Buying my first Musicman... Help with neck shapes

[jptortor]

I am looking at a Musicman because my favorite guitar that I have ever played was an Axis. The build quality and tone was outstanding.

I am looking for a Luke, Silhouette, or Silhouette Special. I am most curious about the neck shapes as I am not in a city that makes it easy for me to try these in person...

I really like slimmer necks or asymmetric necks like a Peavey Wolfgang.

I know that the Luke is a v neck, but how big is it? I have played an OLP Luke and found the neck really uncomfortable not due to the V but more due to the size.

I suppose an Axis sport is also on the table assuming it has decent single coil sounds.

Please help! From one Musicman lover to another!

 

[candid_x]

Howdy and welcome.

You're already familiar with the Axis neck. The ASS and Sport share that shape.

Silhouette Special and Silo are ....... freakin' fantastic!! Ok, you can tell I'm partial to them. A nice C carve. Not skinny, but on the small-med side.

The AL, from what I understand, is slightly fatter than the Silo.

 

[jptortor]

Howdy and welcome.

You're already familiar with the Axis neck. The ASS and Sport share that shape.

Silhouette Special and Silo are ....... freakin' fantastic!! Ok, you can tell I'm partial to them. A nice C carve. Not skinny, but on the small-med side.

The AL, from what I understand, is slightly fatter than the Silo.

Hey thanks for the warm welcome! Yes, as much as I liked the neck on the Axis, I did find it a bit narrow. Also, purely vain and silly, but I would really prefer a strat type guitar.

 

[PugNinjas]

Hey Now,

Welcome to the forum, one of the legends around here organized a project that might help you out, check out this thread

http://www.ernieball.com/forums/mus...ckleheads-volunteer-neck-profile-project.html

 

[TonyEVH5150]

I can tell you, having played the Axis and Silo/Silo Special. The Axis has probably the best neck ever designed, broken-in and very comfortable. Like you've been playing for years. Way more comfortable than the Wolfgang neck. Still Asymetrical, but not as flat as the Wolfgang.

The Silo/Special neck is equally comfortable, closer to the classic strat style C shape, but surprisingly comfortable and easy to adapt to coming from the Axis. I view it as a non-broken-in Axis neck.

I've tried out a Luke neck, and it didn't feel right. After playing the Axis and Silo, the Luke felt too wide and thin. Like my hand was having to stretch too far to reach any of the frets. But, that's just my personal experience. I also have smaller hands, and the Axis and Silo profiles fit me perfectly.

I've tried an AL too, and felt like it was really close to the Axis neck, feel-wise. D shaped, just not as worn-in as the Axis.

 

[whitestrat]

I can tell you, having played the Axis and Silo/Silo Special. The Axis has probably the best neck ever designed, broken-in and very comfortable. Like you've been playing for years.

The Axis (read: Axis. Not ASS or Sport) had the nicest neck I've ever tried. The only reason I'd not buy it is that it only comes in HH, and has a FR. And no, the ASS is NOT the same neck.

 

[Astrofreq]

Axis hardtail all the way, if you can find one.

 

[TonyEVH5150]

The Axis (read: Axis. Not ASS or Sport) had the nicest neck I've ever tried. The only reason I'd not buy it is that it only comes in HH, and has a FR. And no, the ASS is NOT the same neck.

I've owned several Axis and Sport/Super Sport guitars, and it is the same neck. There may be some VERY slight variations, but it is the same neck profile. The only major difference is that the Axis and Super Sport still use birdseye maple, and the Sport is maple.

Not trying to start an arguement. Just repsectfully disagreeing with your previous statement. I can understand the difference in feel. I've had Silo Specials that felt different, even though they were the same neck profile. I even tried out a 20th anniversary Silo, felt the profile to be too wide, then tried another of the same model, and it felt great.

 

[Slingy]

I think the frets play a big part in the feel as well, but try a real Luke. The V is very soft on mine, but enough to make me rest my thumb closer to the center when playing lead, and hangs over the top when anchored down in one spot.

If you are wondering, Luke has low profile wide, JP has high profile wide, and Axis and Silo have high profile medium.

 

[Jimmyb]

I've got a few Sports and a Super Sport.

There's a tiny difference between each neck, but it is only a tiny difference and most probably due to the hand finishing of the necks.

 

[DavidOfOz]

I know that the Luke is a v neck, but how big is it? I have played an OLP Luke and found the neck really uncomfortable not due to the V but more due to the size.

I've only touched an OLP "Luke" once, but my impression was that the neck is quite different to the a real Luke, with the V being quite pronounced. The Vs on my MM Lukes are quite soft (subtle), and very (very) comfortable to play. In fact, if I play anything else these days, it feels like I have to work harder!

Of course, its all subjective. If you can, try to hunt down a Luke to borrow for 1/2 hour or so.

 

[whitestrat]

I've owned several Axis and Sport/Super Sport guitars, and it is the same neck. There may be some VERY slight variations, but it is the same neck profile. The only major difference is that the Axis and Super Sport still use birdseye maple, and the Sport is maple.

No no, I don't meant same neck carve. The shapes are the same. I meant that the ASS necks are a little thicker than those on the Axis, no? Every piece I've played exhibited that, and when I help them side by side, the differences were visible. It's like how the dimensions of the necks on the Silo Specials and the Silhouettes are a little different.

 

[Jack FFR1846]

Are there fret differences between an ASS and Axis?

I know my Wolfgang has far larger frets than my ASS. Huge difference in ease of playing (the ASS is far easier to be fast). I do not know if my Wolfgang has been refretted....it's used and was 10 years old when I got it. The radius is also way different between them.

jack

 

[Assumer]

I think the frets play a big part in the feel as well, but try a real Luke. The V is very soft on mine, but enough to make me rest my thumb closer to the center when playing lead, and hangs over the top when anchored down in one spot.

If you are wondering, Luke has low profile wide, JP has high profile wide, and Axis and Silo have high profile medium.

What do you mean by low profile wide and high profile wide. I have a JP and love the neck but have never played a luke.
Thanks

 

[beej]

Holy thread resurrection!

He's referring to the size of the frets. "Low" or "high" is how tall they are, wide obviously refers to the width. The Luke has smaller, lower frets than the JP for example.

 

[Jamie M]

I know nothing about next shapes except the ASS neck is awesome