AO 50s Neck - nice but fat.

[Fretting out]

I think the thickest R7 is even thicker than the thickest R8. An 50's AO must feel like a toothpick.

My biggest disappointment neck wise was the baja

I’d heard here and many places how chunky it is

So I thought, woe! A fender that might be as big as a r7?! Awesome!

Then I got one and it immediately felt familiar, and very much like a guitar I already owned, a 79 lead ii, I got some calipers a little while after that and low and behold it was the same depth as the Baja

So I guess I always had been playing a chunky fender and didn’t know it

So it’s all about point of reference, my dads tele I grew up learning on (a 72) is also the same measurements as my lead ii, to me that’s just what fender necks felt like

 

[lewis]

Try a replacement neck BUT it might change the sound. My most resonant Tele has a big Allparts neck.

 

[Minivan Megafun]

My biggest disappointment neck wise was the baja

I’d heard here and many places how chunky it is

So I thought, woe! A fender that might be as big as a r7?! Awesome!

Then I got one and it immediately felt familiar, and very much like a guitar I already owned, a 79 lead ii, I got some calipers a little while after that and low and behold it was the same depth as the Baja

So I guess I always had been playing a chunky fender and didn’t know it

So it’s all about point of reference, my dads tele I grew up learning on (a 72) is also the same measurements as my lead ii, to me that’s just what fender necks felt like

I think Baja necks can really vary. I hear everyone talk about how nice and chunky the Baja 60's neck was. I got one and it's the thinnest neck I've ever played. It measured something like 0.80" at the 12th fret which was slimmer than my American Standard.

 

[russ Stauffer]

Look this may not be what you want to hear, and it may not be your sound but an AO 60's Jaguar has a 24" scale length and C shape neck, it is very easy and comfortable to play and looks as cool as hell, as you get older it's just less effort.
Just a suggestion. Cheers Mic.
Oh and hold on to the Tele.

I can handle fender normal scale and large necks to a point, and this tele is right on the line between ok and a bit much. But will bank your idea for future.

 

[Clifton C]

Hello tele experts. I have a beloved AO 50s tele I bought just last year. It’s the most resonant, versatile and excellent tele I’ve owned (and there have been so many!)

I love the 9.5” radius and “tall vintage” frets on the neck. And I usually prefer feel of a “U” or a “D” shaped necks. I’d note that this tele seems to have a particularly thick U profile.

Here’s the rub: I find as I get older that the largest necks are harder to navigate. Not uncomfortable, just harder to play up to the level of my abilities.

The obvious solutions seem to be to either get a different neck (I have had poor luck trying this in past), or reduce the size of existing neck (seems like a real bad idea) ….. else take human growth hormone (joking).

So my question to you good folks is: are there any ideas or experience you can share on fixing similar issues that you’d recommend? Thanks.

Funny, I’ve found the opposite problem. As I get older, I find I tend to prefer heftier necks on my guitars. When I found my AO 50s Telecaster, it felt like the most comfortable neck I’ve played. So much so that I bought an AO 50s neck for my paisley Telecaster reissue. It’s an 80s era reissue, and the neck has always felt a bit small and cramped, enough so that my left hand would cramp up after playing it for awhile. Luckily, switching to the chunkier neck seems to have solved the problem.

 

[tweeet]

I'd get one of these spokeshaves and shave some of and then sand and tru oil or re-lacquer it. I've done it a couple of times and worked a treat. If you were thinking of getting a new neck anyway you have nothing to lose.

 

[ChicknPickn]

Yeah, the Allparts necks (unfinished) are great because you can sand them down to size, then finish 'em - do it again if you left it a little too big.

I find, these fat necks are great "therapy". I can't use the smaller necks for very long/very often because my hand starts to tie up. For me the solution is, more than one guitar.

Once this forum pointed me to the Allparts FAT profile, I could never be entirely happy with the standard Fender "C." As Boris said, something about the support of a fat neck helps some hands. I've just ordered a fat-profile maple Warmoth with stainless frets and 10" radius. Quite excited about it. I'm no shredder, but I do like deep blues bending, and the meatier neck seems to help against fatigue. Go figure.

