24 vs 27 frets - Opinions Needed

[shredmonster]

I am getting a custom guitar built. Pondering whether to get 24 or 27 frets.
Similar to a Hamer Californian.

I can get a really beveled or scalloped lower horn on either. Rarely would I use anything past the 24th fret if ever. The frets are so tiny up there.

But man can you do nice arpeggios at the 24th fret using the extra room - had a Hamer Cali once that had 27 frets and it was so easy to play up at the 24th fret - which I use all of the time.

The other thing is the tone - with 24 frets I can put in a Humbucker. With 27 it would have to be a Hot Rail or similar. I know there would be some kind of tone difference but don't know how much.

OPINIONS NEEDED

[wicked_lester]

Before you have one built, take a look at a Tagima K1. I like 27 better for the reason you described.

[pro-fusion]

I'm currently having a 27-fret KXK 7-string made for me--and it will have two full-sized humbuckers. If you don't use frets 25-27, though, you might just as well get a 24-fret guitar with an extra deep cutaway that will allow you to both have good fret access and have a neck pickup in the position you want it.

[sonicsamurai]

doesn't matthais enklund's apple horn have 27 ??

[Axewielder]

That slanted fretboard looks killer. Of course, it would look even more killer on a custom 27-fret old skool warrior! (IMHO)

[wicked_lester]

Axewielder, yeah...I don't care for Warriors but to each their own. This K1 is hands-down the best sounding and playing superstrat I've ever played in 26 years of playing guitar. I can't gush about this thing enough, the tone, the feel and the Gotoh bridge...all superb.

[Frigo89]

just put a humbucker in the middle position if you want a bucker so bad

[wicked_lester]

just put a humbucker in the middle position if you want a bucker so bad

He was wondering about the tonal differences (in the neck position) between a 27 fret guitar with a blade pickup and a 24 fret guitar with a full-sized humbucker. Post first, *then* drink the bong water.

[pro-fusion]

The single-coil sized humbuckers sound like hotter, slightly thicker single coils, but not that much like full-sized humbuckers. They are a useful compromise.

[RacerX]

With 27 frets, you can brag to your fellow 24 fretters "This one goes to 27!"







Like my Rand:

[slayer]

Look for a good used Hamer USA Califonian. 27 frets and very well put together. I had a Cali Custom(ebony and boomers) many years ago and the neck was too thin for me and that was a a shame, killer guitar!!

Jack

[1trussell]

I still regret selling my Californian Standard last year. Although it did help fund a killer 78 Hamer Sunburst which is a killer vintage guitar, I'm at a bit of a shortage of shredders.

Depending on what you're looking at having built, I would look at another Californian. They can be hadwith mahogany or maple bodies, in either bolt on or set neck construction. Toss in a Distortion/Hot Rails combo and you have a sweet shredder.

I need to look into getting another Cali someday. I never used the 27th fret, or the 24th for that matter. But they just look so fucking tits.

[shredmonster]

Calis typically have 1-5/8" nuts. Too small for my hands. I need 1-11/16" minimum and could probably even go 1.75"

Calis frets are too small also. And the back of the neck is shallacked - it gets sticky. I like a satin finish.

Nope Cali won't do. I found someone to build me the exact style guitar as a Cali - with cut outs and a body shape that is a little slicker.

I am just deciding how I want it built. Stuck on whether to go maple / mahogany or Alder also.

Check out this thread,,,http://www.jcfonline.com/forums/showthread.php?t=73014

[wicked_lester]

Calis typically have 1-5/8" nuts. Too small for my hands. I need 1-11/16" minimum and could probably even go 1.75"

Calis frets are too small also. And the back of the neck is shallacked - it gets sticky. I like a satin finish.

Nope Cali won't do. I found someone to build me the exact style guitar as a Cali - with cut outs and a body shape that is a little slicker.

I am just deciding how I want it built. Stuck on whether to go maple / mahogany or Alder also.

Check out this thread,,,http://www.jcfonline.com/forums/showthread.php?t=73014

That's one thing I like about my Tagima. The fretboard/neck is wide. It feels so comfortable...I'm like you I hate skinny necks.

[1trussell]

Calis typically have 1-5/8" nuts. Too small for my hands. I need 1-11/16" minimum and could probably even go 1.75"

Calis frets are too small also. And the back of the neck is shallacked - it gets sticky. I like a satin finish.

Nope Cali won't do. I found someone to build me the exact style guitar as a Cali - with cut outs and a body shape that is a little slicker.

I am just deciding how I want it built. Stuck on whether to go maple / mahogany or Alder also.

Check out this thread,,,http://www.jcfonline.com/forums/showthread.php?t=73014

Ahh, yeah. Kevin's guitar. That is pretty badass. I thought about getting one of those as well.

If I went that route, I would go maple/mahogany. But that's just my personal preference.