Hi folks

Regarding the neck profiles, what have you found that you like and why(such as a round neck or a flat D shape)?

The only nylon i have is a Conde EF4 and i would call it a D shape with a definite flat middle. I like it a lot but have never played anything else.

My steel strings have the following: (all 3 are 1 13/16" at the nut)
1 has a definite C shape
1 has a full shouldered C shape but an ever so slight flat middle-very slight(love this one)
1 has a very very soft V shape

What do you typically find in Flamenco guitars-regarding the neck profile-feel free to elaborate on why/what you think about your past instruments.

thanks
daryl

Hi;
Both my classical and flamenco have D profiles. I have an Epiphone with a C profile. I think that the differences in use of the fretting thumb explain much of the differences. I'm not a luthier and I've never seen a discussion of this, but my feeling is that the width of the classical/flamenco neck and the use of the thumb in support movement through the full width of the neck call for the flatter profile. The smaller shoulder on the C profile allows the thumb to be more easily used in some fretting in steel-strings. Also, given the longer scale of a steel, the D profile might cause problems for many styles of playing. That width wouldn't be a problem probably for someone used to classical widths and thumb technique, but could be for a steel-only player.

All that said, I think a lot of it comes down to what you get used to.

byron