 

[russ Stauffer]

Yeah, the Allparts necks (unfinished) are great because you can sand them down to size, then finish 'em - do it again if you left it a little too big.

I find, these fat necks are great "therapy". I can't use the smaller necks for very long/very often because my hand starts to tie up. For me the solution is, more than one guitar.

Well Boris, I’ve shunned my small neck options for a month and am pretty well adjusted to this chonky neck tele now. Starting to feel like home. Picked up my 60s neck Lester yesterday and it felt like a child’s toy!

 

[Fenderdad1950]

Looks like they got the 50s part correct

 

[Fenderdad1950]

russ, I eye Jeff in your avatar, good show

 

[TheMattJones88]

I did play 59 Reissue ES-335.

Boy. Tree trunk for a neck.

But then again, I have this solid rosewood 1” all the way through without taper!

Untitled by D Y, on Flickr

Best neck ever.

_DSC0025 by D Y, on Flickr

Is that a WD neck? If so, I have the same one and love it.

 

[schmee]

Hello tele experts. I have a beloved AO 50s tele I bought just last year. It’s the most resonant, versatile and excellent tele I’ve owned (and there have been so many!)

I love the 9.5” radius and “tall vintage” frets on the neck. And I usually prefer feel of a “U” or a “D” shaped necks. I’d note that this tele seems to have a particularly thick U profile.

Here’s the rub: I find as I get older that the largest necks are harder to navigate. Not uncomfortable, just harder to play up to the level of my abilities.

The obvious solutions seem to be to either get a different neck (I have had poor luck trying this in past), or reduce the size of existing neck (seems like a real bad idea) ….. else take human growth hormone (joking).

So my question to you good folks is: are there any ideas or experience you can share on fixing similar issues that you’d recommend? Thanks.

I'd recommend a Warmoth '59 Roundback. Medium and deep shape, but not "Fat"

 

[cousinpaul]

It's not just thickness with me. I find myself more comfortable on a neck with some shoulder. My current favorite is the discontinued Allparts compound-radius with SS frets. I bought it used off CL and it's worked out very well. I also have a Warmoth boat on my strat that's a bit thicker but I find myself working harder on "thumb over" chords and certain other bends and pulls. The comment "un-supported" rings true.

 

[dreamingtele]

Is that a WD neck? If so, I have the same one and love it.

Yes, I’m planning to buy another one as soon as I have the cash for it

 

[mr natural]

As I’ve gotten older, small necks hurt my hand. A lot. And I have small hands. My Tele has a very chunky, wide Allparts Strat neck. So chunky that I can’t get a capo around it.

 

[russ Stauffer]

russ, I eye Jeff in your avatar, good show

Ahhh yes. That was a good day, and as a certain rock dirty once quipped: “Glad I passed the audition”. Except it wasn’t an audition per se; it was just a lucky one-time chance to live a dream.

 

[EarlG]

I don't find this neck fat at all. I understand that some seasoned electric players might think so, but it has been a breeze changing to an AO '50s after 42 years on acoustic. I am 6' 2" with reasonably large hands, and I find this neck perfect for any style and technique including difficult thumb fretting. I changed to electric principally in the hope that it would help alleviate some of the pain from injuries to the ulnar nerves in both my arms, and it has made an incredible difference. Even with the longer scale I can now sit down and play again with virtually no adverse affects. I have had to adjust to the rolled edge, but now it's more of a benefit to me. If after extensive comparison you feel that this neck isn't right for you then obviously it's worth the consideration. But personally I am very pleased with it

 

[Cyberi4n]

I had a neck bought from WDMusic as a licenced Fender neck that was no way modern C, far too fat for my liking. I bought a rasp and some sandpaper and reshaped the neck. Made it much more playable, although in the end I sold it on eBay for a much thinner neck. Up to you, but I'd suggest trying to reshape it first. the ONLY caveat is that you may take too much off the back, and end up exposing the truss rout, which will be disastrous. You may want to drill a tiny hole first to see how much wood you have to play with, which can easily be filled afterwards.