How is a tele neck different than a strat neck?

[jrm27]

Hello friends:

I'm planning my first build and will be buying a neck for the first go-around. I am trying to determine the differences between a strat nerck and a tele neck (besides the obvious aspect of on being more square than the other).

I really really like the neck on my Highway 1 strat. Am I correct to assume that a tele neck is more beefy and bit narrower?

-jon

 

[voided3]

Both Strat and Tele necks are interchangeable on a Tele body and both come in a wide variety of thicknesses and fretboard radii. It is more common to see chunky Tele necks than Strat necks, but they come in all different kinds of profiles (modern C-shape, fat "boat" U-shape, V-shaped, etc.). If you like your Hwy 1's neck, go on Fender's website and look at the specs for that model. I think those have a 12" radius and fairly large frets w/ a modern C-shape if I recall correctly, but worth checking. As far as width is concerned, Fender typically uses 1 11/16" width at the nut for most of their guitars; I know some Squiers are 1 5/8" but I think most Fenders are the former. Check out www.warmoth.com if you want to see visuals of what I'm talking about in neck varieties. Good luck!

 

[Jack Wells]

Am I correct to assume that a tele neck is more beefy and bit narrower?

Nope........... it all depends on the neck. If you're talking specifically about the Highway One Strat and the Highway One Tele, they both have a modern C shape neck.

 

[Jellecaster]

And Strat necks won't work on a Tele body without modification - the butt end is more rounded.

 

[voided3]

And Strat necks won't work on a Tele body without modification - the butt end is more rounded.

I have a Strat neck on a Tele body that required no mods to work. The butt end of the neck isn't longer than a Tele's neck, it's just rounded so you'll get some gaps at the end of the pocket but it'll fit snugly side to side. If it's a 22 fret neck w/ an overhang, it'll cover the gaps, too.

 

[mellecaster]

As far as width is concerned, Fender typically uses 1 11/16" width at the nut for most of their guitars; I know some Squiers are 1 5/8" but I think most Fenders are the former. Check out www.warmoth.com if you want to see visuals of what I'm talking about in neck varieties. Good luck!

Actually 1 5/8" is the Std. Vintage and most common Nut width..1 11/16 is the Modern American Standard (series) spec....and only the Squier Affinity series has the very narrow spacing (less than 1 5/8")

 

[Jack Wells]

............. the butt end is more rounded.

That is true but it will bolt right on there with no problems.

 

[GilmourD]

And Strat necks won't work on a Tele body without modification - the butt end is more rounded.

It's the other way around. A Strat neck will fit on a Tele without modification, but it will leave a visible gap if the neck doesn't have a 22nd fret to cover it up. On the other hand, a Strat will either need to have it's neck pocket squared out to take a Tele neck or the Tele neck will need to have it's heel rounded off.

 

[Jellecaster]

Okay, okay, point taken. I just don't find the gap acceptable and assumed that others wouldn't either!

 

[GilmourD]

Okay, okay, point taken. I just don't find the gap acceptable and assumed that others wouldn't either!

If it's a 22-fret neck... What gap?

 

[neocaster]

Which Teles got the 3 bolt neck in the 70s? I know the Strat-necked Deluxes did. Anything else?

 

[ajgus]

Well...I've got a '92 Squire Strat that doesn't have a three bolt neck, but it has a rounded upper right corner to the neck plate (if you're looking at the guitar from the back). The body is rounded along the neck plate on the back of the pocket & it is the most comfortable "upper fret access" on any guitar that I own. I,ve not seen this on any other Strat that I've come across.

 

[voided3]

That's an American Deluxe Strat; the Am. Dlx. Tele has the contour as well.

 

[ajgus]

Well there you go!

 

[Michaell]

headstock shape

 

[boris bubbanov]

Okay, okay, point taken. I just don't find the gap acceptable and assumed that others wouldn't either!

I agree with you, even if no one notices but me. One can always order a Tele heel on a Strat headstock neck.

I tend to think of Strats as 1 + 11/16ths and Teles as 1.65 but that's the same as expecting Ferraris to be red and Aston Martins to be gunmetal. Just a generalization. In fact the overwhelming number of Fender Teles and Strats are 1.65, whether they are vintage fat or modern slender neck profile.

Moreover, 1 + 5/8ths and 1.65 are NOT the same thing. Order a 1 + 5/8ths neck from Warmoth ( I've got several, very nice ) and you will get 1.63. If you really want 1.65 like your Nocaster, order 1.65 from Tommy at USACG, he'll do basically any width; Warmoth does nice necks but only in the sizes shown on their chart. Their 1 + 11/16ths is 1.68, also very nice. If the neck is webspecial, Warmoth has the neck width at the nut written in pencil on the heel and can read it back to you and you can decide to buy with that in mind.

Everyone agrees a Tele heel won't fit right on a Strat body. Everyone agrees a G + L neck won't interchange with a Fender or Squier. I find the average asian source Fender or Squier neck runs a smidge wider that the MIM or MIA necks do, at the heel. And I will admit that Asia/North America fit issue can be a bigger crux than putting a Strat neck on a Tele. But I've monkeyed around with these necks and bodies a lot, and even with all these handy 22 fret Strat necks I have finished here, I was never happy enough with the fit or the look to leave it that way.