Differences in Regular/Standard and Wide Thin Necks?

[LerxstFan]

I'm looking at getting another PRS - can't have just two

I have a Willcutt DGT and a 59/09. I like both necks. I also played a CU24 for about 8 years with a W/T neck, so I know I like that carve. I have never played a PRS with a regular/standard neck.

From what I understand, the DGT carve is 'similar' to a regular carve. How different is the regular from a wide thin? I remember my CU24 neck being shallow and flat...very different feel from my DGT and 59/09. Are the shoulders on a regular more pronounced? - like a C shape...I'm reaching here in my description, so any help comparing the two carves would be awesome - thanks all!

 

[jrw32]

I'm a long time fan of Wide Thin necks & recently picked up a SAS Studio with a Pattern Regular neck...the descriptions I have read say the depth is the same/similar to a Pattern (or older Wide Fat). To my hands, it's much more similar to a Wide Thin, though maybe a bit more rounded/tad more shoulders than a Wide Thin. The depth feels pretty much as shallow to me as Wide Thins. I don't know if the fact that it's a maple neck with the finish sunken into the neck, but I've had no trouble getting used to the neck profile other than adjusting to the narrower nut width. I have also played DGTs, & to me the Pattern Regular on my SAS doesn't feel quite as fat as the DGT neck. I have no experience with the older "Regular" necks. Hope that helps.

 

[LerxstFan]

Thanks for the great info - I have been finding some nice CU24's but many of them have the regular neck carve, which has kept me from going for them...if the regular carve is closer to a wide thin, then I'll give those guitars a try.

 

[Proxmax]

tastes are different - and hands of course too.
i like the regular best due its rounded shoulders.
the DGT seems to have higher frets so it appears a bit beefier,
but same comfortable.
wide thin is to me too near to ibanez shredders and no rounded shoulders.
i'd even prefer wide fat instead.

for me the optimum would be a DGT with rosewood neck.

 

[Chester]

Regular is close to WT

I too am a long time fan of WT necks, and feel equally at home with regular / DGT carves without adjusting my playing style

 

[tolm]

In my - limited - experience it varies by number of frets as well:

- Tried a KL1812 with a 24 fret Regular neck but it felt way too thin and narrow.
- Really wanted a Wide Fat but fell in love with a 25th Anniversary SAS with a 22 fret Standard neck. On paper, identical to the 24 fret Regular neck dimensions. Felt more rounded, closer to a Wide Fat in depth and just a great playing neck. Satin finish helps, too.
- Tried a 22 fret Standard neck 25th Mira 245 Soapbar. Neck felt absolutely identical to the 22 fret Standard neck on the SAS. Great guitar, incidentally, but body was far too light for me.
- Now also have an SC250 with a 22 fret Wide Fat neck. Depth feels the same as the 22 fret Standard but with bigger shoulders / string spacing.

Dunno if any of that is helpful but it's what I've exerienced. I can very happily switch between the 22 fret Standard and 22 fret Wide Fat. The 24 fret Regular (Standard) felt way more skinny.

 

[LerxstFan]

Thanks all for the responses. It looks like I'm going to pick up a Custom 24 soon with a regular neck carve and see how it feels. I have no trouble switching between my DGT and my 59/09 - which although a wide fat carve feels a lot thinner because of the unfinished rosewood neck. I'm hoping the CU24 feels closer to that carve than the DGT.

 

[jrw32]

Thought I'd chime in again here. I played a P22 over the weekend with Pattern Regular neck, & the neck felt significantly fatter than the Pattern Reg. on my SAS Studio...perhaps the lack of finish on the maple neck creates a slightly thinner profile...either way, I felt a difference.

 

[LerxstFan]

Thanks for the additional info - I went ahead and pulled the trigger on a CU24 with a regular neck profile. Many years ago, I had the good fortune to play an 85 or 86 VY CU24 with a regular profile at the old Garrett Park Guitars location - can't believe they let me play it considering what it was selling for - and remember that it felt different compared to the WT on my CU24 - not bad, just a very different feel in the hand. The guitar was killer and my one experience with a sweet switch - a very good time and great memory

 

[tdarian]

I wish PRS would expand it's neck offerings to the larger side of the Pattern.

 

[rschleicher]

There's a fairly new video on the PRS website (Blog area) that shows the 3D computer modeling SW that's used now for necks. What occurs to me is that it would be fairly easy for the PRS web site to add a few cross-sections of the various neck profiles (at the nut, 12th fret, and at the body, for example), to augment the basic dimensions that are already provided (in the Support area). These are easily obtained from their existing 3D models. (Possibly they use Solidworks for the modeling.) I appreciate that the dimensions are there, but they really don't give a complete view of the differences between the various necks.

 

[tdarian]

I wonder if that cross sectional view could be modified....using the wonders of computer technology, to show what a larger sized Pattern neck would look like, if it existed.

 

[noah76]

Hi new here . The OP asked the same question I was going to ask. Can someone tell me what neck would be the closest to Gibson 60's slim neck? Thanks.

 

[cosmic_ape]

There's a fairly new video on the PRS website (Blog area) that shows the 3D computer modeling SW that's used now for necks. What occurs to me is that it would be fairly easy for the PRS web site to add a few cross-sections of the various neck profiles (at the nut, 12th fret, and at the body, for example), to augment the basic dimensions that are already provided (in the Support area). These are easily obtained from their existing 3D models. (Possibly they use Solidworks for the modeling.) I appreciate that the dimensions are there, but they really don't give a complete view of the differences between the various necks.

I agree it's easy to do. The question is whether or not they're interested in releasing this information...

 

[JoarE]

I agree it's easy to do. The question is whether or not they're interested in releasing this information...

Maybe they are not, but it sure would be very interesting for a lot of end users.