Who loves an "extra-wide" (#4) neck?

[NickHorne]

Who loves their 1 3/4"-nut G&L (or otherwise)?

I am so tempted to go for one. But I keep comparing the freedom of my G&L (#1) up at the heel end, and comparing it with my Strat, which feels really small up there by comparison. I dread the wide G&L turning out to feel like the Strat does high up, because of the wider string spacing. I know the neck will get wider, but the heel can't, surely? And then I compare the nut end with my 1 3/4" nut acoustic, and wish I had the fingering and bending room of that one on an electric!

There's no way any electric is going to have the width of an acoustic neck high up, though the G&L is just that bit wider than most (or at least mine is; I really hope they're still like that).

I've done all my sums on how much clearance to expect, but I'm here canvassing opinion, because I really can't decide. I don't expect to be able to try a #4 before committing.

So, who loves theirs? Anyone have any regrets?
Thanks!

[Miles Smiles]

In this video I'm playing my Bluesboy with a #4 neck. The neck is at the nut as wide as the necks of my Les Pauls are, but has more thickness and it's longer but there are no difficulties to play that #4 neck.

[youtube]XSPN6h9Ea3w[/youtube]

In the meantime that guitar sounds much brighter, I did the wiring right and I think that massive neck has much to do with good sound.

[GDub]

I LOVE the #4 neck on my S-500. Unfortunately, I never warmed up to the small MFDs.



Even is this small, keystoned 2004 image you can (almost) see the differences in the necks. The Legacy has a #1, the ASAT Special has a #2, and the S-500 has the #4--wide and comfortable for my big hands.

I still have all three and gig with the Legacy and ASAT regularly. The S-500 languishes in it's case waiting for a pup change. I've kept it because it's light, resonant and I LOVE the #4 neck. And I'm a sucker for yellow guitars (actually, butterscotch blonde in this case).

--GDub

[NickHorne]

Thank you, this is encouraging!
Are yours 1 3/4", or 1 11/32"?
The #3 and #4 descriptions changed places some time ago, so that a #4 used to mean 1 11/32".
I'm definitely meaning 1 3/4", and my concern is just that things may get a bit "near the edge" up at the top end of the fingerboard. I realise that almost the whole neck will get wider, as well as the nut, but the heel can't get any wider! So the part of the fingerboard at / near the heel will still be pretty much the same as for a 1 5/8" nut neck.
Your comments about improved rigidity / tone are good news indeed.
Please keep the info coming;I'm almost allowing myself to feel confident about this!

[Miles Smiles]

There's only one type of #4 neck.

[NickHorne]

Thank you for going to that trouble!
But I believe that is not actually correct: G&L used to use the name "#4" to indicate a neck with a nut width of 1 11/16".
Whereas now they use "#4" to mean one with a nut of 1 3/4".
It's the 1 3/4" that I'm interested in.

[GDub]

G&L used to use the name "#4" to indicate a neck with a nut width of 1 11/16".
Whereas now they use "#4" to mean one with a nut of 1 3/4".

This is correct. I custom ordered my butterscotch blonde S-500 in 2001 and its #4 neck is 1 11/16" at the nut.

When did the #4 width change happen? (Obviously, after 2001 )

--GDub

[NickHorne]

Yes, I'm not sure when that happened but it has caused a little confusion.
I'm going to be checking carefully that my order (from UK) isn't misunderstood by anyone, if I go for this spec!

I just found (online) the Larrivee "Bakersfield" Tele-type, which has a 1 3/4" nut as standard, it seems like a serious axe. But up the top of the neck, it looks like the strings are almost peering over the sides. I really hope this is because its heel is the Fender width and not wider like a G&L...

Nice though the Larrivee seems, it's not the point (just a neck reference); I want a G&L. A wide Will Ray. I'm really grateful for the help you guys are putting up.

[Craig]

I just updated this post in the G&L Knowledgebase: What are the USA neck size options, past and present?
Hopefully that will help clarify the various changes made over the years.

[Katefan]

I can't speak about the BBE-era stuff b/c that's not how I roll...

I have a '90 ASAT Classic that has a 1 3/4" nut width. It IS the same at the heel (as Leo-era axes with 1 5/8" nut widths) just doesn't taper down as much as it reaches the nut...
I dig it but makes everything else seem small in comparison.... I'm actually considering off loading it for this reason. MOst of the Leo-era Super Strats have the wider nut widths but seems not too many of the other models do.
Currently there's a Sunburst Sc-3 on eBay that has one.
Hope this helps...
Cheers,
KF

[Katefan]

Scratch my comment bout the Sunburst SC-3 on Ebay... misunderstood seller's comment - My apologies.

KF

[NickHorne]

Thanks, again.
It's now clear that the object of my interest is currently known as a #4, but prior to 2009 it was known as #3.

1 3/4" nut, 2 1/4" butt.

According to my geometry sketch, this should still have a little more room for maneuver up the top end than, say, a 1 11/16" nutted Strat, partly because the butt is 1/16" wider on the G&L, and also the Asat bridge spacing is around 2 1/8" compared with the Strat's 2 7/32"

I'm still hoping someone will write that theirs is great, no problem at all, etc etc. Then my anxiety about this will subside (I think G&Ls are well worth the money here in UK, it's just that this will be rather a big wad for an "experiment", and I just want to get it right).

