Necks

[Dannyjoe Carter]

I have bought four Charvel Model 2 necks off ebay in the last 8 months. All four sellers claim the necks came off Charvel Model 2s from either 86 or 87. Yet two of the necks are thicker (.775" at the first fret) and the other two are thinner (.750" at the first) which I love!!

Was there any standard or uniformity back then? I'm curious to any thoughts any of you may have. Thanks!

[Grandturk]

There are reports of variation from year to year and model to model.

From personal experience, I've had a Model 4, Model 1A and a Model 3 neck. The Model 3 neck and the Model 4 neck felt very similar - though the Model 4 had a much nicer fretboard and MOP position markers. The Model 1A neck felt much different - much thicker.

[Matt_B]

You didn't mention this specifically but does it really matter that to you that the necks are slightly different in size?

[Dannyjoe Carter]

You didn't mention this specifically but does it really matter that to you that the necks are slightly different in size?

Hey Matt,
Yeah it's huge deal to me; I was an ibanez RG player for 20 years and love a thin neck. Nowdays even though I'm still really into shred, or fast playing, I love the feel of the .720" - .750" range neck of the Charvels and Jackson. The .775" and up just feels wrong to me.

I used to thin necks out myself when I had my guitar repair shop but I would rather just sell off the ones I don't want. I'll be 45 on the 20th of this month and I'm just not into bastardising things anymore or doing anything other than playing guitars.

[Spivonious]

Wow, I don't even think I'd notice a 75/1000 of an inch difference.

[Matt_B]

Well, good luck with that then Danny.

Wow, I don't even think I'd notice a 75/1000 of an inch difference.

I don't know if I'd notice but I know I wouldn't care but that' just me. I am happy playing any size neck from Ibanez Wizards up to LP 50s profile.

[Rich#6]

I think the 86s are a little thinner.

[straycat]

I love all necks big or small its just how I feel at the time as to what I play.

[toejam]

Never had a bolt-on Model series guitar, but I know they made two different neck profiles on the neck-thrus.

[Dannyjoe Carter]

Wow, I don't even think I'd notice a 75/1000 of an inch difference.

Well it really is a feel thing. The first Ibanez RG necks were only .667" (17mm) and you really can feel a difference from those to the Charvel necks if thats all you've played for 20 years. When you start adding even more thickness even though its a few hundreths of an inch you just simply notice it.
And I just really prefer the thinner Charvel necks especially since they are available.

[Dannyjoe Carter]

Never had a bolt-on Model series guitar, but I know they made two different neck profiles on the neck-thrus.

Good to know TJ! Thank you for that. And it seems that they did that as well with the bolt ons. I just wish they would have serial numbered or marked those necks in some way so that info could be made known where it was manufactured and what the dimensions were-

[nor]

All ya need is some sandpaper. That'll take care of that pesky extra wood.

[Model 88]

If you want a thin necked Jackson or Charvel try a Fusion . By far the thinnest JC neck I have found . The is difference though , the scale length 24.75 just like Gibson .

[Matt_B]

Well it really is a feel thing. The first Ibanez RG necks were only .667" (17mm) and you really can feel a difference from those to the Charvel necks if thats all you've played for 20 years. When you start adding even more thickness even though its a few hundreths of an inch you just simply notice it.

...and what happens when you notice this difference?

[Dannyjoe Carter]

...and what happens when you notice this difference?

I get a cramp in my thumb when the neck gets too thick. I really notice it on certain sweep patterns and a few rhythms.

Also, Model 88, thanks for the suggestion! I'll keep an eye out for one of those. More than likely ebay because I think they discontinued those back in the early 90's - is that correct?