Tues 12/20

[Dave_P]

Lunch: Today I hit the jackpot at the cafeteria... prime rib with mashed potato and an assortment of holiday cookies. It was leftover from an event last night in the hotel but still very tender and delicious. The cookies were a bit stale which helped limit my consumption.

G&L: Necks. To me the neck of a guitar is it's most important feature, and part of the reason I stick with G&L. G&L, in my opinion, has some of the best necks in the business. Stability, comfort, and the option to choose which profile you'd like. We've been over the "what's your favorite" neck discussion before, so what's your least favorite neck type that G&L offers?
Or is it not a big deal to you?

For me it's the older style "slim C", my '90 ASAT has it and no matter how hard I try I can't get past it. I love the look of that guitar and the sound (even better than my ASAT special), but after a 2 hour practice the bottom section of my pointer finger always feels like it's bruised. Something about the angle it wraps under the neck at that doesn't occur with my Special.
I'll tie this into a poll question : If you were in this situation would you swap out the neck on a Leo era ASAT ?

Non-G&L: So far it's been a very mild winter in RI, we had snow in October but nothing since. It was in the 40's-60's most of December and just finally getting cold now but still no snow. This has been great for my heating bill I have a wood burning stove as well which helps keep oil use down. But I do like the change of season and miss the snow. I'm wondering how this will all effect the Spring, mainly if winter will shift further towards April. I seem to remember getting snow for Christmas a lot more often when I was younger, it just doesn't feel the same without the snow. What do you think about snow, love it, hate it?

Hope you are all staying warm...or cool (depending on where you live) out there.

-Dave

[darwinohm]

Dave, I think that the super slim necks make you bend that pointer or index finger more. I have a liking for G&L necks myself but the necks on mine are all quite similar. I also like the V neck profile but most of them seem to work okay for me. I do prefer the 12' radius but I have a 7.5 and it plays just fine.

If you plan on keeping the Leo era ASAT, I wouldn't be concerned about swapping the neck. You can always revert back to original.

We have had a perfect winter here so far. Last year at this time we had more than 30 inches of snow on the ground and this year we have none which is why we are having mild temps. It is great on the heating bills. -- Darwin

[zapcosongs]

We're having the same weather here in the DC area as you are experiencing, Dave. I'm bummed. I love having four seasons, and will really be disappointed if we go right from Autumn to Spring. It has happened before, but after the last couple of winters, I've gotten kind of used to having the cold and some snow. I suppose I'm spoiled and should be glad for whatever we get...

Regarding necks, guitars are not really tools for me, merely beautiful instruments to enjoy at whim. If I had to play for two or three hours at a time on a guitar with a neck that caused me discomfort, I'd certainly consider changing it out. But my answer to your poll reflects the fact that I can pick up and put down any axe I have any time I want whenever I feel like it.
All in all, I have found that I can adapt to most neck sizes and shapes - at least for an hour or two.

Now, can I trouble you to pass the prime rib? Thanks! - ed

[sickbutnottired]

Score on lunch, I had a little to much wine last night and am not feeling my best so I ran to Wendy's for lunch. Dreading my workout this pm.

We are having a very mild winter so far, in MT. That can change at anytime. In fact, I have a cold feeling in my bones today, and some snow is predicted so we may be in for it.

Necks - Make the change! I have experienced the exact same thing you describe, a bruised feeling around the first knuckle after long practices. I never attributed it to neck shape, but now that you mention it I get it by far the worst on my stupid thin '81.

I enjoy a more chunky neck these days, and I love G&L's. I don't have much experience with v-shape.

Jeremy

[yowhatsshakin]

Howdy Dave,

Both my wife and I have the flu. No fun. For lunch we just had some Thai salad of steamed vegetable in a spicy lime dressing. At least the spices cut through the slight lack of taste I'm currently experiencing. The capsaicin is doing its work ...

G&L: We've been over the "what's your favorite" neck discussion before, so what's your least favorite neck type that G&L offers?
Or is it not a big deal to you?

The ones I have not played? I haven't run into one I really disliked. I even got used to the thicker mahogany neck on my 25th Anniversary. Least favorite neck have ever played was the neck on a Gicson '57 Goldtop RI. But then again, this is of course entirely subjective.

