#3 and #4 necks

[jwebsmall]

Back in 2008 the #4 neck was actually 1 11/16" wide at the nut.

I measured a 2008 #4 neck today and it was 1" thick at the 12th
fret. It was already getting chucky above the 3rd fret!

Today's #3 neck is specified as 1 11/16" wide at the nut according
to the G&L web site and is 0.960 thick at the 12th fret.

The reason why I'm bring this up is a while back I played
a ASAT Bluesboy Semi Hollow and it had this old style #4 neck on it and the
sound was heavenly. Today I played a 2008 ASAT Special Semi-Hollow
with the old style #4 neck and it too sounded heavenly.

It seems the meatier the neck the better the tone. This year of all
the ASAT's I've tried the two that stood head and shoulders above the
rest shared 3 things in common:

1) the old #4 neck (1 11/16" neck and 1" thick at the 12th fret)

2) semi-hollow ash body

3) no F hole.

The pickups were different, the bridges were different, and the body
caps were different (maple on the Blues Boy and ash on the special).
But they were both heavenly voiced and a joy to play.

Is there a reason why the new #3 neck (i.e. 1 11/16") has been
slimmed down? The difference may not seem like much but I can
definitely hear and feel the difference. The overall mass of the thicker
profile must add something to the tone! And like Darwin said I'm
definitely favoring the semi hollow construction on the ASATs, particularly
ones with ash bodies.

Any chance G&L will bring back the beefier neck profile? It's funny when
I first started playing the thinner the neck the more I liked it. And now
the closer it is to a baseball bat the better I like it. The only Fender
tele I like is the G.E. Smith and it has the baseball bat neck too. (
I like the G&L's better though.)

[Craig]

I emailed your post to Steve Grom and here is his reply:

I think it was back in either 2007 or 2008 somehow the specs for the #3
and #4 necks got reversed in the price list and created a good deal of confusion.

The current specs are:

#3 1 11/16" nut width 12" Fingerboard Radius .830" @ 1st Fret
.960 @ 12th fret

#4 1 3/4" nut width 12" Fingerboard Radius .830 @ 1st fret
.960 @ 12th fret

Our tolerance on these is +/- .015" on neck thickness

Getting the necks thicker than this might appeal to some players (personally, I love big, thick necks),
but we need to keep in mind that big necks can also turn off potential buyers. Our feeling is the
dimensions we currently offer represent an excellent selection and the majority of players can find a
neck that fits their style and hand just fine.

Thanks

Steve Grom

Hope this helps.

[jwebsmall]

Yes - I'm going to go with either the new #3 neck if
I order a new guitar or buy one of the
two old new stock 2008's ASATs since I won't
see those baseball bats again anytime soon.

Thanks for checking!

[astutzmann]

I have a #3 neck on my asat special and love it. Was thinking of ordering it with a #4 but thought that might be too much change in width from a #1.

Good Luck

[yowhatsshakin]

Just want to add how cool it is that G&l offers so many neck options: for big hands and small hands, for those that love 'baseball bats' as well as 'slim and fast'. I have #1, #2, #3, and #4 necks, with 'C' and 'V' profiles among my collections and do not care to much and love them all. Each of them force you to play slightly different which is annoying to some but I love the challenge. But if you have a real preference, go for it!

- Jos