Here at AxCalibur Industries, we recognize that no one neck design can work for everyone. There is no "One size fits all" . With that said, we offer a wide variety of neck options so we can custom tailor one that is right for you.
If you want a thin neck with a wide fretboard, we can do this. If you want a roundback design with a narrow nut width, we can do this too. With this in mind, here are several aspects and options to consider.
Scale Length:
We offer 24.75, 25.0, and 25.5 inch scale lengths. While most guitar afficionados will recognize these lengths as Gibson, PRS, and Fender scales respectively, we can "mix & match " these lengths as required for your custom. For example, if you want a 24.75 inch scale length on your AxCalibur strat style guitar, or a 25.5 inch scale on your Merlin, we can work with that.
Nut widths/options:
One of the most critical components of any guitar is the nut. Every aspect of this small piece is crucial to the tone, playability (action), and accurcy of the instrument. The materials, shape, width, and slotting of the nut are all part of the greater overall equation. It is because of this that there are several options available to you.
While all AxCalibur Industries guitars come with Graph Tech Tusq XL nuts as standard equipment, other materials include bone, brass, or Delrin. Other options include roller nuts provided you don't have a tilted headstock), and locking nuts for those who choose to have a Kahler or Floyd Rose style tremolo system that requires such a nut.
Standard widths are 1 5/8", 1 11/16" and 1 3/4 " and can be interchanged to match the neck width and contours of your fretboard. (i.e.: A1 5/8" Les Paul nut width on a Strat style neck)
Headstock options:
In addition to using our own headstock shape, as well as the FENDER STRAT style for our 6 in line tuner option on both guitars and basses, we can alter or design one specially for you. Options include inlay, binding, matching verneers (to match body), tilt/no tilt, reversed (for 6 in line tuners), dye, paint, stain, or clear.
Neck Design options:
The shape of the neck has a huge impact on how well the instrument plays. In other words, it has a huge impact on how well you play. A player with huge hands will have more problems with a small narrow profile, while a player with average or smaller hands will likely have more difficulties with a deep round back profile with a wide fretboard. That being the case, we offer several profiles of neck backs, neck widths, and thicknesses for you to choose from. Once again, among these options are wood selection, finish (Stain, paint, clear gloss, clear satin, or tung oil depending on wood selection), and binding.
Contact us for more information and assistance in helping you to select the shape and contour that is right for you.
Fret/Fingerboard options:
Once again, the geometry is critical. All fingerboards have a radius, meaning they have a curve to their top. It is an inverse equation. The lower the number if inches of radii, the more curve, and vice versa. The higher the number of inches to the radii, the flatter the curve. The amount of curvature of the top of the fret/fingerboard has direct effect on where the instrument plays best, as well as string height required to preventing the strings from buzzing on the frets when doing string bends.
Fretboards with small radii tend to play easier at the lower end of the neck near the headstock but unless you have a high action, tend to buzz or "fret out" at the upper registers near the body. Conversely, flatter fretboards are easier to play and bend at the upper registers without buzzing while maintaining a lower string height, but tend to be a bit "stiff" the te lower registers. A COMPOUND RADIUS tends to give you the best of both worlds. A low action with no "dead spots" where you fret out, while making it easier to play at any point on the neck.
Our compound radius starts as a 10" radius at the nut, and flattens out to a 16" radius by the 22nd fret.We can and will work with you to create a compound radius fretboard that works best for you if you so choose.
With respect to string height, keep in mind that if you play a lot with a slide, you will normally require a somewhat higher action to prevent running the slide into the frets. In this case, you will probably have to live with the extra string height.
Fret size also directly impacts the action on a guitar. Most players will tend to find that a medium or medium jumbo fret size works best for them. Some players like smaller and lower frets, while some like larger jumbo size frets. In general, taller frets with a low, light action translates into a lighter, faster touch thereby allowing the player to achieve more speed with cleaner note articulation because you don't have to push the strings all the way to the wood. Remember, it's the FRETS that determine the pitch.
With respect to fretwire itself, you have a ton of choices. Nickel, Stainless, even a Gold/Nickel alloy that doesn't lose it's gold appearance. Contact us to help you determine what fret wire is best for you.
Wood selection:
The wood you choose for your fretboard will have a definite impact on your tone. For example, a hard maple fretboard will have a brighter tone than a rosewood. Hardness, density, grain, even the finish will make a difference.
Marker, Binding, & Inlay options:
You have a great selection as far as fretboard markers, inlay, and binding are concerned. These include, but are not necessarily limited to: dots in black, white, cream, pearl, or abalone. Stars, diamonds, trapezoid, blocks, parallellograms, shark fins, crosses, or ovals, as well as specialized designs. We can also custom inlay non traditional markers such as semi-precious stones, coins, emblems, and so on.
As far as binding goes, we can bind just the neck, just the headstock, ot both. Plastic, wood, pearloid, abalone, and metals such as brass, copper, and silver can also be used. We will even bind in gold if that's what you want. (But it is very expensive to do so!!!)
Feel free to contact us to decide what kind of markers, inlay, and binding is best for you.
