite: flatter shoulder on the treble side, rounder shoulder on the bass. Like the SRV/other asymmetrical neck carves shown on Warmoth.com's profiles page. Reasoning: make a 'thumb over' air guitar chord, look at the shape of the hand. The thumb makes a rounder shape (more wood) than the index finger, so I just follow that. It's subtle, but very noticeable, and makes necks feel smaller than they are.

Mattia, you said the opposite of what I am suggesting but described the same, flatter on the treble side would be thinner - an upside down V instead of an upside down U.

Assuming the Warmoth drawings are oriented from the nut, they are the opposite of what you described. Based on the responses so far that seems to be more common.

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David White, Toronto

"All my favourite singers can't sing."

The opposite of what many here seem to be doing, I mean; I can't see the advantage of of thicker treble side and a thinner bass side. Doesn't compute, and playing my necks 'upside down' (and/or, in my case, playing the lefty guitar neck I made right-handed) is less comfortable than playing them the 'right way around', to me.

A quick google tells me I do the necks the way the SRV/Van Halen necks are done - thicker on the bass side (round shoulder), thinner on the treble side (flat shoulder, as I'm calling it). It also seems to be the by far more common way of building them. More of a C shape for the bass, V shape for the treble. Ish. Illustrative pic of one of my own fender-style necks:



If the other way around works for folks, that's great, but it sure doesn't work for me. Bar chord playing is unaffected, as the centerline stays put, and is fairly rounded (no heavy, pronounced V for me). The net result is a neck that simply feels comfortable, and smaller to the hand than it would otherwise.

carvin does that on there "bunny brunel" series 5 string basses. apparently it's quite nice....