Tele question regarding neck shape

[Confuzzled]

Hey all,

So I've been on an exploratory journey looking for a new axe, or at least I think I am.... So sit back, put on some comfy clothes (or not) and I'll spin a quick tale.

I have this Squire Tele that I bought from a shmuck for $35 (I know, right?) who took it apart, beat it up and hit it with a sander to relic it only to find that the process was too much for him so he put it on craigslist. I snagged it immediately, put it back together, swapped the neck pickup and it's been a lovefest ever since. The neck is maple and is super comfortable. I thought the neck was a "C" shape and this weekend I drove to New Jersey (US) and tried a maple neck 40th anniversary squire Jazzmaster that had a "C" neck and besides the shitty bridge buzzing I found the neck chunky and less than comfortable.

How do I fin out the radius of my tele? The shmuck I bought it from sanded off the logo so I'm not sure of the model. Would a squire serial number tell me the model? Is there a way to measure the neck with calipers?

Ideally I would like to find something similar besides another tele.

[Blackened Soul]

Tele necks are their own shape.. however the back profiles very, C,V,U,D and so forth…
That’s why teles always feel like teles.. to match your exact neck there are a few ways.. I can post a diy thing later if I find a good vid.. to non cheap way is to get a molding shape matching tool https://www.homedepot.com/p/Empire-6-in ... lsrc=aw.ds

[coupleonapkins]

BS is correct, but also the actual term radius refers to the shape/curve of the flat part of the neck (and probably impossible to shift, unless you remove all the frets & start sanding down the fretboard - that's bravery!), which a standard 9.5 is relatively flat, whereas a vintage Fender (like a Jaguar or a Tele) with a 7.25 will have a slight upper curvature on the frets.

The neck shape (the back of the neck where your palm rests) can vary wildly, but most chunky old Teles with narrow radius (like the 7.25) had a habit of being baseball bats, because they were also so narrow, so to speak.

If someone was hacking away at the neck profile, chances are it was flattened, but all so possibly shaved into a V shape, which is not entirely uncommon these days (and severely underrated!). You mostly find V's in higher end Strats these days, seldom elsewhere.

Also, keep in mind, standard "C" shaped necks can vary on any model, let alone within that one batch - I remember when the Johnny Marr signature 1st gen Fenders were being released, and it seemed like almost none of the necks were entirely the same, based on what people were finding in the stores (it was a "D" shaped neck, however, so I believe it was due to people not being comfortable with that slight profile change).

Anyway, Squier has been 9.5 for quite awhile now (it wouldn't be the budget line without that kind of bottom-of-the-line consideration), but 12 radius are also common in the older era of pseudo shredding models. It's most likely that your Tele is a 9.5 is allsimsayin'

[Blackened Soul]

Also, keep in mind, standard "C" shaped necks can vary on any model, let alone within that one batch - I remember when the Johnny Marr signature 1st gen Fenders were being released, and it seemed like almost none of the necks were entirely the same, based on what people were finding in the stores (it was a "D" shaped neck, however, so I believe it was due to people not being comfortable with that slight profile change).

This is too true.. and the older you go the more… like my pbass that I’ve had forever, it’s a 74 with a “B” neck (in between a normal 1.75” pbass (C) and a 1.2” jbass (A) nut width) and the shape is asymmetrical where the treble side is thinner than the bass side like a less extreme EVH neck shape.. and it’s stock.. the neck still has the original finish and frets

[Confuzzled]

Thank you all, the search continues which is a good thing because now I have an excuse to try multiple guitars to find the right neck! Its a shame because I thought the Jazzmaster with a maple neck/fingerboard was the guitar for me but that neck chunkiness was the deal killer.

[imJonWain]

Nut width could also be a factor, that can vary a bit depending on the model. I would note as for fret board radius Rondo guitars and some other Asian made brands have an even flatter 13.7" (350 mm) fretboard radius. I personally really like it.

[oldangelmidnight]

This is the quest that keeps me going to guitar shops. I want to find a tele that feels good in my hand but every time I pick one up, it's too chunky. I never want to take the risk of ordering something online and not liking it.
I just want a nice soft V.

[imJonWain]

Soft V is by far the most comfortable neck ever (to me). I had a Jimmy Vaughan strat years ago and the neck was amazing.

[Gone Fission]

There’s a new MIJ series from Fender, JV 50s/60s Modified, which have soft V necks that I read aren’t huge. So those might be the ones for OAM to check out.

[oldangelmidnight]

Ooh, yeah. I don't love the white and gold look or the push/pull but if I can try one out somewhere and I like the neck, maybe I can find one aftermarket and partscaster it.

[imJonWain]

I love the look of that jv modified '60s stratocaster. I guess I'm getting old lol.

[imJonWain]

Or buy something like this?
https://stratosphereparts.com/new-fende ... n-tmo-vrq/

[coupleonapkins]

This is the quest that keeps me going to guitar shops. I want to find a tele that feels good in my hand but every time I pick one up, it's too chunky. I never want to take the risk of ordering something online and not liking it.
I just want a nice soft V.

Fender now has parts available, specifically soft V necks, for sale directly!

But since I am thrifty, I would go with a Stratosphere "lightly used" neck for about half of what Fender is selling for New

If you wait a little while, that MIJ series might also pop up at Stratosphere, like every other Fender ever made

[oldangelmidnight]

Yeah, if I can get my mitt on a Fender soft V in a shop and confirm that I like it, I'll be looking at Stratosphere to make a purchase.

[coupleonapkins]

Yeah, if I can get my mitt on a Fender soft V in a shop and confirm that I like it, I'll be looking at Stratosphere to make a purchase.

Did a little digging on some old Godin models, and found out that their Redline series had a soft-V profile. Most 1-pickup models are in the $300-400 range, but I just missed this one the other day: