Stratocaster necks?

[lockhart flawse]

Are all Fender Stratocaster necks the same width at the nut? I find the neck on my 1982 Tokai (an exact copy of the Fender and 41mm at the nut) a tight squeeze compared to my Gibson neck - is there a wider neck option from Fender or any of the decent copies?

[anonymous-user]

lockhart flawse said:

Are all Fender Stratocaster necks the same width at the nut? I find the neck on my 1982 Tokai (an exact copy of the Fender and 41mm at the nut) a tight squeeze compared to my Gibson neck - is there a wider neck option from Fender or any of the decent copies?

No, but most are 43mm, or 1.6875”,
(1-11/16”) I think. Some years are different, and I think 2015 Fender made some with 44.3mm (1.75”) or wider, nuts but they weren’t liked and they reverted to 43mm.

Of course, it depends who’s making them but I still think 43mm is by far the most common.

I have a Pacifica which is 41mm. I’ve been looking for something wider. The best shot of a decent make with wider neck seems to be a Gordon Smith but they’re not that cheap.

Thing is, if you delve into specs of the various makes the nut width is often listed.

[lockhart flawse]

Thanks - it turns out that Gordon Smith is a very good call. Their standard neck is 43mm with a 45mm option. My Gibson is 43mm and it's fine. Doesnt seem like 2mm would make much difference but it's night and day for me.

They can make you can a customised Gordon Smith Classic S - a Strat - to your own spec for about £1000. Seems like a real bargain and I am giving it serious thought as my new day to day guitar.

[anonymous-user]

Please let us know if you go for one, especially the 45mm

I have a Taylor acoustic which is 43mm but occasionally wish it was a touch wider. Sometimes it’s fine, others I mute strings. Seems my fingers change shape during the day or something!!

[anonymous-user]

I was interested in a GS Graduate. I suffer from Dupuytren's and like the idea of the shorter scale length too, with the 45mm nut.

Problem is they start at £1300 + options, a lot for an experiment. I’m left handed too so no used ones about!

[Escapegoat]

Biggest change to an existing Strat is a replacement neck with a 1 7/8in nut width (47mm, I think). ISTR that Warmouth does them, or see here: https://www.biglouguitar.com/product/big-lou-wide-...

I don't suffer too badly on Tokai Strat necks (have had '79, '82 and now a maple-necked '83 Springysound). But I do prefer Gibson's '60s profile necks in general.

[lockhart flawse]

So I was just about to order a Gordon Smith Classic S when I got hit with a big bill to replace some windows. Still very interested to get one but in the meantinme I have bought a cheap 2006 USA Highway One HSS with a 43mm nut to tide me over.

I am pretty underwhelmed by it so far. Its got a supposedly upgraded Seymour Duncan neck pickup but compared to the humbucker on my Gibson it seems very underpowered. Also it arrived with a terrible set up so there is quite a bit of fiddling around to do to get it nice to play but the wider neck does makes it easier to play in the first position for me. The neck is a bit of a lump though I am sure I will get used to it.

It confirms that my Tokai Silver Star is a really good guitar; it has a great neck and action and stays in tune better than any guitar I have ever owned. I thought I might sell it but I will be keeping it. I will shove a picture of the 2 in the guitar thread sometime.