I voted never to change a neck on a Leo era guitar. Unless there is a need of course ...

Non-G&L: What do you think about snow, love it, hate it?

Everywhere where I have lived on average yo would have snow on the ground maybe 7 days a year. And boy, does it affect traffic. Of course during those day you will read letters the editor of people complaining that the city should keep the streets snow free. But all those expenses for 7 days a year?? So whenever it does snow and it sticks, it is a special time. I gladly accept that my bus commute all of a sudden inflates to a 3 hour trip for what usually take half an hour! My wife and I always get out for neighborhood walks just to soak in and admire the landscape. So I love it, even though it brings other inconveniences.

Talk to you later,

- Jos

[blargfromouterspace]

I have gotten used to the slim C with the 7.5" radius and now almost prefer it to the #1. I find I can adapt to most necks, and I'm yet to play a G&L with a neck I hate. The thing that makes a neck uncomfortable to me is sharp edges on the fingerboard. I don't like the feeling on an edge pressing into my fingers. Best neck I've ever played was on a $4000 Trussart steel-caster. I could have played that thing forever.

I'd change the neck, no big deal. If it's a tool for you and not a collectible model then there's nothing to lose.

Our winters aren't that cold. Heating in our house is a portable heater that we have in the living room and an electric blanket to warm the bed up. The house can be uncomfortably cold, though not so cold as to freeze to death. Summer can be incredibly hot - my first day in Melbourne the temperature was 47C (116F). The only houses with air-conditioning belong to people who can afford it. We get by with portable fans and cold showers at my place.

I'd also like some prime rib and mash for lunch!

[repoman]

Dave,

Lunch today was a Bocca veggie burger.

If a neck gave me that much trouble yeah I guess I'd swap it out. But isn't it kind of hard finding a neck that fits a Leo era body? Wouldn't you have better luck looking for a new guitar?

RI? Isn't that the biggest little state in the union? I grew up in RI and still have lots of family there. I try to get up to visit a couple of times a year. I do miss the snow, the winter sports, and a full winter season living south of the Mason-Dixon line.
But the spring and fall here are pretty great.

Jeff

[Boogie Bill]

Well, I would say that if the neck doesn't really work for you, swap it out. But...

Problem is: what are you going to swap it for? I don't think G&L can do a new neck for that older guitar--they are made differently now and with different dimensions in the neck pocket.

So, you'd probably have to go to a custom luthier, and it ain't gonna be cheap. Or you're gonna find another ASAT to trade with from the same period, and it will have the same neck issue as yours.

So I say keep it original, use when you can, love it much, and find a new guitar that plays better and sounds just as good.


Snow is un-affectionately known around here as "White S##t"!!!. Three flakes and the local news stations are broadcasting impending doom from Snowmagddon!!

I don't really mind it. I used to work up in a ski lodge for the first two years of my music career, so I got used to driving in it. That is--I don't mind it when I don't HAVE to be somewhere, and can just enjoy the beauty of it. Also, I'm too old to be rolling on the ground futzing with chains!

Big thing is you just have to SLOW DOWN. And in the Pacific Northwest, the snow is very heavy, wet and icy--very different than he dry snow that some parts of the country get. And we don't have hills, we have MOUNTAINS--so if you're driving, better bring 110% attention and your A-Game, or it will kill you. Biggest offenders are the idiots in 4x4 trucks, who think that because they can accelerate--they can also stop.

Normally it is very rainy this time of year in Portland, but it has been very, very dry and often foggy. There's a temerature inversion over the city, and a lot of smog. Thanks to La Nina, the weather is all screwed up.

Oh, and if you have a wood stove, better be sure you are running a humidifier!!!

Bill

[Dave_P]

Thanks again for the replies guys

I didn't mean to convey that I hate the neck, in fact at the start of the night it's no problem. The discomfort only comes after playing for a while. Still I have no such problem with the thicker V profile on my Special.

Jeff, You are correct, it would be very hard to find a neck to fit that body. I thought maybe a '97would be good (last year for the 3 bolt but should have the BBE type specs) but it looks to me that the neck pocket is more shallow on the leo era guitars. It is unlikely I will switch it out and will probably post it for sale again, but it's one of those things I will kick myself for later. Every time I bring it to practice I fall in love with the way it sounds. First Louis and now you, we have a few former Rhode Islanders hiding around here I guess.

