Hollow Body Neck

drdbl

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Nov 26, 2023
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I have a CE24 with pattern thin neck. Would like to get a hollow body, but was informed that none are made with the thinner neck size. Any ideas as to why there aren't more neck size options?
 
The traditional way of thinking was that you needed more wood in the neck to have the best response. The modern way of thinking is that It’s more cost effective. I find the neck on my SE Hollowbody to be a little less wide and fat than my core guitars, and very well suited to my hands. The core Hollowbody I had felt the same.
 
The traditional way of thinking was that you needed more wood in the neck to have the best response. The modern way of thinking is that It’s more cost effective. I find the neck on my SE Hollowbody to be a little less wide and fat than my core guitars, and very well suited to my hands. The core Hollowbody I had felt the same.

Well, Dog, that's very interesting to hear. Just to be clear, did your core guitars have the "pattern thin" neck or something else? Thanks.
 
I have a couple of each. The wide fat core necks feel more substantial to my hands than the SE Hollowbody. My core SAS is the beefiest. I played mostly archtops for 25 years or so. The SE Hollowbody scratches the itch nicely although I have a 16” non cutaway copy of the original L5 in case I ever play big band again.
 
I'm not sure why they list these as wide/fat? I've been shopping for a HB and was expecting a neck similar or larger than my McCarty, but they feel closer to a pattern thin to me.
 
Here's the thing - When I contacted PRS I was told that only the Semi-HB's are available in a thinner neck, not the full HB's. When someone reports that a guitar neck feels a certain way, how would someone else know what that feels like to them? I love my PRS and play it everyday. However, I don't get PRS's nomenclature. It just reminds me of going into a Starbucks and reading their ridiculous sizing names.

My original question was looking for an answer as to why PRS doesn't offer a "Pattern Thin" in a full HB.
 
My seHb2 feels chunky. More so than the rest of my WF. I even double checked the specs on arrival to make sure I didn't mix them up and it had a pattern vintage. Still a great neck but nothing like my wide thin guitars.
 
My original question was looking for an answer as to why PRS doesn't offer a "Pattern Thin" in a full HB.

No one here will be able to give you a definitive answer to a question like that. The likely answer is that PRS believes they'll be able to sell more with a Wide Fat neck than a Wide Thin, and that having additional SKUs to manage by offering both isn't a desired thing from a business standpoint.
 
I have recently bought my first PRS guitar a SE Paul’s model with a wide fat neck.
Coming from the acoustic guitar world, I was looking for a wider fatter neck which I’ve found with the Paul’s SE model.
Now I’m looking to get an SE HollowBody. I was only able to try the SE Hollowbody 11 (Maple). And Unfortunately the neck feels much to thin for me. I’ve read on the net that the SE Hollowbody Standard was slightly bigger while PRS web site refer them to be the same. I live in Ontario Canada and there isn’t any standard version in any store near me at the moment. Would anyone know more about this Neck profil Issue ?
Thank you
 
I was looking to buy a SE Hollowbody, went to the store and tried one. So disappointed about the Wide/Thick neck on the Hollowbody, really disliked the Wide/Fat neck. Ended up buying a 2013 SE Custom made in Korea, it had a very Wide/Thin neck. Guess my search for a 13" Hollowbody with a wide/Thin neck will take me outside of the PRS world. BooHoo
 
Good luck finding an explanation for neck size options.

I also have a CE24 that is great. Wanted a full hollow body instrument. PRS not an option due to the neck difference between the two. I tried. Purchased a D'Angelico hollow body which is fantastic. Highly recommended.
 
The options for neck size on PRS HB's are limited, and W/F only option for HB SE IMO was a mistake, but then most hollow guitars from any mfg have necks that are on the chunky side.

That said, I own 3 PRS HB's
HB I - thin neck reshaped at the PTC.
HB SC - reshaped by myself to thin.
HB SE - with wide/fat, that I am considering selling as it is only good to me for strumming chords and is a chore to play lead on for my hands.

I hate to admit it, I've been PRS exclusively for decades, but if I were just starting in guitars right now, with the limited options and liking thinner necks, I might be playing something else.
I can say that I love EVERYTHING else about PRS designs (tone, playability, ergonomically, aesthetics) and the ones I have with thin necks fit me and my playing style like a glove.
 
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I've had a Hollowbody II Piezo for going on 3 years now, and I love the neck. Isn't as fast as my S2 Thinline or my 24-08, but it isn't as chunky (feel wise) as my NF3. It fits me beautifully though. I want to try out a Duo-jet but have yet to find one that I can take for a spin, and I'm not familiar with your D'Angelico enough to offer any response on that.
 
Huge Loe,
I was considering buying a used Hollowbody and re-shaping the neck. How did your HB SC reshape do??
 
Good luck finding an explanation for neck size options.

I also have a CE24 that is great. Wanted a full hollow body instrument. PRS not an option due to the neck difference between the two. I tried. Purchased a D'Angelico hollow body which is fantastic. Highly recommended.
Which model D'Angelico, I am looking for a smaller bout like the PRS Hollowbody, I believe it's about 13"
 
The options for neck size on PRS HB's are limited, and W/F only option for HB SE IMO was a mistake, but then most hollow guitars from any mfg have necks that are on the chunky side.

That said, I own 3 PRS HB's
HB I - thin neck reshaped at the PTC.
HB SC - reshaped by myself to thin.
HB SE - with wide/fat, that I am considering selling as it is only good to me for strumming chords and is a chore to play lead on for my hands.

I hate to admit it, I've been PRS exclusively for decades, but if I were just starting in guitars right now, with the limited options and liking thinner necks, I might be playing something else.
I can say that I love EVERYTHING else about PRS designs (tone, playability, ergonomically, aesthetics) and the ones I have with thin necks fit me and my playing style like a glove.
Huge Love,
I was considering buying a used Hollowbody and re-shaping the neck. How did your HB SC reshape do??
 
Huge Love,
I was considering buying a used Hollowbody and re-shaping the neck. How did your HB SC reshape do??
Piece of cake, I had already stripped the finish on the entire guitar, took it down with a file & a caliper to measure it. Got it close to the size of the thin neck done by the PTC on my other axe, then sanded it down by hand to a perfect fit. In all honesty I like it better than the one done by PRS, cause I tailored it to my hand.
I don't have any step by step pics of what I did but here's the thread of the rebuild.


If you get fearless and decide to do a reshape on a HB feel free to hit me up for any tips I can share.
 
I have recently bought my first PRS guitar a SE Paul’s model with a wide fat neck.
Coming from the acoustic guitar world, I was looking for a wider fatter neck which I’ve found with the Paul’s SE model.
Now I’m looking to get an SE HollowBody. I was only able to try the SE Hollowbody 11 (Maple). And Unfortunately the neck feels much to thin for me. I’ve read on the net that the SE Hollowbody Standard was slightly bigger while PRS web site refer them to be the same. I live in Ontario Canada and there isn’t any standard version in any store near me at the moment. Would anyone know more about this Neck profil Issue ?
Thank you
The SE Hollowbodies (standard, standard Piezo, HBII, HBII piezo) all have the exact same wide/fat neck. Personally, I find them wider than they do fat, but still very comfortable. The chunkiest neck I own is on my 2013 Epiphone LP Traditional Pro, which is what I compare it to. The SE HB is still both wider and fatter than my other guitars, though.
 
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