Help! Which guitars have thin necks???

prusaw · #1 12-20-2009, 10:31 PM

I have very small hands and keep getting guitars that I love in so many ways, except the necks.... I really like the older Taylor necks (1 11/16) and the best neck I've ever played was on an Alvarez Yairi. I know the issue is not simply the nut width, but also the profile (or shape) of the neck, as well as how fast it tapers out as you move toward the bridge.

So, give me some comparisons: If the Yairi/old Taylor's are on one end.... and maybe Lowden's (huge, chunky necks) are on the other, where do other guitars fall in between? I'm thinking of guitars like Webber, Kronbauer, Goodall, Mcpherson, Breedlove, Collings, Martin, etc....

Pretend you're me and the smaller the better...

thanks,

Pete

dodadedadude · #2 12-20-2009, 10:45 PM

Bourgeois guitars have really nice neck on the thinner side, very comfortable.

j45dale · #3 12-20-2009, 10:59 PM

Find a later issue, thin profile Guild D-55.They keep the same thin profile from the first fret all the way down their long scale neck. While not for everyone, I call it a fast neck, which is easy to bar cord from bow to stern.
Ours is a 2002 Corona built model.
It was the only Guitar I have ever had to have after simply feeling the neck.
I have even asked a builder to copy this thin-low profile neck on a short scale, 12 fret, slope shoulder Dred.
Dale.

wgnorman · #4 12-21-2009, 04:50 AM

My Andrew White E65 has a thin neck - of course, he can shape a neck to anyone's personal preference.
http://www.andrewwhiteguitars.com/

Kitchen Guitars · #5 12-21-2009, 05:44 AM

The Short Scale Epi ELOOVS has a 1.65" nut and a very thin neck
Yamaha necks are small in general. The L line is a larger, but still small by standards, neck

Brackett Instruments · #6 12-21-2009, 05:52 AM

The best thing to do is go to a BIG music store and play a bunch of acoustics. Play ones you aren't even interested in to see which ones have necks you like. Write down the ones you like the neck on. This is a big forum, someone here will know which "Webber, Kronbauer, Goodall, Mcpherson, Breedlove, Collings, Martin, etc.... " has a neck shaped and sized like the "Rico Suave BR-549" you played at GC that had a neck you liked. Some small builders use pre made CNC necks, but alot (including myself) hand make our necks and can size and shape them however you like.

cpabolting · #7 12-21-2009, 06:06 AM

Olsons do

On Martins it varies. The gutiars with a low profile or modified v seem pretty lean.

Harmonycat · #8 12-21-2009, 07:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by prusaw

I have very small hands and keep getting guitars that I love in so many ways, except the necks.... I really like the older Taylor necks (1 11/16) and the best neck I've ever played was on an Alvarez Yairi. I know the issue is not simply the nut width, but also the profile (or shape) of the neck, as well as how fast it tapers out as you move toward the bridge.

So, give me some comparisons: If the Yairi/old Taylor's are on one end.... and maybe Lowden's (huge, chunky necks) are on the other, where do other guitars fall in between? I'm thinking of guitars like Webber, Kronbauer, Goodall, Mcpherson, Breedlove, Collings, Martin, etc....

Pretend you're me and the smaller the better...

thanks,

Pete

I also prefer thin necks.

I have a Yairi DY-94. It does have a nice thin neck.

The Simon & Patrick guitars have very thin necks. They are by far the thinnest in the Godin line of acoustics. I own S&P, A&L, and Norman guitars.

They also have a 24.84 short scale which is easier to play with small hands.

The necks are also thin on Aria AD series, Washburn Timbercraft series, and Epiphone Masterbilts.

Cheers!

Play2PraiseHim · #9 12-21-2009, 07:58 AM

Blueridge, Yairi ,Taylor, Martins Low Profile & low oval, & Guilds. Seagull has some models that are offered with special slim neck profile. I too have small hands, but found the Yair & Blueridge to be too skinny. Taylors Guilds, & Seagull slims are great. I love my Martin Low profile neck.

catdaddy · #10 12-21-2009, 08:05 AM

I once owned a Larrivee D-09 (1 & 11/16 nut width) and absolutely loved the neck profile. It was far less chunky than most. Make sure you give some Larrivees a try in your quest.

71sx · #11 12-21-2009, 08:06 AM

My Guild GAD 40c has a very low-profile neck, feels like an electric.

SlopeD · #12 12-21-2009, 08:35 AM

Blueridge guitars have probably the slimmest of necks, followed by a lot of Yamaha's.

Martin's low profile is probably my favorite, Bourgeois has a very nice neck as well.

The slimmest would be Blueridge.

Daveyo · #13 12-21-2009, 09:46 AM

I have the exact same problem,
right now I have a Larrivee d03r dread and a Taylor 310 dread,
I had the Larrivee set up with very low action, and the Taylor is next.
The Larrivee feels fantastic now.
Set up has so much to so with feel.
Try a Larrivee, works for me, but stick to dreads , the Om's and L's have a wider nut width.
Dave

cpabolting · #14 12-21-2009, 10:30 AM

Not that this would happen...I would not run to the store to get a guitar just because it has a skinny neck...some of these guitars that have been mentioned would not be my first choice....but get the nicest gutiar you can stretch to....you will increase the chances of you holding onto it longer.

My first guitar was a 1968 Martin D-18..a little beat up...but I still have it! I bought it when I was 13 for $500 (I am 43 now).