true "vintage" neck width? and...your preference?

[dill]

My understanding is that 1 5/8" (or 1.625) is the nut width found on vintage Fenders, but I see a lot of references to 1.65" as "vintage". Then there's the matter of taper - are there a lot of different specs on how fast the neck width widens, say from the nut to the 12th fret, among different necks - between Fender vs. Warmoth or USACG, etc.? Or are they pretty much the same in that regard?

Also, I'd be curious to know what people prefer, and why, when it comes to neck width. I have big hands, and those skinny necks cause me problems, but I know all the guys playing those old guitars can't all have little bitty fingers!

 

[Telemarkman]

There were 4 different nut width codes:

A) = 1 1/2" (1.5")

B) = 1 5/8" (1.625")

C) = 1 3/4" (1.75")

D) = 1 7/8" (1.875")

"B" was always standard on all Fenders, the others were optional in the 60's at an additional cost. Optional neck widths were not listed for Telecasters though, so they'd be very rare indeed.

Due to the amount of hand sanding, there would of course be slight differences (just like there are today).

 

[Klaus Kemmerling]

Hello,
recently there was a thread about the neck of Nocaster 0514. MusiKraft makes necks to the measurements from Nacho Bano's Blackguard book. There is a good overview on their internet-site:

(link removed)

Maybe it helpfull for you.

Personally I have Teles with different neck-styles. A CS Nocaster with a huge U-shaped neck, a '52 Reissue with a smaller U-shaped neck, a '57 replica with a soft V-shaped neck. My hands are not the tallest, but I have no prolems with the Nocaster-neck. However the neck of the '57 replica plays easier. But it also has a worn finish and different frets and I guess it is the sum of these factors that make it feel and play so nice.

Greetings, Klaus

 

[Rob DiStefano]

Nut width of real 50's and 60's Fenders has varied considerably on the ones I've digitally checked, and has ranged from 1.61" to 1.689". "Modern" Fenders are almost all 1.650", with a few going around 1.687". I prefer really wide necks for fingerstlye, and Tommy at USACG just made me a Tele neck, for my refinished Thinline body, with a 1.763" width at the nut and .917" thick at the first fret, "U" backshape - perfect for me.

image removed

 

[Telemarkman]

Nut width of real 50's and 60's Fenders has varied considerably on the ones I've digitally checked, and has ranged from 1.61" to 1.689".

In other words: "natural variations" on the "B"-width ...

 

[Rob DiStefano]

In other words: "natural variations" on the "B"-width ...

Oh the joy of using hand tools versus a CNC.

 

[dill]

I prefer really wide necks for fingerstlye, and Tommy at USACG just made me a Tele neck, for my refinished Thinline body, with a 1.763" width at the nut and .917" thick at the first fret, "U" backshape - perfect for me.

image removed[/QUOTE]

You must mean .917 at the twelfth?

And what about taper? - if that's a variable as well, it seems like matching up a bridge with the right string spacing for a given nut width and taper would be a pretty tricky thing. But tele bridges are pretty standard, are they not?

 

[dill]

that's a gorgeous axe, BTW.

 

[Rob DiStefano]

You must mean .917 at the twelfth?

And what about taper? - if that's a variable as well, it seems like matching up a bridge with the right string spacing for a given nut width and taper would be a pretty tricky thing. But tele bridges are pretty standard, are they not?

.917 at the FIRST fret and tapers to 1.12" at the 12th fret. Suits me to a Tele "T".

 

[slack]

Some measurements I've taken of standard "B" Tele necks (at the nut, rounded to nearest hundredth):

53 Esquire 1.63
57 Tele 1.64
63 Tele 1.64
66 Tele 1.62
66 Tele 1.62
66 Tele 1.63
67 Tele 1.63
67 Tele 1.60
67 Tele 1.59
67 Tele 1.61
68 Tele 1.61
68 Tele 1.62
68 Tele 1.61
69 Thinline 1.62
69 Tele 1.63
69 Tele 1.61
69 Tele 1.62
70 Tele 1.61
72 Tele 1.62
72 Tele 1.59
72 Tele 1.60
72 Tele Thinline 1.64
72 Tele 1.61
74 Tele 1.63
74 Tele Cust 1.62
74 Tele Cust 1.61
75 Tele Cust 1.63
74 Tele Custom 1.63
75 Tele 1.62
76 Tele 1.64
76 Tele 1.65
77 Tele 1.62
77 Tele Custom 1.62
77 Tele 1.62
78 Tele Custom 1.61
78 Tele 1.62
78 Tele 1.63
79 Tele 1.62
82 Tele 1.63
82 Tele 52 RI 1.62
96 Nocaster CS 1.66
97 Tele 52 RI 1.65
00 Tele 62 RI 1.66
00 Tele 52 RI 1.66
00 Tele 52 RI 1.66
00 Tele 52 RI 1.66
03 Tele 52 RI 1.68
03 Nocaster CS 1.64
06 Nocaster CS 1.64
06 Tele 52 RI 1.67
07 Tele Vint Hot Rod 1.67
07 Tele Vint Hot Rod 1.67

 

[Scottone]

I had a '67 tele with a "C" neck a few years back. I really liked the extra width....should have never sold that one

There were 4 different nut width codes:

A) = 1 1/2" (1.5")

B) = 1 5/8" (1.625")

C) = 1 3/4" (1.75")

D) = 1 7/8" (1.875")

"B" was always standard on all Fenders, the others were optional in the 60's at an additional cost. Optional neck widths were not listed for Telecasters though, so they'd be very rare indeed.

Due to the amount of hand sanding, there would of course be slight differences (just like there are today).

 

[OutlawSteph1975]

My pinky can't reach the bottom strings on necks that are too wide, and I've met guys with smaller pinkies than me, so theirs can't either. All my Tele necks (1 5/8th) feel perfect.

 

[Greg_6L6GC]

There were 4 different nut width codes:

A) = 1 1/2" (1.5")

B) = 1 5/8" (1.625")

C) = 1 3/4" (1.75")

D) = 1 7/8" (1.875")

"B" was always standard on all Fenders, the others were optional in the 60's at an additional cost. Optional neck widths were not listed for Telecasters though, so they'd be very rare indeed.

Due to the amount of hand sanding, there would of course be slight differences (just like there are today).

I have a ‘69 Tele with the weird neck S/N
3 18 204 B. Though the neck is marked B the nut width is 1-1/2. So marked wrong? I am original owner. Bought it when I was 15.

 

[Joe M]

Greg, you just resurrected a 14 year old thread to ask your question. Start a new one.....