New Neck [Best Feeling/Playing Custom Necks]

F.P.R.O. · #1 10-11-2007, 12:14 AM

I know some of you guys have ordered necks from custom luthiers and all, and I've read all kinds of crazy horror stories. But out of the reputable guys out there (Christopher Woods, ETGuitars) do they play as well as the wizard profile they try to emulate? Is there a difference?

Ki swordsman · #2 10-11-2007, 07:02 AM

i imagine sometimes they'd play better, more like a good prestige or jcustom neck...

but no experience here yet..

Ranz 777 · #3 10-11-2007, 10:21 AM

I have a Universe neck from Christopher Woods. It plays pretty awesome! Very fast!
ET Guitars, I havent tried yet...............but I have an order planned for em in the near future

Jemwielder · #4 10-11-2007, 10:39 AM

A bit off topic, but I have a custom First Act guitar that has an amazing neck. It's got a very thin tung oil or perhaps gunstock oil finish on it. Gotta love a good neck.

F.P.R.O. · #5 10-12-2007, 12:40 AM

Whats the wait time these days for Christopher woods?

Ranz 777 · #6 10-12-2007, 11:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by F.P.R.O.

Whats the wait time these days for Christopher woods?

I wouldnt even want to hazard a guess on that one. The last time I talked to him, after he got caught up on back orders, he was going to dedicate his time to his "own" line of guitars, taking custom orders on a limited basis. However, he said that he will have different items available at his store on his site.
The last time I talked to ET Guitars..........they quoted me a three month wait time with the probrability that it could be sooner..........which is actually pretty darn good.

You might want to talk to Patrick Sims as well. He has a CNC machine now...........but I have no idea how far along he is with it yet. Ill be talking to him today............Ill ask him

Mike239 · #7 10-13-2007, 02:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by F.P.R.O.

I know some of you guys have ordered necks from custom luthiers and all, and I've read all kinds of crazy horror stories. But out of the reputable guys out there (Christopher Woods, ETGuitars) do they play as well as the wizard profile they try to emulate? Is there a difference?

I bought an ETGuitars custom earlier this year and i must say the neck on it is a Beast

, plays exceptionally well has no resin or clear coat on the back which allows faster playing and is basically a Jem profile.

It all comes down to the individual on how they want the neck (Clear coat or not, thickness etc) But these guys basically go off ibanez standards so if you want a Wizard neck from them then they will get ibanez's measurements and make it exact to a proper wizard with players choice of finish. They use the same measurements and exact specifications and try to give the customer exactly what they want.

Dee · #8 10-14-2007, 02:22 PM

Why do I get the feeling these custom necks are never as good as original Ibanez ones? I haven't even tried a custom but I don't hear anyone saying their custom is better.

C.Thep · #9 10-14-2007, 03:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dee

Why do I get the feeling these custom necks are never as good as original Ibanez ones? I haven't even tried a custom but I don't hear anyone saying their custom is better.

that is how i feel. i am sure they are excellent, but ibanez spent so many years developing their necks, and i'm sure they put in a whole lot of money into research and development, and machines are precise.

F.P.R.O. · #10 10-14-2007, 05:48 PM

Well Ibanez is the original, Wizard profile is their thing, copying is of course not as good as the original. But I don't want a copy. Otherwise I'd just buy an aftermarket neck. I just want a neck made to my specs.

Also: I have found a luthier in Toronto who I talked to on teh phone yesterday. He's in Toronto (as am I) and quoted me around Christmas for my neck. Awesome luthier.

www.karol-guitars.com

Acoustic guy by trade (so I don't consider this advertising; this is predominantly a solid body forum). But just check out the craftsmenship.

nutbehindthewheel · #11 10-16-2007, 06:27 AM

Warmoth will do a Wizard profile neck though they're fairly pricey but reputable.

Ki swordsman · #12 10-16-2007, 09:08 PM

ibanez spent a lot of years designing it yes, but it'd take no time for a luthier to recreate those dimensions accurately, recreate the strength designs and use even higher quality woods and higher quality finishing procedures than you get on anything under a Jcustom......

F.P.R.O. · #13 10-17-2007, 12:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ki swordsman

ibanez spent a lot of years designing it yes, but it'd take no time for a luthier to recreate those dimensions accurately, recreate the strength designs and use even higher quality woods and higher quality finishing procedures than you get on anything under a Jcustom......

Well yes, thats basically what I said above. I don't want a copy of an Ibanez neck, I want one in Wizard profile with my choice of woods (I hate rosewood and dot inlays).

shreddersymphony · #14 02-17-2008, 04:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dee

Why do I get the feeling these custom necks are never as good as original Ibanez ones? I haven't even tried a custom but I don't hear anyone saying their custom is better.

Ancient thread, I know. I'll say it. My custom neck is MUCH better than any ibanez neck I've ever played, including 3 or 4 different types of JEMs, RGs, J Customs, S series, yada yada. In fact, I have never played a better neck than the one I have on my custom, from Ibanez or anyone else.

Martyr Machine · #15 02-18-2008, 07:36 AM

I've got one on order from ET guitars. I haven't received it yet, so I can't testify as to it's quality, but the customer service so far has been absolutely amazing. It's been nothing but a pleasure to deal with them.