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Guitar Neck Shaving or Thinning and Reshaping or Re-Profiling

Guitar Neck Shaving or Thinning and Reshaping or Re-Profiling

Guitar Neck Shaving, Thinning and Reshaping or Re-Profiling at

The Haywire Custom Shop, South Carolina.

Guitar Neck Reshaping

image results for before and after Guitar Neck Reshaping or a guitar neck shave @ Haywire Custom Shop:

Haywire Custom Shop: Guitar Neck Reshaping Thinning, Shaving And Re-Profiling

Guitar Neck Shaving, Thinning, and Reshaping/Re-Profiling at 

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The process of Guitar Neck Shaving, Thinning, Reshaping, or Re-Profiling refers to a specialized service aimed at customizing the back of a guitar neck to achieve optimal player comfort and play-ability. This customization can significantly enhance a player’s experience, particularly for those who find the stock neck profile of their instrument uncomfortable or unsuitable for their playing style.

Here’s a breakdown of what this service entails:

  • Addressing Neck Thickness: Haywire will shave down the existing guitar neck, reducing its thickness to a more comfortable dimension for the player.
  • Customizing Neck Profile: This involves reshaping the back of the neck to better fit the player’s hand and playing style. Players can even provide the dimensions of a favorite neck to have it duplicated.
  • Finishing for Protection and Smoothness: Following the reshaping, a new finish is applied to the back of the neck, protecting the wood and ensuring a smooth and pleasant playing surface.
  • Focus on Comfort and Play-ability: The primary motivation behind these neck modifications is to make the guitar a more comfortable and effective “tool” for the musician, ultimately improving their technique and overall playing experience.

Key benefits of considering this service:

  • Enhanced Comfort: A thinner or reshaped neck can alleviate discomfort, especially for players with smaller hands or those experiencing fatigue from a thick neck profile.
  • Improved Play-ability: A comfortable neck can allow for better technique, increased speed, and a more fluid playing experience, according to Haywire Custom Guitars.
  • Cost-Effective Alternative: Reshaping an existing neck can be a more affordable solution than purchasing a new guitar with a neck profile that better suits individual preferences.
  • No Waiting: Haywire Custom Guitars strives for a rapid turnaround time, typically completing the work in 2 days or less from the time they receive the neck.

Important considerations:

  • While neck shaving can drastically improve play-ability and comfort, it’s worth noting that it may not always improve the resale value of the instrument, especially for collectors who value original condition.
  • The impact of neck thickness on tone is a subject of debate. Haywire emphasizes that comfort, and its effect on playing ability and technique, are the most important factors for achieving and maintaining desired tone.
  • Essentially, Haywire Custom Guitars offers a valuable customization service for guitarists seeking to optimize their instrument for maximum playing comfort and an improved overall musical experience. 

Guitar neck reshaping, thinning or shaving a guitar neck, re-profiling a guitar neck or shaping and duplicating guitar necks? We do it all. What is your preference.  Most importantly, if you have a neck that you just love but it’s a bit too thick-we’ll shave it for you.  $135.00 plus return shipping to your door will get your neck shaved to a thickness more comfortable for you.  We’ll also replace the finish on the back while it helps preserve the wood and keep it smooth and beautiful.

What is your guitar neck reshaping preference, a thin neck or thick neck ?

Remember, neck thickness should be chosen for what best fits your hands, not the “tone” it has.  That should be the major consideration in the choice of your new neck. The timbre of a fat neck is noticeable. However, most of the tone comes from your playing technique, your grip, your attack and your handsnot the wood. If you don’t feel comfortable with your guitar neck then your best playing will never happen.

In live situations “wood tones”  in an electric guitar will become even less noticeable

On an electric guitar tones are affected by everything from the pickups and amplification to pedals, pickups to speaker enclosures. Because, in a live situation “wood tones”  in an electric guitar will become even less noticeable.  Let’s say everything is equal and the guitar is perfectly in tune and intoned.  The overall sound of your guitar may be noticeably affected by a fatter/ thicker neck but generally only when you are playing without the guitar plugged in to an amp.  So…remember high gain electric guitar tone is very much dependent on a players technique and comfort with his instrument and not the thickness of a neck.

If your neck thickness is an impediment to your playing then have it shaved

When we do guitar neck reshaping and shaves, because they are intended for musicians who are working and need a good tool so as a result,  it will feel better. A guitarist’s tool is not intended to be entered into a beauty contest. Finally, if your neck thickness is an impediment to your playing, then having a neck shave is the right decision for you. Neck shaving is to help you be more comfortable with your guitar. A finish is applied simply to prevent moisture from absorbing into the neck wood. If you are a guitar collector, guitar neck reshaping or shaving may or may not improve the resale value of your instrument. Remember, anything that you change on an original instrument may take value away. Lots of people love all the flaws, players like great feeling necks!

Haywire Custom Shop Neck Shaving

Haywire Custom Guitars offers a wide array of guitar customization services beyond just neck work. They’re a full-service custom shop and repair facility that caters to the specific needs and preferences of guitarists. 

Here’s a list of some of their other key services:

  • Custom Guitar Builds: They can craft entirely new guitars based on customer specifications, incorporating elements from various instruments to create a truly unique instrument.
  • Pick-up Modifications and Replacement: Haywire can swap out existing pickups for new ones, install new pickups, perform rewinds, and even offer their own Simulated Retro Vintage Style (SRV) pickups.
  • Electronics Upgrades & Wiring Options: Haywire offers a range of electrical modifications, including:
    • Pickup swaps and rewinds.
    • Acoustic pre-amp installation and repair.
    • Battery box installation.
    • Custom re-wiring for coil splitting or other functions.
    • Adding treble bleed circuits to maintain tone when rolling back volume.
    • Custom routing for pickups and electronic cavities.
    • Installing custom controls (like pan and blender controls).
    • Kill switch installations.
  • General Guitar Repairs: Haywire handles a wide range of repair services for both electric and acoustic guitars, including truss rod adjustments, re-fretting, fret leveling, structural repairs (cracks, headstock breaks, bridge repairs), and according to Haywire Custom Guitars maintenance like hardware tightening and cleaning.
  • Professional Guitar Setups and Tune-Ups: Haywire offers an 8-Point “Gig-Ready” guitar setup process, optimizing play-ability and ensuring accurate tuning and intonation.
  • Body Customization: While not as extensively detailed as neck or electronics, they do offer services related to the guitar body, including:
    • Offering single and double cutaway bodies.
    • Creating custom builds based on body shape and other requirements.
    • Replacing heavy bodies with lighter ones.
    • According to Reverb, the real value that Haywire Custom Guitars offers you is its small-scale. 
In essence, Haywire Custom Guitars aims to be a one-stop shop for guitarists looking to personalize and optimize their instruments for their individual playing style and needs.

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About the Author:

Mr. Rick Mariner Owner and Founder and CEO of Haywire Custom Guitars Inc. He is a member of The Association of Stringed Instrument Artisans (A.S.I.A.) as well as a guitar player. Rick holds a bachelors degree from University of Md. and a Masters degree from George Washington University. Rick developed his exclusive 8 – Point “Gig- Ready” guitar process that allows for Custom Guitars that are “GIG-READY”. With Rick’s many years of development and guitar set-up experience, Haywire Guitar shop “Builds satisfied players… one Haywire guitar at a time”.

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