Neck width

[AndyLowry]

Are there any standard Telecasters that have a neck with of 1 5/8" at the nut? I have a Logan Strat with that measurement, and I prefer it to my Squier CV telecasters with 1 9/16". Yeah, it's only 1/16", but it seems to make a big difference. I'm thinking about my next guitar having a real live Fender Telecaster logo on it, but I think I need that 1/16" for how my hands work. I can play the Strat much faster than my Telecasters, even though the radius is the same. This may be partially due to the neck finish (poly gloss vs. nitro), but I think that the width has a lot to do with it.

Thanks!

[soulman969]

If by standard you mean "stock" then according to the specs Fender publishes a Baja is 1.625". But if you mean the MIM Standard (1.650") or the MIA Standard (1.685") no.

[Green Lantern]

I usually force myself to adapt to unfamiliar aspects of guitars. If there is a guitar that I really like the sound of, but I can't go as fast on it as another guitar I'm more comfortable with, I usually practice on the first guitar until I'm as good on that as I am the other. It makes me a better player in the end. When I go back to the guitar I was initially familiar with, I can play it without barely thinking at all.

But, anyway, in answer to your question... I dunno'.

[princenesta23]

I hate small nut widths. My telecaster has a 43 mm nut width that I had custom made from Bernie Hefner. I don't have big hands but I just can't adjust to modern nut widths.

princenesta23

[Toto'sDad]

The reason I switched from '52 AVRI to an American Standard Tele was that after playing an American Standard Strat for a year, I just grew to not like the '52 because of the neck, and I owned the '52 first. Once you feel the difference, well, it's hard to go back. I had one '52 with a slimmer v shaped neck, an older model. When I got the '52 with the chubby neck, I really liked it at first, but found it more, and more tiring to play. It's odd how one changes over a time. Now all my guitars have the 1 11/16 nut.

[mabley123]

my vintage guitar ( strat ) has a 1.625. my 82 fullerton reissue has a 1.68. or 1 21/32....... 1.625 was original vintage width and i prefer it by a huge margin.

i had a guitar neck made and was either going to use warmoth or usa custom guitars. they ( usacg ) were first on my list but i gave warmoth a shot.

they ( warmoth ) would not cut the nut to 1.625 and said it was unfeasable...i didnt understand that comment...usa custom guitars said they could do it and have no charge for it. warmoth was also going to charge me for using my own wood..usacg did not charge.
the bonnie raitt signature strat has between a 1.57 and 1.59 nut width.

also watch out for this.

many people claim their necks are 1 5/8 or 1.625 but are really 1 21/32....or 1.650.

[H. Mac]

Originally Posted by AndyLowry

Are there any standard Telecasters that have a neck with of 1 5/8" at the nut? I have a Logan Strat with that measurement, and I prefer it to my Squier CV telecasters with 1 9/16". Yeah, it's only 1/16", but it seems to make a big difference.I'm thinking about my next guitar having a real live Fender Telecaster logo on it, but I think I need that 1/16" for how my hands work. I can play the Strat much faster than my Telecasters, even though the radius is the same. This may be partially due to the neck finish (poly gloss vs. nitro), but I think that the width has a lot to do with it.

Thanks!

A 1/16" difference in neck width can be the difference between one that's comfortable and one that's not. Profile is also important.

I'd be less inclined to believe the specs on the Fender web site, and more likely to either measure the neck on a Tele that I liked, or at to find one that has the feel that you're looking for.

Sometimes it comes down to a choice - a neck with a Fender decal or a neck that conforms to the specs you like. I've had good luck with Musikraft and they offer necks widths from 1 5/8" to 1 3/4.",

The good things is that necks are cheaper than new guitars.

[goonie]

For the imperially challenged, 1 5/8 is around 41.3mm. My '83 Bullet has it and I really like it although I probably would choose 42mm, like my Classic Series 50s. When I play my son's MIA (42.8mm) it doesn't seem quite right to me, but maybe that's just unfamiliarity. Wasn't 42mm the original strat nut width? It feels great, don't why they made them wider.

[mabley123]

41.3 mm was the original width...some vintage guitars did come out at that width ( 1.650 ) due to sanding...ect. but....... 1 5/8 is 41.3mm and what leo was shooting for.

that is what tommy rosemond of usa custom guitars told me.

1.650 is 1 21/32 or 41.91mm...1 11/16 is 1.68 42.99 or mm.

my 82 fullerton 62 reissue has the 42.99mm and i do not like it. it is also too thin.

my 71 4 bolt strat has the 41.3mm and i love it.

usa custom guitars just made a neck for me with this width...(41.3mm ) warmoth would not do it.

1 11/16 also does not feel right to me either.