Forum guitar necks

[jazzereh]

While I'm still a bit sad about not getting a custom label like we had on the FVI, I'm not sad at all about my Forum VII.  Been playing it a lot. 

But, while it's likely my imagination, I'm wondering if anyone else who has both the VI and the VII feels a difference in the neck.  Admittedly it's very slight but when I'm playing the VI it feels like I can do a thumb around to the low E a bit easier than with the VII [this is near the nut, btw].  Is it possible that the VII neck is a bit thicker?  I don't have any way to measure the thickness of the neck or to confirm the width of the necks for that matter, but the neck profile of the VII seems like it might be a bit more rounded - a bit more 'C' shaped rather than 'D' shaped, if that makes sense. 

Like I say, probably my imagination.  Just thought I'd ask.

[Riverbend]

I don't think you're imagining it. Mine is almost 1/16" thicker between the 1st and 2nd frets. I felt it right away and at first thought it was maybe the body depth was making it feel that way. It's definitely thicker than my Forum VI.

[Rockysdad]

I noticed *something* was different, there's a *feel* difference to me.

I wondered if this was going to be mentioned.


Separately, along with a regular label, and a poor fitting flat top case, I kinda feel cheated in a way.

[William2]

Does that kind of neck difference really matter? I think the neck width is more relevant. All my Larrivee dreadnoughts are 1
& 11/16". And I'm very used to it. My Martin DSS-17 is 1 & 3/4". I've listed my DSS-17 for sale and I rarely play an instrument I list but this time I made an exception so not to be sorry about selling it. I'm actually liking the difference between the two widths. I need more proper finger placement with the Larrivee and a bit more stretch with the Martin but both work and I may not sell the martin LOL. The only neck I've never liked was the Waterloo Jumbo King with its severe V neck profile. It just hurt. I do notice a slight difference in my neck on the D-03R and my two D-40s. But it is negligible.

[mike in lytle]

I didn't notice cause I haven't played the two guitars back to back, but I measured the LSV VI and the new redwood topped 000-01 both between the first and second frets.
The VI is .793, the -01 is .833, so the difference is .040.
Mike

[jazzereh]

Thanks for the confirmations, guys.  I felt the difference right away when I started playing but was not sure what I was feeling. 

Does it matter?  Well it is very slight and I'm sure I'll not give it a second thought after a while it's just that it was there right off the bat.  I do switch between the VI and the VII as well as to two other guitars I play a lot [Halcyon's] so it's still noticeable as I start playing but after a bit of playing time, not something I think about.

[Riverbend]

Put the calipers on my VI and it's 18 mm. The VII is 19.25mm

[mike in lytle]

Does that kind of neck difference really matter?

It matters if someone raises the issue and we become curious about it. So we learned a little bit.
For example, we found out about the different bridge heights on the Forum VI, and as a result we got a good explanation from John Jr about bridge fitting.
Mike

[musical123]

Separately, along with a regular label, and a poor fitting flat top case, I kinda feel cheated in a way.

I don't blame you for feeling that way as I would feel cheated too. I hope everything works out.

[Silence Dogood]

Does Larrivee have one neck shape or just one neck shape per specs for a guitar like the Forum model?  Showing ignorance on my part but I've actually not played many Larrivees since they are so hard to find.

I have a D03BW and my son has a regular D03.  The neck on his guitar is narrower than mine.  The feel throws me off a bit when I play his guitar.  I have a friend with a D02, and his neck feels narrower still, almost like an electric guitar.  I would have thought they'd all have the same neck, being dreads and being similar models in the lineup. 

[B0WIE]

Does Larrivee have one neck shape or just one neck shape per specs for a guitar like the Forum model?  Showing ignorance on my part but I've actually not played many Larrivees since they are so hard to find.

I have a D03BW and my son has a regular D03.  The neck on his guitar is narrower than mine.  The feel throws me off a bit when I play his guitar.  I have a friend with a D02, and his neck feels narrower still, almost like an electric guitar.  I would have thought they'd all have the same neck, being dreads and being similar models in the lineup. 

1 11/16 and 1 3/4 are two popular nut widths in dreads. The neck will typically be sized to the nut width. You might be experiencing that difference.
Even though it's only a small difference, I find the smaller one to be very uncomfortable. Some players don't notice, others are very sensitive to these things. This slightly wider forum neck sounds like a dream to me, but everyone has their own preferences.

[Riverbend]

I think the conversation on the VII necks is about the thickness, and not the width. Mine is 1.5mm thicker than my Forum VI. And it's not a problem, and I can adapt to that small of a thickness rather quickly. A narrower nut, however, is a whole different case of "I don't like it'. I've sold my 1-11/16" guitars because that simple little 1/16", divided between six strings, was uncomfortable for both hands.

[jazzereh]

My initial comment was about the thickness, not the width.  Riverbend, I'm thinking you must have meant 1.5mm, not cm.  1.5cm is about a half inch.  Can't be that. 

As I noted initially, I did sense a difference in the feel in my left hand when I first started playing the VII.  While it is not a great difference I did feel it.  Maybe that was because I was going back and forth between the VI and the VII. 

[Riverbend]

Jazz, you're absolutely correct, I meant millimeters. I have more trouble with a keyboard than with a guitar neck these days!