Fender Custom Shop necks offer a world of personality for your own Custom Shop guitar. It’s no real secret that a special helping of playability of a guitar comes from the shape of its neck. When going about designing or shopping for a Custom Shop guitar of your own, you’ll encounter a number of neck types with a variety of things that differentiate them. All in the pursuit of delivering a feel that fits a variety of players, Fender Custom Shop necks are definitely worth studying up on.
Today, we’re here to give you an idea of the intricacies of Custom Shop necks and how they can impact your guitar on macro and micro scales. Second to the clear picture you get from holding a Custom Shop neck in your own hand, we hope to assist and paint our own picture of the world of Fender necks and what might fit your style. Before you go on that cross-country journey to find a music store that has Fender Custom Shop guitars in stock, let us lay some groundwork while giving recommendations and insights on necks and the personality they provide.
TL; DRFender Custom Shop necks play an important role in your Custom Shop experience. With three main neck types, “C”, “V”, and “U”, and many variations, there’s plenty to explore. Fuller, vintage-styled necks gravitate towards “U” shapes, and speedier, modern-styled necks typically land near “C”. “V” necks are somewhere in between with the lessened shoulder of “C” and prominent thickness of “U”. Neck woods play an aesthetic role with different types of maple exhibiting different colors and grain patterns. The most popular neck shape of each type, we find, are the ‘52 Style “U”, ‘60 Style Oval “C”, and ‘57 Style Soft “V”.
Neck Shapes
Let’s talk about the three categories of neck shapes generally for a second. In Fender’s lineup of necks, all types filter down into three basic shapes: “U”, “C”, and “V”. While there are similarities between these necks, these three categories are the main drivers that make the most noticeable difference in hand. Let’s get into some of these shapes and their differences, shall we?
"U" Neck Shapes
The “U” style of neck throws back to some of Fender’s earliest guitar models – particularly the Telecaster and Nocaster. These thicker, “U” necks are commonly referred to by their rounded and full feel as “baseball bat” shaped. If you’ve never held a vintage or vintage-inspired Fender in your hand with a “U”-shaped neck, it won’t be long before you’re looking to hit some ‘homers.
With moves toward thinner necks over the decades to accommodate speedier playing, the “U” style has mainly been phased out of usual production, called upon specifically for that vintage-inspired feel. Where this lands us now is a selection of “U” shapes that hearken to the earliest days of rock ‘n’ roll and the chunkiness those ‘50s and ‘60s guitarists worked with.
A "U" For YouToday’s “U” players commonly mention the shape of “U” necks as most comfortable for them if they have bigger hands. The prominent shoulders of “U” necks inherently demand a bit of reaching when it comes to the fingers and thumb. If you are a player with larger hands, or if you don’t want that much of your fingers hanging around the neck when fretting, “U” is definitely worth checking out.
“U” necks naturally throw back to older styles of Fender models, so in the event you can’t get your hands on a Custom Shop “U”, try turning to Fender’s American Vintage II 1963 Telecaster Mahogany to feel out its broad shoulder and prominent thickness and see if it’s a good pick for you.
1951 "U"
The ‘51 “U” stands out as the thickest electric guitar neck the Fender Custom Shop has to offer. Measuring in at .950” thick at its first fret and a full inch thick at its twelfth, this shape fulfills the “baseball bat” ethos in its most pure form. What was that line from Field of Dreams? “Build it and they will come,” right? It’s like Fender had a lock on this themselves. Build a neck like this and people are sure to start playing.
'52 Style "U"
The ‘52 Style “U” neck holds the special distinction of being the only neck in the Fender Custom Shop’s catalog that does not change in measurement from the first to twelfth fret. Offering the most consistent feel in hand, this neck measures at .990” thick across its entire length.
1969 "U"
The 1969 “U” is notable among the “U” style necks as the thinnest offered across the assortment. Measuring in at .850” thick at the first fret and .910” at the twelfth fret, this neck also holds the added feature of being the “U”-shaped neck with the biggest change in thickness between the first and twelfth frets. If you’re looking for a “baseball bat” neck with that added nuance of a change in shape, the 1969 “U” might be your way to go.
"C" Neck Shapes
As time marched on, necks generally moved toward thinner profiles to accommodate new styles of electric guitar playing. Where this lands us now is with a larger array of necks leaning toward the “C” shape. These “C”-shaped necks cut down on the “shoulder” of “U” necks, making them shallower and less blocky, reducing the “baseball bat” feel of them.
With “C” necks, you’ll have the widest selection of shapes with smaller distinctions between them. These will likely feel the most familiar as many modern Fenders utilize some form of “C” neck. The slimmer profiles of “C” necks are perfect for fast trips up and down the scale length, so if you’re in the business of big jumps up and down the neck, the “C” neck is in business for you.
If you find yourself hankering for this kind of neck but you can’t find a Custom Shop to see if it’s the right fit, you can turn to Fender's American Vintage II and American Professional II series for their ‘61 “C” and Deep “C” necks, respectively. The “C” styles found in these series paint a close picture to several Fender Custom “C”s such as the ‘63 “C” and Modern “C”.
We've got a few of these to run down, so let’s get to it.
'59 "C"
This early-era “C” shape offers the biggest change in shape from the first fret to the twelfth among the “C” shapes. In the event you’re looking for a bigger jump between first and twelfth fret thickness, this neck is your best bet. The ‘59 “C” measures with a thickness of .790” at its first fret and .970” at its twelfth.
