Neck thickness definitions

[jefflester]

Are there any really defined terms or measurements to describe neck thickness? There are pretty well defined ways to describe a fingerboard in terms of width (nut width) and radius (whether it has one, what the radius is in inches), but what about for neck thickness (front to back) and shape? There are certainly more variables involved, but there doesn't seem to be a very well defined way to quantify it like there is with neck/fingerboard width. A neck can be V-shaped or half-cylinder shaped, or crescent-moon shaped, etc. Is there any value in measuring the "circumfrence" of the neck at say the 1st fret with a piece of string to help describe how thick a neck is? I sold a Rigel recently in the classifieds but the buyer chose to not keep it after the trial period because the neck was "too chunky." So how to describe that neck so that a potential buyer can better understand it? Or maybe I just need to have very clear pictures of what it looks like?

[mandroid]

A Caliper that measures thickness, is a useful tool, a digital one is a real benefit to measure strings. in the whole or decimal fractions, 0.XXX" , thousandths of an inch
When discussing a neck shaving job for a 5 string I sent to the opposite coast.
a heavy piece of insulated wire was used to describe profile, bent around the neck, and pictures of that were E mailed.

Talking to peter mix, via Web, about his CF A necks, analogy was made to necks of other manufactured instruments,
such as teens/early 20's gibby A's, which was close, and I have handled those to feel those.

[Tony Polecastro]

Some common descriptions of neck profiles I have heard tossed around:

Round profile: chunky, half circle type
Slim Profile: Thinner, half of an oval
Sharp V profile: sharp V, Some love it some hate it, think half of a diamond with rounded corner
Soft V profile: Like half of a diamond that ate too much

I hope this helps. It is even better if you can compare a neck profile to that of a particular instrument as stated above.

Also, the wire idea, what a great idea, for something you just can't seem to find the words to describe...that paired with some caliper measurements.

Now we are talkin'

Great idea mandroid!!!

[Ken Feil]

Tony: I've often wondered about neck profile definitions your description is excellent. Thank you.

Ken