One of the other threads got me to thinking on how to come up with a system to match one's hand size to a particualr neck size and also a neck profile. Most of the people I talk to have no idea what kind of neck profile they want or like, although some do know they like a "beefy" neck and others like a slim neck.

I just wonder if anyone has done any study and documentation on how to measure one's hand and come up with a neck profile that would best fit their hand?

Personally, I have smaller hands and I prefer the neck shape of the 1978 Martin D35-p (low profile neck now standard on Martin Guitars). I actually like a much smaller neck and closer string spaciong at the saddle and 12th fret as well. I am also a flat picker and rarely do any fingerpicking.

Does anyone know if this has been studied and if it is worth doing a scientific study and documentation on the player's hand and playing style in order to give them the best neck profile?  Perhaps we could all benefit by having this knowledge??

I actually started a web page requesting this info on my web site... will be interesting to see if anyone replys with the info...

Link here

wish I knew a way to have drop down text boxes and then send the info without having to send an e-mail...

Hey Ken,

Great idea, tho I don't know the answer; it's a danged complex problem as the other guys have posted.  Styles of playing differ so much, like I fingerpick blues with bare fingers, play a lot of thumb-over bass that makes classical players scoff.   

So while I feel the need for 2 3/8" string spacing, and a wide, 1 3/4" neck up at the nut, I like a thin neck in the other direction, not a deep C shape.  Boy, I hope this makes sense.  Setting the E bass string over close to the edge of the fingerboard seems to help with the thumbover stuff.  The radius of the fingerboard is another comfort factor.  Compound radius is good.

The next guy, perhaps with hands as big as mine, might have come from a Strat and finds a 1 11/16" wide.  Lots of better players than me, which is almost everybody, seems to like smaller neck profiles.  They drop names like Strat or Taylor, we have to listen.

I think that may be the only tools we have in this; to watch someone play and listen HARD to their reactions and interpretations of what we place in their hands.

Yer mileage WILL vary!

Dave

PS: In a previous life, I designed and built custom road racing bicycle frames for pros and well heeled amateurs.  The fit of a frame was something studied by universities in Italy and France, lots of formulae, opinions and products, both hardware and software systems existed and even more exist today.  The problem was simpler tho, as everybody just wanted to look like Eddy Merkx, who was like Lance Armstrong back in the 60's.  By look like, I mean be able to assume the same posture on the bike, and be relatively comfortable.  It was a simple process compared to instruments I believe.

Thats why I want to build instruments I guess.

Thanks for the responses!

I can see where there may not be any rhyme or reason to neck profiles and nut sizes, but there should be...

I want to make myself a guitar with an ultra slim  and  thin profile and small nut size just top prove that it will improve my playing. Ive been too busy making guitars for others though...