'60 Style Oval "C"
The thinnest “C” neck, this one clocks in at .790” at its first fret and .930” at is twelfth. Look to this pick if you prefer a closer feel around the guitar’s neck for faster fretting or some wraparound of the thumb when it comes to campfire chords.
'63 "C"
This “C” fills out to make for the thickest measurement among this assortment with a .830” measurement at the first fret and a full inch at the twelfth. For a thicker yet similar feel to a ‘59 “C”, the ‘63 “C” fulfills that vintage-inspired feel perfectly.
'65 Strat "C"
For the ‘65 Strat “C”, we get closer to a more consistent thickness measurement from the ones mentioned earlier. The change in thickness from the first to twelfth fret on the ‘65 Strat “C” is about .15” with its first fret measuring at .820” and its twelfth at .974”.
'66 Strat Oval "C"
On the ‘66 Strat “C”, we creep back up on measurements with a thicker yet more consistent neck feel. For this neck’s measurements, we get a .840” at the first fret and .960” at the twelfth, resulting in the most consistent measurement among the more “vintage”-style necks shapes.
Large "C"
The Large “C” neck outright will feel your most like a “U” shape. Measuring in at .875” thick at the first fret and .950” at the twelfth, the Large “C” features the most prominent shoulder among the “C” shapes. Its taller shape gives a closer “baseball bat” feel in hand, yet is still very much a “C” shape.
Modern "C"
With the Modern “C”, we get a current look into many of Fender’s more recent models with several modern series featuring necks like it. Contrasting the other “C” shapes, the Modern “C” really shrinks down with a first fret measurement of .820” and a twelfth fret measurement of .870”, resulting in a strikingly consistent and slender feel in hand.
Jaguar/Jazzmaster "C"
When dealing in offsets, you’ll likely come across a Jaguar / Jazzmaster “C” neck. This shape measures in with a first fret measurement of .820” and a twelfth of .900”, offering a relatively consistent trip from the lower registers to the highest ones.
"V" Neck Shapes
The “V” neck shape offers somewhat of a balance between “U” and “C” necks. Where this lands is a “V” that clocks in with the thickness of “U” and the lessened shoulder of “C”. They offer a unique feel among all other necks for players seeking something truly distinctive.
'57 Style Soft "V"
The ‘57 Style Soft “V” is certainly reminiscent of the “U” shapes we talked about earlier. Where it differs is that it heavily cuts down on its shoulder, where the usual “baseball bat” feel comes from. The ‘57 Style Soft “V” cuts relatively right to the chase with a first fret thickness of .850” and a twelfth fret thickness of .990”.
In our experience, we see this neck as the most popular among Strat players. Its prominent “V” shape is commonly cited as a factor for playability as a nice balance between the thickness of a “U” with the speed of a “C”.
10/56 "V"
For the 10/56 “V”, Fender plays up the thickness of vintage-inspired necks with a little more consistency. What this amounts to is a neck that is certainly “V”, yet more consistent in its measurement with only a .10” difference between the first and twelfth frets. At the first fret, this “V” measures at .880 and fills out slightly to its twelfth fret at .980”.
Modern "V"
Throwing back to the Modern “C” we talked about, the Modern “V” follows a similar sentiment as a thinner, speedier pick. Though more prominent in height than the Modern “C”, the Modern “V” plays with a similar, modern feel and measures at .850” and .890” at its first and twelfth frets, respectively.
Neck Woods
When discussing necks, there’s always the ever-present question of the neck woods. Fender Custom Shop offers a selection of woods to make for a great grip and fine aesthetic. There’s plenty of subdivisions among the following woods that include different wood sawn types like riftsawn and quartersawn and different gradings like AA and AAA, but for now, let’s focus in on the different woods the Custom Shop offers and see where we land.
Maple
A classic among classics, if anyone asks. There’s quite a few reasons why so many Fender players choose maple for their necks. Among them, maple contributes a brightness to the overall output of the guitar and carries with it a classic, light color, which many Custom Shop players prefer alongside the wide array of Custom Shop finish colors available.
Flame Maple
Welcome to the world of new aesthetic woods, my friends. Flame maple clocks in with more dense and vibrant wood grain patterns to liven up the aesthetic of the neck from the wood “go”. Players picking a flame maple neck usually cite its intricate and dense grain patterns as a reason for its selection.
Birdseye Maple
If you’re looking to get particularly detailed with your Custom Shop creation, birdseye maple normally presents with many dense “birdseye” markings. These circular markings appear across many Custom Shop creations for builders and players to marvel at the intricacy and personality of the wood.
Roasted Maple
You might have come across a roasted maple neck elsewhere among the world of electric guitars these days, and for good reason. There’s a good case for a roasted maple neck when it comes to Fender Custom Shop. For one, roasted maple necks offer a darker color to normal maple ones, where the difference in color adds a richness to the overall aesthetic presentation. In addition, roasted maple is physically lighter and serves up a more resonant tone off the bat.
Rosewood
A lesser-seen specification for Fender necks, rosewood is a premier pick for Custom Shop guitars. Its darker color and warmer tone differentiate it from maple necks, easily setting it apart from the pack.
Roasted Flame Maple
Doubling up on specialties for maple, roasted flame maple necks come cut with dense tiger striping and a dark, caramelized color. Among the most distinguished picks for Custom Shop necks, roasted flame maple represents the personality and showmanship Fender Custom Shop guitars can exhibit.
Questions?
Alright, that was a good bit of information. If you have any questions about Fender Custom Shop necks, or Fender Custom Shop in general, feel free to reach out to us here at Russo Music anytime. We’re always up to talk!
