software

i keep hearing about how necks are v-shaped or c-shaped or D-shaped etc.
how many neck shapes are there and what affect on playing do they provide?

anyone?

Heres links from : localhost/ from : localhost/tells you bit about necks. I think the shape is more a preference thing cause some thicker necks feel really nice and are really comfortable. Thin necks are probably less comfortable and you hand fatigues faster, but its easier to move up and down the fretboard. I guess you could reach the low notes easier too if the neck is thin. There's also sustain changes too with neck shapes if there is more or less wood. For me the shape doesn't really matter for me on playing unless a neck is too thin or thick for me, its more of a preference cause I can easily shred on fender and gibson necks.

I have a slight V on my new Tele, and I couldn't take a hard V. In fact I wish it was a C or D (I don't know the difference, I assume more wood on the quot;slopequot; of the D) but everything else about it is perfect, and I don't feel like carving or sanding the neck... lol

The only thing to do really is try many guitars, your hand will tell you what is what and which you like. As was mentioned earlier, I like bigger necks for chording/blues/classic rock and a thinner neck for metal so I can get around faster.

that's why the wolfgang i tried felt so weird in my hand

I enjoy the Axis and Wolfgang shapes a lot... but i'm also more into V shape necks.... like the Clapton.... i make my home made necks with V shapes.. Oddly most of the guitars i own have C shapes... The nicest neck i have is a 1987 Charvel... It is pretty thick and feels great! Has the Jackson style headstock... saddly the very tip of the headstock has slight damage as the whole guitar hit the floor by one of the past owners.... But it does feel great!!!!

WHOFAN

okay what the hell is a V-shape
apparently this indicates thickness
so what letters are associated with what thickness
or do the letters just indicate the shape of the neck

The quot;Vquot; general refers to the shape of the bottom of the neck when you place it flat on the table with the strings on top and look at the neck from the headstock down to the body.

so the letter refers to the shape?

Yeah, a V shape has a pronounced quot;humpquot; where the truss rod is, right in the middle. As soon as you play one you'll know what it is. Go grab a Clapton Strat at the store and it will all become clear. To me, a D shape is a little thinner in the middle and thicker on the sides/slope than a C.