No self-build guitar project could ever be complete without a neck. Perhaps one of the most important parts of any acoustic or electric guitar, there's a lot to consider when picking out the right neck for your model.
Picking Out Your Guitar Neck: Maple or Mahogany?
One of the most important details to consider when picking out your neck is type of wood it's made from. Most electric guitar necks are made from maple, which is a light coloured wood with a high-density, and adds a bright accent to the sound of a guitar. Most ST-style and T-style electric guitars will have a maple neck. Then there are necks made from roasted maple, where the wood has undergone a specialised heating process to remove as much moisture as possible and increase the density. This doesn't just give the wood a darker tint but makes the neck far less sensitive to extreme temperatures and humidity, meaning that it's extra stable. LP-style electric guitars usually come fitted with a mahogany neck, which is a much darker coloured tonewood that adds a warm accent to the guitar sound.
Another feature to think about is the fretboard. Here, you could also go for a light maple fretboard or a darker fretboard made from woods like rosewood. Unfortunately, rosewood is becoming a rare resource, so alternatives like blackwood, laurel, walnut or pau ferro are becoming more common.
Replacing and Setting Up the Neck: Do it Yourself
For the more creative DIY aficionado, there are guitar necks that come with an uncarved headstock, meaning that, if you're handy with a saw, you can give it your own unique shape. Actually installing and setting up a new neck is a job you can tackle yourself, and if you need a little guidance, you'll find it in our blog How to Set Up Your Electric Guitar. If you're not so confident when it comes to modifying your guitar yourself, then it can be worth seeking out a local luthier who can do the job for you.
Brands like Fazley and Boston offers up a massive range of reasonably priced guitar necks, which are great for build projects with a more limited budget. From there, you can get official Fender necks that are exactly the same as those used to build both their Mexican and American models. Note that, if you're taking the budget route, you might have to do a little finishing work on the neck to ensure a neat fit with the body of your guitar - which explains why these necks are so much cheaper than an official Fender neck.
Frequently Asked Questions About Guitar Necks
What are the dots on the neck of a guitar for?
The little dots along the side of a guitar neck and on the fretboard are visual markers to help guitarists find the right fret position while playing. Most guitars will have double dots or a special position marker at the twelfth fret so you can easily find the octave.
How do you set up the neck of a guitar?
The first step is to check if the neck is curving up or down before correcting it by adjusting the truss rod. The next step is adjusting the saddles or bridge to set the action (the string height) and fine-tune the intonation (where you make sure that the strings are at the right pitch at every fret). For a full guide, see our blog How to Set Up Your Electric Guitar.
What's a truss rod?
A truss rod is a metal rod that runs through the neck of a guitar to prevent the wood from warping and curving in or out over time. With a special hex key the truss rod can be adjusted to correct any curving.
