Vintera Road Worn neck thickness?

[Nolefinity]

Hi there ... anyone own a Vintera Road Worn Strat or Tele? I’m thinking about getting both. Either 50s for both, or the Tele 50s and the Strat 60s. I’m wondering: how thick are the necks really? I am used to modern Fender C (Player Strat) and I’m not sure if I would like something too thick. The Tele description says “Thick U” and the 50s Strat says “Thick Soft V.” Can anyone share what they’re like? Thanks!

 

[WhiskyMan]

I’ve got a VRW 60s Strat. The neck to me seems similar to the modern C with a touch more thickness. By no means a U-shape, but a little beefier than a modern C.

 

[blind radish]

I played a RW tele and the neck is huge ... Like the AllParts TMO Fat

 

[PomPomPudding]

The RW necks seem to vary a lot. The one I played was modern C shaped, was very thin. I guess the Vintera RWs are the same. You'd have to hand it first.

 

[tombm3]

I have a 2017 RW 50's Strat, a 2020 RW 50's Tele, a 2021 60's Strat and a 2021 50's Strat. I have also previously owned a 2013 RW 50's Tele, a 2018 RW 50's Tele and I gave my son a 2018 RW 50's Tele. I feel that I have enough exposure to give you some insight (or totally confuse you). I have also owned other

Let me start in chronological order.

2013 RW 50's Tele (blond) - The neck felt typical size and C-shape. I think the frets were a bit larger than medium jumbo (could be remembering that wrong)

2017 RW 50's Strat (black) - Definite smooth V-shape in frets 1-4 and then smooths out to more of a C further up the neck.

2018 RW 50's Tele (blond) - The neck is a comfortable U shape (not too big). Frets are nowadays typical 6105s.

2018 RW 50's Tele (CAR) - This neck is actually different from the above blonde one. It is a touch thinner than the blond but I would consider it a thick C shape.

2020 RW 50's Tele (LPB) - This U-neck is thick. Huge thickness. It is along the size of the GE Smith Tele. It might take you by surprise if you've never played a neck so big but it's surprisingly comfortable.

2021 RW 60's Strat (CAR) - Typical C-shape like modern necks. Not as thick as a 60's neck like on a Robert Cray Strat.

2021 RW 50's Strat (Fiesta) - It's listed as a thick V but it feels more like a C (compared to my 2017). It's thicker than the 60's Strat but nowhere as thick as the 2020 50's Tele. Very comfortable.

It's funny that I was one of the one's so opposed to the Road Worn line when they first came out. Now I tend to gravitate towards them. They are comfortable and relieve my anxiety for dinging my guitar.

Hopefully I haven't confused you too much and have given you some insight to my observations.

 

[RYAN1987M]

Wildwood lists neck measurements for what they currently have in-stock. This is the link to their Vintera page - https://wildwoodguitars.com/product-category/electrics/fender-usa/vintera/

 

[Nolefinity]

I have a 2017 RW 50's Strat, a 2020 RW 50's Tele, a 2021 60's Strat and a 2021 50's Strat. I have also previously owned a 2013 RW 50's Tele, a 2018 RW 50's Tele and I gave my son a 2018 RW 50's Tele. I feel that I have enough exposure to give you some insight (or totally confuse you). I have also owned other

Let me start in chronological order.

2013 RW 50's Tele (blond) - The neck felt typical size and C-shape. I think the frets were a bit larger than medium jumbo (could be remembering that wrong)

2017 RW 50's Strat (black) - Definite smooth V-shape in frets 1-4 and then smooths out to more of a C further up the neck.

2018 RW 50's Tele (blond) - The neck is a comfortable U shape (not too big). Frets are nowadays typical 6105s.

2018 RW 50's Tele (CAR) - This neck is actually different from the above blonde one. It is a touch thinner than the blond but I would consider it a thick C shape.

2020 RW 50's Tele (LPB) - This U-neck is thick. Huge thickness. It is along the size of the GE Smith Tele. It might take you by surprise if you've never played a neck so big but it's surprisingly comfortable.

2021 RW 60's Strat (CAR) - Typical C-shape like modern necks. Not as thick as a 60's neck like on a Robert Cray Strat.

2021 RW 50's Strat (Fiesta) - It's listed as a thick V but it feels more like a C (compared to my 2017). It's thicker than the 60's Strat but nowhere as thick as the 2020 50's Tele. Very comfortable.

It's funny that I was one of the one's so opposed to the Road Worn line when they first came out. Now I tend to gravitate towards them. They are comfortable and relieve my anxiety for dinging my guitar.

Hopefully I haven't confused you too much and have given you some insight to my observations.

Hi, thanks so much for this awesome summary! It’s really helpful for me but also those coming after me. I actually just bought a 2021 telecaster and a Stratocaster Road Worn last week Because I had to hold them in my hands, and I agree with all of your assessments. The Tele is very thick, but the Strat felt great. Felt like a C to me.

Nice work here!

