I’m interested in G&L’s #4 neck. This is the one with the 1 ¾” nut. I recently picked up an Eastman T386 and I love the wide nut it has for my gargantuan hands. The T386 has a 1 3/4” nut.
For G&L, I’ve been on the #3 neck (1 11/16”). Does anyone know where the #3 & #4 necks even out (i.e., are the same with each other)? 3rd Fret? 5th Fret?
For my next ASAT I’m considering the #4 but wonder if it might be too big. (My hands aren’t really gargantuan, but they are big) I’d consider GL necks a bit chunkier than the Eastman, so that’s why I’m wondering. Anyone play on the #4?
Number 4 Neck
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Fumble fingers
- Posts: 2153
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Re: Number 4 Neck
my Rampage has the number 4 neck , I really like it and my hands aren't huge ...... it's thin enough the extra width kinda balances out , if that makes sense ..... if I have any trouble with the number 4 it would be my strumming hand getting used to the wider spacing and then switching back to the number 1 , seems to mess up my picking on the low strings until I get used to it again .....
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NickHorne
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Re: Number 4 Neck
I find the no 4 wonderful, everything I've wished for. Mine is on an Asat Special, which has gone straight to being my no 1 choice.
Having said that, it's a maple board. Now, G&L don't "roll" the edges of maples much, if at all. I think that's important, as otherwise I suspect that the outer strings would be getting a bit close-to-the-edge in the middle parts of the neck, since although the nut is wider, the heel isn't.
G&Ls luckily have slightly wider heels than Fenders, and my neck is fine, just perfect.
I'm having a rosewood no 4 too, but I've particularly asked for no rolling of the edges, for that reason.
My no 4 is also a bit stiffer than a regular-width neck, there being more of it, and I spent the little extra for quartersawn too, just to make double-sure. There is a very definite tone benefit as a result, bigger, bolder and more sustaining.
My Special is a confidence-inspiring, fantastic guitar, I feel really "connected" to it and I wish I'd had it years ago!
Having said that, it's a maple board. Now, G&L don't "roll" the edges of maples much, if at all. I think that's important, as otherwise I suspect that the outer strings would be getting a bit close-to-the-edge in the middle parts of the neck, since although the nut is wider, the heel isn't.
G&Ls luckily have slightly wider heels than Fenders, and my neck is fine, just perfect.
I'm having a rosewood no 4 too, but I've particularly asked for no rolling of the edges, for that reason.
My no 4 is also a bit stiffer than a regular-width neck, there being more of it, and I spent the little extra for quartersawn too, just to make double-sure. There is a very definite tone benefit as a result, bigger, bolder and more sustaining.
My Special is a confidence-inspiring, fantastic guitar, I feel really "connected" to it and I wish I'd had it years ago!
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lefty_major
- Posts: 198
- Joined: Mon Oct 31, 2011 4:52 pm
Re: Number 4 Neck
I hadn't thought of that. That's a good point. I'd be getting rosewood with the rounded edges.NickHorne wrote:....I suspect that the outer strings would be getting a bit close-to-the-edge in the middle parts of the neck, since although the nut is wider, the heel isn't......
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NickHorne
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- Location: England
Re: Number 4 Neck
If your current no 3 feels like it has space to spare at the edges, all the way up, and is also a fairly recent-pattern build, then you may well be fine.
And perhaps I'm just a double-stop-vibrato-ing hooligan anyhow... but if in doubt I would minimise the rounding-over. I don't find its extra comfort amounts to anything much, personally, and I'd rather have the security of the widest possible fretting area.
Its a great feature of G&L's wider heel, and it seems a shame to reduce it unnecessarily. Fenders' narrow heels make me feel like I'm wearing summer tyres on ice, after being used to my G&Ls! I remember Louis Cyfer calling me sub-competent for saying this some time back, but I believe he was missing my point at the time.
I know Fenders are starting to reduce their bridge spacings, but that's another story again, for this correspondent at least; that's losing the acoustic-like spacing that is so good for finger / hybrid picking, and doesn't fix anything for me. I guess it lets Fender use regular-spaced humbuckers, have their Strat-type back pups look a bit better, and ease off their neck-pocket accuracy specs a tad, but that's irrelevant to the customer.
I find G&L's big heel a big deal (love it). Without it, I doubt whether the no 4 would work. Rolling the board edges in addition to widening the nut is marginal in my view; I would personally avoid it, as it could be a step too far. But if you wear heavy-ish strings, and don't vib the top E much, it may be fine for you.
Anyhow, only my 2c. Must repeat how great my Special has turned out to be!
And perhaps I'm just a double-stop-vibrato-ing hooligan anyhow... but if in doubt I would minimise the rounding-over. I don't find its extra comfort amounts to anything much, personally, and I'd rather have the security of the widest possible fretting area.
Its a great feature of G&L's wider heel, and it seems a shame to reduce it unnecessarily. Fenders' narrow heels make me feel like I'm wearing summer tyres on ice, after being used to my G&Ls! I remember Louis Cyfer calling me sub-competent for saying this some time back, but I believe he was missing my point at the time.
I know Fenders are starting to reduce their bridge spacings, but that's another story again, for this correspondent at least; that's losing the acoustic-like spacing that is so good for finger / hybrid picking, and doesn't fix anything for me. I guess it lets Fender use regular-spaced humbuckers, have their Strat-type back pups look a bit better, and ease off their neck-pocket accuracy specs a tad, but that's irrelevant to the customer.
I find G&L's big heel a big deal (love it). Without it, I doubt whether the no 4 would work. Rolling the board edges in addition to widening the nut is marginal in my view; I would personally avoid it, as it could be a step too far. But if you wear heavy-ish strings, and don't vib the top E much, it may be fine for you.
Anyhow, only my 2c. Must repeat how great my Special has turned out to be!
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meowmix
- Posts: 499
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- Location: California
Re: Number 4 Neck
I have #4 neck on my S500, and I wonder why it took me so long to get there. G&L should set the default width at 11/16th, I hate my 5/8s, too cramped.
My bass is also 3/4". Much easier on my fingers as I don't have to tippy-toe around the nut on both.
My bass is also 3/4". Much easier on my fingers as I don't have to tippy-toe around the nut on both.