Neck Profiles

[Micro7312]

Hi, looking for some advice from seasoned PRS players. I have never owned a PRS before and have been looking for the last year for one, and I am ready to buy. I can be persuaded to go either route below.

Initially I was looking at the new SE's, generally because I am mostly a bedroom player and didn't feel the need to spend more on the American models, in particular the 2020 Sapphire model looks excellent. However, I don't want to "settle" (not that SE's are settling) because I appreciate quality instruments and will keep this guitar for many many years no matter what I end up getting. So I started looking at used S2 Custom 24's that can be had for $1000-$1200 used in mint condition.

Then I started thinking about the neck profiles on S2 vs SE. I have not played many PRS guitars before but I would much prefer their "thin" necks such as on the SE, mainly because my hands are on the smaller side and I tend to play more of the fast rock style.

So, my main question is how noticeable is the 1/32" different between the two neck styles? Am I splitting hairs between the two?

Of course there is the CE24s which have the thin neck but $2,000 may be stretching it for me.

 

[sergiodeblanc]

Get an of Core CE with a wide/thin neck for $1200 and live your best life.

 

[alantig]

Neck profile is a pretty personal thing - how the difference affects you depends on how sensitive you are to those things. I have small hands (a friend of mine once called them "Billy Barty hands"), but I'm pretty neck agnostic. The DGT and Regular/Pattern Regular necks are my favorites, but the thin and fat necks don't really bother me.

I'm with Sergio - get the most guitar you can get for the money.

 

[CandidPicker]

Mic,

What previous model (other than PRS) guitars have you owned? Reason for my asking is we can better assess your needs this way. This will also give us a better idea of what your hands prefer.

 

[Micro7312]

84 American Strat, squier and SG. I never had issues with any of the necks, but I know that I prefer the thinner ones. Plus my style has changed over the years, my chops are quicker and I am working hard on arpeggio sweeps and smoothing out my leads (not for metal, but more melodic rock). I will most likely be perfectly fine with the S2 but I know I definitely would prefer the thin neck if I had a choice.

 

[gush]

Used older ce is a winner

 

[CandidPicker]

84 American Strat, squier and SG. I never had issues with any of the necks, but I know that I prefer the thinner ones. Plus my style has changed over the years, my chops are quicker and I am working hard on arpeggio sweeps and smoothing out my leads (not for metal, but more melodic rock). I will most likely be perfectly fine with the S2 but I know I definitely would prefer the thin neck if I had a choice.

Hmm. Was thinking you were an Ibanez player or similar.

As most everyone has already chimed in, a used older model CE 22 or 24 will have a wide thin neck pattern. The S2 line you kind of receive the luck of the draw, not the rule. Best to make sure the S2 line you're after has the wide thin, or just find a used CE to be sure.

 

[dogrocketp]

Have an old CE, and a new (2018) S2 custom 24. Both necks are fantastic, but the S2 screams. Play before you buy. One of the 2 should speak to you more than the other.

 

[Micro7312]

Sergio was spot on. $1250 out the door. 2018 ce24, exactly what I was looking for. Thanks for the guidance.

 

[Black Plaid]

Sergio was spot on. $1250 out the door. 2018 ce24, exactly what I was looking for. Thanks for the guidance.

Killer deal, great axe.

Your embed wasn't working, hopefully this will:

 

[Micro7312]

 

[Micro7312]

1 year later - caved and bought a Core Custom 24 10 top.

 

[PRSWILL]

PRS changed their lingo around neck profiles a while back. What was Wide/Thin, is now Pattern Thin. As mentioned- this is a personal thing for sure. My PRS guitars are Wide/thin or Pattern thin depending on the age. I like the profile for lead playing very much. A Regular neck will feel chunkier - more Les Paul-ish- and I don't mid too much, but not my preference. You need to go play a few and see where you land. One thing i will say about the PRS neck- and you can find videos on this- it's the BEST neck made on a guitar. They take weeks to make and the end result is the most stable, comfortable neck you'll every play. These guitars stay in tune no matter what. I have gigged my Custom 22 for the last 26 years and it's been dropped, knocked out of it's guitar stand, I do dive bomb tremolo bends and bend the strings as ton and it always stays in tune.

 

[Slowhands]

84 American Strat, squier and SG. I never had issues with any of the necks, but I know that I prefer the thinner ones. Plus my style has changed over the years, my chops are quicker and I am working hard on arpeggio sweeps and smoothing out my leads (not for metal, but more melodic rock). I will most likely be perfectly fine with the S2 but I know I definitely would prefer the thin neck if I had a choice.

I've owned all three of those particular guitars ('82 American Strat, modern Squier, and several SGs). The early '80s Strats had a very slim neck and the 7.5" radius fretboard which is very rounded. It felt tiny. SGs very widely based on era, but in general the ones with the big batwing have a fat neck and the ones with the small half guard have Gibson's so-called thin '60s profile neck. I measured it and my PRS wide thin is very similar to my small guard thin neck SG in all dimensions except one: fretboard radius. That makes it feel a tiny bit slimmer than the SG to me even though it isn't.

That's a long winded way of saying that if you like a thin SG neck then the PRS wide thin will probably feel pretty similar to you.