Method
Feel is a set of measurements.
Playability is not a mystery. It is four or five numbers, applied consistently.
Neck joint
Bolt-on — a screwed joint with a shim if needed. Serviceable, replaceable, and capable of as much sustain as any other joint. It is a joint type, not a price bracket.
Set-neck — glued. The contact area is larger and the transition smoother. The difference is in feel and repairability more than in sustain.
Neck-through — the neck stock continues into the body. Long glue lines, high stiffness, expensive to make and to repair.
Scale length
| 24.75 in / 628 mm | shorter; less string tension at pitch, easier bends |
|---|---|
| 25 in / 635 mm | the compromise |
| 25.5 in / 648 mm | longer; more tension, brighter, stiffer feel |
| 26.5–27 in | baritone and extended-range territory |
Fretboard radius
| 7.25 in | vintage; chords sit easily, bends choke high |
|---|---|
| 9.5 in | the modern default |
| 12 in | flatter; lead playing, low action |
| 16 in + | compound or flat; wide bends without fretting out |
Nut width
Electric defaults cluster around 1.65 in / 42 mm. Acoustics sit nearer 1.75 in / 44.5 mm. This is the number that decides how the first position feels, and it is rarely printed.
Action and relief
Relief first, then action, then intonation. Adjusting intonation before relief is wasted work. A quarter turn is a measurement, not a preference.
