Would you reshape a neck?

antonyiv

So, here's my Jaguar:



In case you don't know what a Jaguar is, it is the one on the left.

50th Anniversary model. 

I really dig it, however, I do tend to prefer thinner neck. This one is too deep / big for my taste and therefore, as much as I dig the guitar, I don't really play it. That's why I'm thinking of reshaping the neck. 

Positives:

1. It will be more playable with the thinner neck
2. I can even get a compound radius which I love
3. I will actually play it, instead of admiring the beauty of the color

Negatives:

1. Resale value will drop hard
2. Not sure that the guitar tech will do the job right
3. It may look bad

Mind says don't do it, heart wants that neck reshaped. What would you do?

lovestrat74

If it's too wide then you can't really make it less wide can you? Especially since it has binding. If it is too deep then you can reduce the depth by shaving some off.

antonyiv

Sorry, meant too deep. Good point, gonna edit the post.

CloudNine

I would say don't bother. If it was the greatest guitar you have ever played/heard, and you don't believe it can be replaced, then maybe, but if you don't play it that much I would suggest you probably don't know if it is worth spending the money on yet. And it will be spending more money, to likely reduce the value of the guitar. Double hit..

Plus, if you sell it, you can get another that is a more suitable colour for a male. 

octatonic

Nope- it is almost always a bad idea.
Sell it and get something else.

FelineGuitars

You can only alter the radius of the board  if you are planning a refret too which in conjunction with re-profiling the fingerboard will add possibly £300-£400 to the cost of shaping the back of the neck which is what you need for the depth adjustment

antonyiv

CloudNine said:

Plus, if you sell it, you can get another that is a more suitable colour for a male. 

Responses:

1. Did you just assume my gender?
2. Touche
3. Real man wear pink
4. I only play it when my wife is with me
5. Show me your macho guitars. 

Pick one of those four. 

octatonic

I like the colour.

timmypix

Hmm. What's the cost of a reshape versus getting another neck built? That way you could get the neck you want then pop the original back on if ever you want to sell it.

Jalapeno

Keep the original neck and get one to your spec.

I did shave a PRS SE (mainly with a sander), but as I was respraying/repairing anyway resale value didn't bother me.

antonyiv

octatonic said:

Nope- it is almost always a bad idea.
Sell it and get something else.

This (colour, neck binding, block inlays, pick ups) is the closest to "dream Jaguar" as I can get. Just having issues with the neck profile.

timmypix said:

Hmm. What's the cost of a reshape versus getting another neck built? That way you could get the neck you want then pop the original back on if ever you want to sell it.

Around 500$ from Warmoth. 

octatonic

antonyiv said:

octatonic said:

Nope- it is almost always a bad idea.
Sell it and get something else.

This (colour, neck binding, block inlays, pick ups) is the closest to "dream Jaguar" as I can get. Just having issues with the neck profile.

IMHO the answer is still no.
You can adjust to bigger necks- persevere with it, sell it and replace it, or just buy another one and keep it because you like it.

antonyiv

FelineGuitars said:

You can only alter the radius of the board  if you are planning a refret too which in conjunction with re-profiling the fingerboard will add possibly £300-£400 to the cost of shaping the back of the neck which is what you need for the depth adjustment

Thanks for the info. Frets are brand new, I guess I will skip the radius change (or at least postpone it until it comes time for re-fret). 

Andyjr1515

Even though I mod guitars and I very frequently reshape my own necks, I would say absolutely not.  However well it's done, it will destroy the resale value of a guitar that you should otherwise reasonably expect would hold its value.

What you could do - as Fender have standard size pockets - is get a replacement neck (not Fender - there are some excellent necks around much cheaper)...and mod that to your perfect shape then when you come to sell, just pop the original neck back on.

FelineGuitars

antonyiv said:

CloudNine said:

Plus, if you sell it, you can get another that is a more suitable colour for a male. 

Responses:

1. Did you just assume my Fender?
2. Touche
3. Real man wear pink
4. I only play it when my wife is with me
5. Show me your macho guitars. 

Pick one of those four. 

FTFY

On a separate note are we genuinely still as caught up in the schoolyard attitude of colour for gender and Ooh you must be gay if you don't like the same football team as me.

CloudNine

FelineGuitars said:

antonyiv said:

CloudNine said:

Plus, if you sell it, you can get another that is a more suitable colour for a male. 

Responses:

1. Did you just assume my Fender?
2. Touche
3. Real man wear pink
4. I only play it when my wife is with me
5. Show me your macho guitars. 

Pick one of those four. 

FTFY

On a separate note are we genuinely still as caught up in the schoolyard attitude of colour for gender and Ooh you must be gay if you don't like the same football team as me.

Winking smiley face above, says 'no, we are not'.

Philly_Q

I would only only ever want to reshape a neck to make it bigger, which isn't really an option...

I agree with the suggestions to get a new/spare neck for it, with the caveat that a lot of people say the neck has a big effect on the sound of a bolt-on.  You could get the neck profile you want but change the whole sound of the guitar.

It's a great colour, by the way.  But it'd be even better with a matching headstock.

Roland

Would I? Yes, I’ve done it before. Making it more of a V shape is OK. Making it thinner risks exposing the truss rod. Depending on how the neck was built, and what type of truss rod it has, there might be only 1/8” depth of wood to play with. 

Would i I do it on that guitar? No for the reasons others have given. 

Doodlegame

antonyiv said:

So, here's my Jaguar:



In case you don't know what a Jaguar is, it is the one on the left.

50th Anniversary model. 

I really dig it, however, I do tend to prefer thinner neck. This one is too deep / big for my taste and therefore, as much as I dig the guitar, I don't really play it. That's why I'm thinking of reshaping the neck. 

Positives:

1. It will be more playable with the thinner neck
2. I can even get a compound radius which I love
3. I will actually play it, instead of admiring the beauty of the color

Negatives:

1. Resale value will drop hard
2. Not sure that the guitar tech will do the job right
3. It may look bad

Mind says don't do it, heart wants that neck reshaped. What would you do?

If you have the money, order a custom neck from guitarbuild.co.uk

I don't see why a neck ordered to your specs would have any problems, as long as you get the right heel size+ confident drilling the right places.

If it makes you love it and play it more, it's worth it!   

antonyiv

Doodlegame said:

If you have the money, order a custom neck from guitarbuild.co.uk

I don't see why a neck ordered to your specs would have any problems, as long as you get the right heel size+ confident drilling the right places.

If it makes you love it and play it more, it's worth it!   

I don't really dig the headstock shape.

With my preferences, the total prices jumped to £300.

Jalapeno

antonyiv said:

With my preferences, the total prices jumped to £300.

Probably less than the value you'd lose