All info on this is a big help; thanks, everyone!

[Its_Him_Again]

I like the 1-3/4" nut on my Rampage. The profile is quite a bit too thin for my taste, but it's nothing I'd get rid of the guitar over. Do all the G&L 1-3/4" necks have the same pencil-thin profile, as well as the 13-3/4" radius, like the Rampage?

My next Tele build will have a 1-3/4" nut...but with a much thicker profile: .88" V to .95" C, and a 7-1/4 radius. I've already ordered the neck from Musikraft.

[NickHorne]

The current G&L #4 (1 3/4" nut) and #3 (1 11/16") are both a C-section, with a 12" board radius.
Front-to-back , for both these necks is .83" tapering to .96", so they're not skinny, but not boatnecks either. I like the section.

[Salmon]

Nick,

Did you ever order the guitar with the wider neck? If so, what are your feelings about it?

This is the last step I am mulling over in my special order selection. I am also tempted to choose a wider neck than the standard #1 C.

As GDub mentioned in an earlier post, I am apprehensive about how I will feel about my other G&L guitars with their #1C's if this feels so much better but that is the least of my concerns.

I want the extra room toward the nut. I have no trouble playing high up the neck and I don't spend that much time there anyway. I don't want the E's closer to the edges though if that is a consequence (I don't think it is if I have understood Nick's earlier posts).

[LiquidSmoke]

I love the 1 3/4" nut (#4 profile) on my ASAT Special. I have a guitar with a narrow nut I lever play anymore -- why jam my fingers into those bottom frets?

If I could make a wish, it would be for more 1 3/4" profiles. I'd dig a fat U that was 1" at the nut. I like 'em chunky.

[Salmon]

Thanks LS,

Transparent Orange looks so good on an ASAT. I think it is one of G&L's best color options.

Did you custom order your wide neck guitar or were you able to find one in a used guitar?

[meowmix]

I have a G&L 1 3/4" #4 neck on my guitar. It is the most comfortable of all guitars I own.
I also have the Musikraft 1 3/4" with a large C I believe. A little bit chunkier that the G&L. Doing my best to get used to it, as it is Poly finish and 16 radius. The high E string is sitting 1/8 from the edge, which I feel is too close because of the SS frets. The high E tends to slide off. Need to move it in just a bit more. Like .1475

Both of these necks are 1.75" from G&L

[Salmon]

mmmmmm caramel.

[NickHorne]

Two Asats presently on order with 1 3/4" nuts.
I don't anticipate anything but happiness with the results; will post the NGDs as they happen!

[Fumble fingers]

I would like to try the 1 3/4 but I would also be afraid it would ruin my fleet of 1 5/8 , not sure I want to do that

[tdiers]

I absolutely love the 1 3/4" necks of both my Tribute Cantrell Rampage and Superhawk. They will have to pry them both from my cold dead hands!

[meowmix]

I would like to try the 1 3/4 but I would also be afraid it would ruin my fleet of 1 5/8 , not sure I want to do that

Did you measure your hands?

http://www.motorcyclegear.com/info_page ... izing.html

My hands are 8.5 - 9.5 which is considered large. Good enough for 1.75". Can't imagine what you would do if you have 12" hands. Probably play bass or drums.

[Salmon]

Your finger width and length is more important than hand size, IMO. I have relatively fine fingers for having large hands. I can get away with playing tighter necks while someone with fat stubby fingers on small hands cannot. I am most comfortable playing a Les Paul neck. I suspect that a little larger would be even better so long as the other properties of a neck that factor into the feel are in order.

[Sean Clavin]

I ordered my ASAT Deluxe with a #4 neck and absolutely LOVE IT! The extra wide neck is great for my hands. I was a bit concerned when I ordered it, but as I play everything from blues to country to rock to classical, the wide neck really was the best choice for me. Not that I play classical on my G&L, but I'm not afraid of an extra wide neck like what my Rueben Florez Flamenco A-1 has. No concerns for me there! All my G&L's will have a #4.

[NickHorne]

Great! Pleased to hear you're so happy
I did take the plunge, and I'm currently looking forward to an Asat Special and a Z-3 arriving here in England, both with no.4 necks.

G&L's options are just the best! I'm praying they manage to keep them going always, they're the answer to every guitar issue I ever had.

[GeorgeB]

All I cay say is I whish my ASAT Super had a 1 3/4" nut but keeping the current string spacing of the narrower 1 5/8" neck... there is really little space between outer strings and fretboard edge making sloppy fingering and excess vibrato risky even with 11..54 gauge strings, let alone a 10..46 set. I already had installed a new nut to fix it but that would decrease spacing too much so I went back to the original one.

I fear chances of ordering a mahogany replacement neck from G&L are zero, though.

If I'll ever order a custom G&L it'll be a #4 neck for sure.... hhm, not available in less than 12" radius...

[NickHorne]

I find 12" really nice!
My WR is 12" and the radius feels great.
It's just like a sort of long-scale Gibson feel.
1 5/8 though; great for many people, but the older I get, the more I think it will be superseded by the new, wide-necked Z-3. It has been my (knockout) introduction to G&L, though, and what a great guitar!