The open string notes repeat at the 12th fret (and again at the 24th fret they repeat again), so you only need to memorize the fretboard up to the 12th fret. Less common are what are known as scalloped fretboards, which are said to help with faster playing and to facilitate note-bending techniques. Most fingerboards have a convex curve to them and the fretboard radius measures how severe a curve a fingerboard has – a 9.5” fingerboard radius is a popular choice. The fretboard is a piece of wood glued to the flat side of the neck and are commonly made from hardwoods such as rosewood, maple, and ebony. As the shape of the neck tapers the further up it you go, neck width measurement is generally taken at the nut. It’s a subject of debate how and where the neck should be measured. The area where the neck meets the body is called the ‘neck joint’ and there are several types available – the most common is the set neck found on most acoustics and some electrics such as the Les Paul, and the bolt-on beck found on the Telecaster and most other Fender guitars. The fretboard is a separate piece of wood that is glued to the flat side of the neck. The neck is not to be confused with the fretboard.
The neck is the long piece of wood that attaches the headstock to the body. They sometimes require adjustment, and after a lot of use, should be replaced. The type of nut can also have a direct bearing on the guitar’s action, and ultimately it’s sound. They can be made from a variety of materials, such as bone, graphite, or brass. The nut is positioned at the end of the fingerboard and controls the spacing of the strings and their height above the fretboard (and the edge).
Make sure you check this if buying a used guitar. One word of caution: Decent tuners that don’t slip are essential if keeping your guitar in tune is a priority. Some guitars have are a 3 and 3 combination (3 on the top, 3 on the bottom) such as the Les Paul, others have 6 in a line (like the Strat), and now and again you come across a guitar with a 4 and 2! Their placement varies from guitar to guitar too. There are broadly six types of machine heads, but most modern guitars use sealed or locking tuners (which stop strings slipping so easily). They are attached to and protrude from the headstock and are used to raise or lower the pitch of the strings (by tightening or loosening) and most importantly, keep the strings from slipping. Machine heads are also known as tuners, tuning heads, tuning pegs, and gear heads.
The parts of the guitar serial numbers#
The serial number of the guitar is often embossed on the headstock of electric guitars – Fender serial numbers are usually found there (on the front) whereas Gibson put their serial numbers on the back. You’ll also find angled headstocks have what is known as a ‘volute’ on the back of the neck between the headstock and the neck, to help reinforce the neck. To overcome this, they use small metal devices called string trees. Guitars with straight headstocks don’t have a natural break angle (like tilted headstocks) that keeps the strings firmly slotted in the nut. Metal guitars such as those by PRS or Ibanez use the scarf. They all serve one crucial role: to support the tuning pegs.įender have always favored the straight headstock (used on the Strat and Tele), whereas Gibson favor the angled headstock (used on the Les Paul and by countless LP imitators).
There are broadly three types of headstock (straight, angled, and scarf) that each have their own advantages and disadvantages. The headstock, as the name implies, is at the top of the instrument. Spruce, for example, provides crisp high ends and lots of volume while mahogany has a warmer, softer tone. The type of wood used affects the sound significantly too, depending on the choice of tonewood and whether it’s solid body or laminate. As the main bulk of the guitar, it’s arguably the most important component and plays a large role in the overall tone, especially with acoustics. The body is the main bulk of the instrument.