'85 SF4 neck dilemma.

[coastie99]

I bought this a little while ago now, from Rumble Seat in NY. Lusted after it for a long time. The price, at the time, was high-ish and after learning that they'd had it in the shop for a couple of years, I requested a price adjustment. RS obliged, and I bought it.

I always wondered though, how such a great guitar, in mintie condition, could have languished so long. I credited that to the asking price, which wasn't exactly " out there ".

I should mention that this was a special order guitar. What's special, I don't know. Ebony board, dot inlays, master volume switch .... all typical of the era. And, not a custom-finish ( black ).

But, I have wondered if it's the neck that was special-ordered. Now, a disclaimer. "Amateur guitarist" flatters my abilities; I have little experience with other electrics, and my only yardsticks for comparison are my Bluesbird and Blues 90, both of which have very satisfactory necks.

And, my problem is with the neck. I just cannot love it, and though I understand that slender-necked SF4's are out there, I'm wondering if mine is skinnier than is typical. And that has me thinking that's why this thing sat in RS for so long.

So, can anybody with a similar-era SF4 help me out please, with a question. That is, does your neck match mine, or is mine an oddity ?

Nut width : 1 5/8" / 41mm

Depth of neck at 3rd fret : A smidge over 13/16" / 21mm

Depth of neck at 5th fret : 14/16" / a smidge over 22mm

Depth of neck at 12th fret : 15/16" / a smidge under 24mm.

Thank you,

Gary.

 

[GAD]

I went through this with my 70s SFIVs. This thread details my pain: viewtopic.php?f=3&t=12777&hilit=neck

Here's the key info. I liked the S300, but hated the SFIV. Both had 1 5/8" wide necks at the nut. The S300 was just that little bit deeper though.

         1st Fret    12th Fret
S300A-D:  54/64"       61/64" 
73 SFIV:  51/64"       56/64"

 

[Qvart]

And, my problem is with the neck. I just cannot love it

Sorry to hear that, Gary. Send it over to me. I'll adopt it. :lol:

 

[coastie99]

I went through this with my 70s SFIVs. This thread details my pain: viewtopic.php?f=3&t=12777&hilit=neck

Here's the key info. I liked the S300, but hated the SFIV. Both had 1 5/8" wide necks at the nut. The S300 was just that little bit deeper though.

         1st Fret    12th Fret
S300A-D:  54/64"       61/64" 
73 SFIV:  51/64"       56/64"

Thanks GAD.

Well, there ya go .......... that 12th fret measurement is what I have here, within a poofteenth of an inch.

Just doesn't work for me.

 

[coastie99]

And, my problem is with the neck. I just cannot love it

Sorry to hear that, Gary. Send it over to me. I'll adopt it. :lol:

Well Q, for a very reasonable sum of money, this could be yours.

I really do need to sell it, but not outside of the family.

 

[Qvart]

Well Q, for a very reasonable sum of money, this could be yours.

I really do need to sell it, but not outside of the family.

Sorry, my own "kids" are breakin' the bank. It'd have to be a charity case. :lol:

(yeah yeah yeah, you know someone was going to make the obvious and easy "send-it-to-me" joke).

 

[coastie99]

(yeah yeah yeah, you know someone was going to make the obvious and easy "send-it-to-me" joke).

Let's just say it came as no surprise ! :lol: :lol:

 

[adorshki]

Lovin' those measurements.! Mojotooth posted a question a potential buyer asked about HIS SF and I think this is what he was looking for. Nobody answered yet as a far as I can tell. In fact it's the first time I ever saw such definitive meaurements about the DEPTH at specific fret locations POSTED here, although Doc Spivey shared some similar info about his D40 with me in a PM a while back. My D40 absolutely has a chunkier neck that my D25 for example, which started me on an informal "neck survey".
SOOOOO GAD: WHAT did you use to obtain that measurement?

 

[GAD]

SOOOOO GAD: WHAT did you use to obtain that measurement?

Calipers. You can even buy a cheap plastic set that won't mar guitar finshes. Here's a pic of the one I use all the time. As you can see, I like to measure things.

IIRC, I bought it at sears probably 10 years ago for about $20-30

 

[adorshki]

SOOOOO GAD: WHAT did you use to obtain that measurement?

Calipers. You can even buy a cheap plastic set that won't mar guitar finshes. Here's a pic of the one I use all the time. As you can see, I like to measure things.

Thanks. The question was more than a little academic, because that'll give a good true depth but not a "profile", ie, "V" vs "C" or "D" where the shape of the back also influences feel. Spivey had what he described as a profile gauge with a bunch of plastic pins IIRC, but it doidn't take into account what the fretboard width was at those frets. (Yet another little detail to be taken into account. Since according to Hans all the necks were hand-finished on a belt sander, there's room for variance there too. Probably less than the depth though, 'cause it's gotta stay in some pretty tight tolerances according to the geometry between the nut and the string spacing on the saddle)
"Al the neck man" (Some people go for legs, some people go for...well you know...Me, I'm a neck man :lol: )

 

[coastie99]

"Al the neck man" (Some people go for legs, some people go for...well you know...Me, I'm a neck man :lol: )

Armpits " au naturel " ??

 

[GuildFS4612CE]

The 'profile gauge' thingamabob you're referring to is both inexpensive and easily obtained at any home supply/repair type store...flooring guys use it all the time to measure around corners and oddities when installing. Looks a bit like a pet flea comb except the teeth are moveable. You've probably seen them and not known what they were. :wink: