Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Bluesheart on March 23, 2011 at 12:19pm

ps, it seems like a LOT of extra work to make the neck taper for just a few mm of extra string spacing at the bridge so I'm trying to determine if it is worth the extra effort.Thanks.

Permalink Reply by Don Thompson on March 23, 2011 at 1:17pm

My tapered necks are about 1.5" at the body so it's fine. I have always tapered but I was willing to spend the time to do it. It's not really needed.

Don

Permalink Reply by DrByte on March 23, 2011 at 3:30pm

I've made both, my last a soprano with straight neck. I'm no expert but don't see much difference. A really good player might not like it as well though.

Permalink Reply by Bluesheart on March 24, 2011 at 4:45am

Thanks for the replies. So Don, you would start at 1.5" and taper down from that? Doesn't seem like there will be much left for 4 strings at the nut?

Permalink Reply by Don Thompson on March 24, 2011 at 5:42am

Many necks go from 1.75 at the body down to 1.38 at the nut.

Permalink Reply by econnofoot on March 28, 2011 at 1:24am

i've built soprano, tenor, and baritone ukes using 1.5" for then entire neck length,my finger boards have a slight taper widening at where I join the neck to the body.  It works ok for me as I have pretty big hands and don't notice the slight edge on soprano or tenor builds,on the baritone with it's pretty good scale length it is rather noticeable and I think my next one will be done with a proper taper.  I'm not set up to do a large amount of shaping however, so mostlikely will have that neck made.