 

[tombm3]

Here's an additional discovery:

2021 RW 50's Tele (blond) - The neck is noticeably thinner than the 2020 LPB 50's I mentioned previously. It's still a full profile but just not as thick. Also, the thickness of the body is thinner on the blond. I don't have exact measurements but sizing the LPB with calipers and then transferring them over to the blond, there was a slight gap. Maybe 1/32"? This may just be an anomaly or I'm too critical but I wanted others to know that there are some differences in this CNC world that may be machine variation or might be design changes/revisions from 2020 to 2021 builds.

 

[sloppychops]

Hi there ... anyone own a Vintera Road Worn Strat or Tele? I’m thinking about getting both. Either 50s for both, or the Tele 50s and the Strat 60s. I’m wondering: how thick are the necks really? I am used to modern Fender C (Player Strat) and I’m not sure if I would like something too thick. The Tele description says “Thick U” and the 50s Strat says “Thick Soft V.” Can anyone share what they’re like? Thanks!

Assuming the RW 50s Vintera Tele neck is the same as the 50s Vintera Tele neck, (which I have on one Tele) I can tell you this:

It is noticeably thicker than a modern C neck.

It is not as fat as the Allparts TMO Fat, which is 1" from nut to 12th fret, and not as fat as the Baja neck, although it comes close.

It is (I believe) a 7.25" radius fretboard, so that's something to keep in mind if you're coming from a flatter radius fretboard. The 50s Vintera neck I have is 7.25", but maybe the RW version went to 9".

It is not (IMHO) a particularly pronounced U shape neck.

If you're not sure you'd like a fatter neck, it would be a good idea to find one somewhere and try it before you buy. I prefer them, and after playing my Vintera neck, Baja neck and Allparts FAT neck, the modern C neck feels almost unplayable.

 

[blues]

The RW necks seem to vary a lot. The one I played was modern C shaped, was very thin. I guess the Vintera RWs are the same. You'd have to hand it first.

Yes my 2019 is .79 at the first fret and .95 at the 12th fret.

 

[PomPomPudding]

Yes my 2019 is .79 at the first fret and .95 at the 12th fret.

A tele? I didn't mention but mine was a 50s tele. It was almost like Ibanez necks. The thinnest tele neck I've ever played.

 

[blues]

Yes my 50s road worn

 

[Tonetele]

I like the Modern C neck. That's 21mm.@ 1st.fret and 22mm. at the 12th.
Others like a 50s "baseball bat" u shape . your call.

 

[tombm3]

Additional Specs.....

I finally got around to making some measurements on the 50's Teles (current models)

Blond 1st fret 0.915 12th fret 0.972

LPB 1st fret 0.928 12th fret 1.002

 

[NatillasdeMuertos]

Those necks are pretty chunky, has anyone else measured to say if that's average or a bit more/less than? I'm trying to find a new tele right now (missed having one since I let my 2012-2017 AV52 go for being just a bit too chunky but loved it otherwise) and looking at the road worn but a bit worried on committing to the U again. If it helps my favourite neck on a fender so far is a v that goes 0.88 to 0.98 (radius is 9.5 and frets are 6105s there but I've played 7.25s and smaller frets as well no problems) and I think my favourite Les Paul is about those numbers but a C - how happy will a 50s road worn make me? I'd love to try one first but not doable especially for me in the UK (few stores near me and they don't have any right now)

 

[soapbox440]

I'll measure my 50s vintera RW and share here shortly - just need to find calipers!

I find it to be the nicest neck I have played - it's certainly fuller than a modern C on the shoulders but it doesn't feel much deeper. I find it has just the right amount of heft for me and I guess I have normally sized hands!

 

[NatillasdeMuertos]

I'll measure my 50s vintera RW and share here shortly - just need to find calipers!

I find it to be the nicest neck I have played - it's certainly fuller than a modern C on the shoulders but it doesn't feel much deeper. I find it has just the right amount of heft for me and I guess I have normally sized hands!

Awesome thanks, I think my hands are actually on the smaller size really but I do find the vintagey chunkier necks more comfy than modern. Think neck profile is the one thing I’m a bit sensitive or fussy to. Radius, frets and scale length I’ve played and liked plenty of different options.

 

[NatillasdeMuertos]

Will need to measure mine as well soon…turned out a shop an hour away had got one this week and I went to try it and it feels great! Pics to follow in a while

 

[NatillasdeMuertos]

0.91 at first fret, 0.96 at 12th. Would say it’s more of a D and somewhere closer to a C at the 12th. Really comfy.

 

[OmegaWoods]

I'll measure my 50s vintera RW and share here shortly - just need to find calipers!

I find it to be the nicest neck I have played - it's certainly fuller than a modern C on the shoulders but it doesn't feel much deeper. I find it has just the right amount of heft for me and I guess I have normally sized hands!

I have pretty short fingers. My 50s RW (2020) has a hefty neck for sure but it feels really comfortable.