Question Neck profiles... (EBMM/Sterling Cutlass mainly)

[David5150]

Hi all,

I'd been looking for an S-type guitar for a few months and had played a couple (Fender CS and Elite, Suhr Classic S and something else that I've forgotten) but none of them really gelled with me.
I'd been reading about the EBMM Cutlass and came across a great deal for a Sterling version and I thought I would go for this in case I ended up deciding that S-types weren't for me after all.

I collected it and instantly fell in love. My only gripe is that it is a tad heavy (well, heavier than my main Tele and moreso than I expected it to be) but the neck profile is almost perfect for me.
I decided I should get an EBMM Cutlass a month or two ago and tried one out in a store... but didn't like the neck as much?! It just didn't feel anything like the Sterling but I'm not sure whether it is radically different or whether I just wasn't feeling it that day. I just didn't get the same 'wow' factor that I did the first time I picked up the Sterling Cutlass.
I also played a L3 for the first time that day and preferred that neck but still not as much as the Sterling Cutlass...

Are there any guitars (EBSS or Sterling) with a similar (ideally the same) profile that the Sterling Cutlass has?



tl:dr - love the Sterling Cutlass neck profile but found the EBMM Cutlass to be quite different - is there anything in the EBMM with a similar profile and/or do any Sterlings have the same profile as their Cutlass?


Thanks in advance!
David

 

[coolhandluc]

I have a Silhouette Special with the narrow neck, 10in radius, vintage size frets, and nice C shape neck. the Sterling Silo 3 has I think 12in radius, medium jumbo frets, and asymmetric neck shape (I hate). So IMO there is a good change the Sterling doesn't come close to being the same as the Music Man. Just my 2 cents. FWIW, pickup upgrade on my Silo 3 made it sound great. Just needs a fret dressing and it's a great player.

 

[TonyEVH5150]

I own a Sterling Cutlass. I haven’t tried the EBMM equivalent. It has a soft V profile and a 9.5” radius. I like it. I don’t find my SBMM Cutlass to be heavy. Hits my scale at about 7 1/2 lbs.

I caught mine on a ridiculous sale. GC had one on clearance.

 

[David5150]

I have a Silhouette Special with the narrow neck, 10in radius, vintage size frets, and nice C shape neck. the Sterling Silo 3 has I think 12in radius, medium jumbo frets, and asymmetric neck shape (I hate). So IMO there is a good change the Sterling doesn't come close to being the same as the Music Man. Just my 2 cents. FWIW, pickup upgrade on my Silo 3 made it sound great. Just needs a fret dressing and it's a great player.

Thanks! Definitely need to try a Silhouette!

 

[David5150]

I own a Sterling Cutlass. I haven’t tried the EBMM equivalent. It has a soft V profile and a 9.5” radius. I like it. I don’t find my SBMM Cutlass to be heavy. Hits my scale at about 7 1/2 lbs.

I caught mine on a ridiculous sale. GC had one on clearance.

Thanks for the reply.
My Cutlass was ridiculously cheap as well. Once I'd played it I almost felt bad for paying so little for it!
Maybe the weight feels heavier than it actually is as I was expecting a cheap guitar to be really light? For some reason?!

How is the neck on the AL and JV compared to the Cutlass? Similar at all?

 

[TonyEVH5150]

The AL is more of a flattened D shape, a bit rounder on the bass side an flattened a bit more on the treble side. The Valentine is a flattened C. The neck feels a bit wider than the AL or Cutlass. I think they’re all different from each other. My personal favorite in terms of back profile is the Cutlass. The V peak hits at just the right spot.

My favorite guitar overall between the 3 of them is the AL. It sustains more, it’s lively, and it’s just nuts that it’s this good for $400.

 

[David5150]

Yeah I love the V on the Cutlass as well.

I think I just need to find somewhere with lots of different EBMM and Sterling guitars and play loads of them... which in the UK isn't that easy!

 

[LeonY]

Yes I had exactly the same experience. While the Sterling needed a bit of a fret dress and setup when I got it, it is now my favourite guitar. Finally got a chance to try the EBMM Cutlass assuming it would be an upgrade, and doesn't feel the same at all. I like the sharpish V on the Sterling, great for small hands and nothing else feels as good now. Wish they use this spec on some more high end guitars, although saying that there is not much to improve on the Sterling Cutlass. Pickups are great too. Machine heads are good enough, although that is one thing where the EBMM felt much better.

 

[Daniel]

I can't speak for the Sterling by Music Man Cutlass, but neck profile for the Ernie Ball Music Man Cutlass RS is a soft V in the first 4 frets and tapers to a soft C by the 12th. The radius on the Cutlass RS is a 10 where the Sterling (according to the website) is a 12, so the Sterling is a little flatter. The only guitars we have with a 12 radius are the Luke III, which has a slightly larger neck up the fretboard, and the Steve Morse, which is a much smaller neck.