Question What's the significance of 1/16th of an inch?

[jazzyitalian]

I recently bought an Albert Lee HH from Glory Days in Joplin, MO. (Well it hasn't arrived from the Fed Ex guys yet. But it will on Saturday). I probably would have looked past the Albert favoring at the Morse instead if it weren't for the fact that this particular HH release dons the much warmer and fuller DiMarzio's. Oh Yeah baby. I LOVE DiMarzio's! But I digress.

When I was reading up on the specs I saw a very slight, seemingly insignificant difference in the neck dimensions verses the Axis. I have owned the Axis.

What I saw was that the Albert is 1/16th of an inch wider at the last fret vereses the Axis. In all other respects the neck is the same. I guess I'll find out on my own what that means. I'm a bassist first and foremost. So I probably won't detect anything between the axis and the Albert. Besides, what we see on the bass side are width differences at the nut from a Sabre to a Ray to a Sterling. That's very noticable.

But I'm looking for the intellegent explaination here because this difference is happening at the very last fret. What is the rationale behind this subtle difference at the last fret. Does it have a big impact for guitarists? Just wanting to learn something new.

Thanks...

 

[ozzyrules]

But I'm looking for the intellegent explaination ...

Thanks...

Well,
I don't think I have anything intelligent to offer, but I will say that I had no problem with the transition from Axis to Al. If you decide you don't want the Al, hit me up, I'll take it off your hands. Lol. Seriously, you're going to love it.

 

[bvdrummer]

I have an Axis and a Reflex (same width as AL, but 12" radius). The necks do feel slightly different but they're both great, and I don't have any trouble going back and forth between the guitars. Actually I thought the Reflex nut was wider too, but I just looked it up it's not.

 

[beej]

It's always hard to judge a neck by those kinds of measurements- mostly it's the profile that affects the feel, etc.

In terms of significance, the narrower necks like the Luke & Axis aren't interchangeable with the wider ones.

 

[Stratty316]

I have an Axis and an Al. The Al neck feels a little bigger and a little flatter than the Axis overall. Going from the Axis's neck profile to the HHAL was the toughest part. My best advice is to put the Axis away for a month and play the hell out of the Al before you do an A/B comparison. i don't notice the width difference when I swap, but the neck profile still takes a minute to get used to. For the record, I only played my Axis for about 10 years before getting the Al. Now I play the Al and Silo Spec and the Axis doesn't get much time. The Al profile is pretty nice to say the least.

Ps. I've always considered the Axis neck the "perfect" neck.

 

[jazzyitalian]

Thanks Guys. Those are all intelligent explanations.

I actually liked the Axis. I got mine in 2002. It was a superb instrument for 14 years. But I had to trade it in for the Albert because I have this commitment to consolidating my guitar collection to those that offered the kind of diversity I felt I needed. The Albert Lee offering a warmer tone and a trem bar seemed to be a great start in that direction.

So the Axis is gone and in due course so will my PRS Santana. Those are the two guitars the Albert Lee is replacing.

If the fret board is larger or flatter on these, then so be it. I play bass, so I can sink into a larger feeling board on a guitar more easily than a smaller one.

 

[Jamie M]

Ps. I've always considered the Axis neck the "perfect" neck.[/QUOTE]

I totally agree with that

 

[Rachmaninoff]

What I saw was that the Albert is 1/16th of an inch wider at the last fret vereses the Axis.
(...)
What is the rationale behind this subtle difference at the last fret. Does it have a big impact for guitarists? Just wanting to learn something new.

If the distance between the strings at the bridge is the same, a wider fretboard means you have more room "at the bounds" of the fretboard, which implies your high E is less likely to "escape" outside the fretboard. It's a matter of preference. Some people like very wide fretboards (Steve Vai) while others like narrow ones (Yngwie Malmsteen). You should try both to see which one you like most.

 

[jazzyitalian]

Thanks-

I got the Albert Lee and I like the slightly wider one better. The profile feels more flat too which is good for me.
I'm not at all turned off by the body shape either. It sits on my lap much better than I had thought it would.
Looks can be deceiving

I'm glad I bought this one.

 

[Stratty316]

Glad to hear... Al's are awesome!

 

[Tollywood]

Ps. I've always considered the Axis neck the "perfect" neck.

I totally agree with that

Me, too. I love my Axis necks, but I find the Albert seems pretty similar so I love that one, too.