Jos I hope you and you're wife feel better, the flu is no fun at all. I agree with you on the Gibson necks of all the one's I've played I really only found one I clicked with and it was on one of their lower end worn goldtop series. I went back to try it out again but it was gone tried the same model/different guitar and it was not nearly the same. Some just have and some don't I guess. I really liked neck on Musicman Axis I tried out not too long ago, not a fan of curly maple tops and floyd rose trems though.

Ed, Jamie I would gladly share my prime rib with you guys. I'm still thinking about that lunch, one of the best I've had there.

Jeremy, glad to hear I'm not the only one afflicted by this. Wendy's is the only fast food place I stop nowadays, although it was starting to happen a bit too often. I realized I had developed a "the usual" so I put a stop to that.

Darwin I think you're right on the bending my finger more thing, I was noticing today that on my Special that part of my finger is supported by the thicker neck. On the '90 the same lower knuckle rests on the edge of the fret board which is causing my problem. I posted it for sale halfheartedly before, I don't think I'm quite ready to sell it but I have some bad GAS for a Bluesboy.

Back to the drawing board!

-Dave

[Dave_P]

Snow is un-affectionately known around here as "White S##t"!!!. Three flakes and the local news stations are broadcasting impending doom from Snowmagddon!!

Bill most people around here have a similar fondness for the snow
I'm one of the rare few that like it, I try to remind people all the time about the 4x4 thing, that's usually the cause of most accidents in the winter here, hit the brakes and slide right into an intersection.

The more I thought about my '90 ASAT, after reading replies, the more I've decided to just leave it as is. Maybe someday I'll sell it maybe not who knows.

I don't actually run a humidifier in my guitar room. This time of year my guitars live at the opposite end of the house in their cases with the door closed. My acoustic has an in case humidifier. I haven't had any issues (knock on wood) as the room stays much cooler than the rest of the house. Eventually when my family expands again (hopefully not for a couple years) I'll have to re-evaluate things as I will lose my guitar room but for now I'm sticking with what works.

-Dave

[sam]

Lunch for me was offering on Delta airlines. Got an upgrade so it was a tasty soup and sandwich with a tasty "beverage".

G&L: Necks.
G&L necks are the cat daddy to me. Was a long time fan of the 7.5, but am on equal status with the 12" now, these really help when I go on a bender.

I have a partscaster JD-5 that has a 3 bolt 7.5 that has a killer neck. Based on that, I would trade out a neck for the right body. There is a slight risk buying blind, the neck pocket may or may not be as tight as you want, but still a worthy risk IMHO. The 4 bolters and all this CNC stuff should make neck swapping easier for those new fangled geetars.

I'll tie this into a poll question : If you were in this situation would you swap out the neck on a Leo era ASAT ?
Would not swap a neck if I was happy with feel and board, but otherwise, instead of getting rid of it, throw on a new neck and keep the old one as a back up.

What do you think about snow, love it, hate it?
Lived in the snowbelt $ell and shoveled/snowblowed all I care for. Remember, you never hear the phrase "I'm retiring to the North."

[louis cyfer]

dave, if a neck causes discomfort over the course of a gig, i suspect some technique adjustment might be helpful. there is too much tension somewhere in your hand for that to happen. playing with a lighter touch, reducing tension can only help your hand in the long run.

i don't want to have to do anything with snow. or cold. i am perfectly fine here in so cal.

[Dave_P]

You know Louis you are probably correct, thanks for the insight. Thinking about it now there are times, with even my picking hand, that I know I'm too tense. It's not going anywhere for now and it's something to work on. I'll be the first to admit my technique needs work.

Sam, upgrades are always a good thing. I hear you on the shoveling, I actually enjoy the first snow shoveling and all but it gets real old by February. One of these years I'll invest in a snow blower, probably after my back gives out
Both ASATs I own have the 7.5" radius, the '90 feels a lot flatter to me probably due to the low/wide frets they used to use. I have played a '11 Legacy with the #1/ 12" radius and it was also very comfortable. That JD-5 of yours sounds nice

-Dave