Neck in KoppK35 (regular) vs CJ35

[markcrawford]

Can anyone compare these necks? Am looking at the Kopp with the big neck and also want to know about his standard K35 neck. I only have my Collings CJ 35 to compare it to. If anyone has played both and has any insight, I would appreciate it.

[brencat]

I saw your CJ35 demo video in the AGF classifieds. In it you mentioned trying a German topped CJ35 but you preferred the Sitka top better as it provides more warmth.

I’ve only played 2 Kopp K35s but found them to be very articulate — more so than the Collings. My Sitka topped CJ35 will be ‘last slope standing’ after the Walker in my sig sells.

All this to say, I highly recommend you play the Kopp or buy it with a return privilege before selling or trading away the CJ35.

[zombywoof]

I would guess that Kopp has a spec sheet for the guitar so you might contact him.

The only K35 neck though I have seen specs listed for gave them as having a depth of around .874" at the 1st fret and .934" at the 9th fret. How representative this is for that model though I do not have a clue. What I know about the Collings CJ35 stems from me snooping around about five years back when I was thinking about buying one. I want to say the neck on the CJ35 has a different taper meaning it is not as thick as the Kopp around the nut but gets thicker than the Kopp as you near the 9th fret.

Hopefully somebody with more experience than I have will chime in.

[Br1ck]

Necks are a pure feel thing for me. When I picked up my SCGC for the first time, no amount of data can begin to give me the feel I so instantly liked. I'd played four or five guitars, including some Authentics, and none were instantly this good. You must play the guitar.

[markcrawford]

Thanks, this is very helpful.

[J Patrick]

I have two Kopps and just sold one….ive played a couple more…they have all had what Kevin calls his standard carve. …which is a full but not overly ample C profile…..the shoulders are neither skimpy or deep…the edges are nicely rolled…I’ve played enough Collings to know that I like their necks a lot….I’m also a big fan of the necks on Santa Cruz guitars….. I think Kopp necks are in the same league in terms of comfort and playability…

[Zissou Intern]

I owned two CJ35s, German and baked Sitka. I really liked the neck carve, but I like deep profiles in C, V, or ModV. I haven’t played a Kopp in years, but I remember liking the necks. Which means that they were deeper/fuller, so zombywoof’s .874” sounds right to me.

You have probably already seen this CJ35 neck spec’ sheet from the Collings website.

[markcrawford]

I will get to play the Huss and Dalton Crowwroads DS tomorrow just to cross that one out. I think that the profile makes a huge difference. Kevin said that his necks ranged from around 8.6 to around 8.75...not exactly the same. He also said that the C shape giave the feeling of lightly more meat on the bone, which is interesting. Hard for me to believe I would not like his regular neck. just don't know if I would like his guitar enough to kick the Collings out. **** shame I can't have both.........

[markcrawford]

I played a few guitars today but will just add to this thread instead of starting a new one. First of all, got a lesson on necks. The Huss Crossroads DS measured slightly more shallow than my Collings. However, it had more shoulder to it and was actually quite comfy. Not all that different from the Collings really. Seems to have a slight V to it. That has changed my mind on neck girth. I think that any C neck that is .86 or better would probably work well for me. I don’t think I would love a C at .98 or so. The shoulders would make a difference for my hand. I imagine the Kopp neck would be a good fit. I played an IRIS MS that had a c neck and it was fine for me. Could have been a little bigger, but I found it comfy. Not all IRIS necks are that deep though.

Onto the review.
Finally played that Huss and Dalton DA Crossroads. If someone was choosing a guitar for me I suspect they would choose that guitar over my Collings. Sooooo singer-songwriter. The notes blended together better than the best B Gibson I have ever played. I could strum that guitar all day. The fit and finish were outstanding. Simply a great J45 sounding guitar with more warm low end. The opposite of my CJ35. I could own both of those guitars very easily. They do not do anything alike. I brought my Collings in and played it back to back and really enjoyed doing that. You could hear what both Guitars are trying to do. By the way, the wood tone, nickel strings, I have on my Collings really do warm it up. No joke, it is made the most difference from any other set of strings I have tried. That Guitar is at Sound pure in Durham and I think the price on it is like 34 or 35. If you’re looking for that kind of guitar, buy it. Although the neck wasn’t too thin for me, it was similar to my Collings, and that it was borderline. I’m almost glad that the neck was not deeper. I may have Done something hasty. Still, the Collings stays.

Speaking of Collings, I also played a brand new C10-35. This one was Sitka over maple. I own a Collings myself, and I think their guitars are great but in my opinion that Guitars is not worth the money it takes to get it. Don’t blame me if you’re a Collings fan, and I know they change over time, but I can tell you right now that the new IRIS MS I played sounded better in every way. The Collings had the same neck mine does but was slightly fuller. I guess no two are exactly the same. I think that Collings will become a great guitar in time because you could just tell the potential was there. Still, not getting my money. I am still hunting one of those that has been played a lot.

Last but not least, the IRIS MS. Shame that the spacing at the saddle was so tight. I liked the neck and the guitar sustained for days. I think it was Sitka hog, but **** if I paid attention. It’s hard to describe, but that guitar had good not separation while still blending enough to be a great strummer. I should have brought in my Martin CEO7, but even without comparing, I think the IRIS would have more mids and stronger trebles in the long run. That is ONLY because the CEO blows both of those L00s out of the water for low end. Price does not matter, if I had brought either one of mine to the game…..I would have left with both. Sorry boutique folks, but the Martin CEO7s, as long as the binding stays on lol, are great L00s if they are good ones. I know there are other L00s but I would love to have one of those IRIS MS with 5/16 spread and an adi top. Patience…Heading out to a gig. Enjoy