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Thread: 22 vs 21 fret necks

  1. #1
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    22 vs 21 fret necks

    Any reasons why you would want to have a 21 fret neck over a 22 fret neck except for the vintage look?

    The difference between a 24 and 22 fret neck is quite substantial if you look at PRS and GIbson but just wondering if you lose or gain anything by having one or the other on a strat except vintage looks and a semi tone!!

  2. #2
    Forum Member chuckocaster's Avatar
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    Re: 22 vs 21 fret necks

    it seems to me that you are just loosing a half step. i have yet to ever really need that extra fret. 21 works great for me. but it doesn't really matter to me anyways.
    "don't worry, i'm a professional!"

  3. #3
    Forum Member Don's Avatar
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    Re: 22 vs 21 fret necks

    Doesn't matter to me either, though I don't care for 24 fret necks because the neck pickup needs to move to a less desirable position to accomodate the extra frets that I'd never use anyway.

  4. #4
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    Re: 22 vs 21 fret necks

    I can live without the 22nd fret on a Strat - I look at it this way - it's not a limitation, it's an opportunity to do something more interesting.

  5. #5
    Forum Member ManiacalMetalist's Avatar
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    Re: 22 vs 21 fret necks

    On a strat, I prefer 21 frets cause it's easier to take the pickguard off without the overhang.

  6. #6
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    Re: 22 vs 21 fret necks

    Quote Originally Posted by ManiacalMetalist
    On a strat, I prefer 21 frets cause it's easier to take the pickguard off without the overhang.
    Does make surgery a little harder, huh? Even so, I still HAVE to have that high D.

    I don't care for 24 fret necks because the neck pickup needs to move to a less desirable position to accomodate the extra frets.
    Amen, brother. I mean I wish I COULD have those extra 2 frets, but not at the price of a crappy-sounding neck pu.

  7. #7
    Formerly joe mama
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    Re: 22 vs 21 fret necks

    Yeah the pickguard thing is a good point. That can be a pain with a 22 fretter. That's really the only downside.

    But, I like the vintage type strats and tele's neck feel, nitro etc.. So I always get stuck with 21 frets. I end up needing a 22nd fret almost daily! With teaching, everybody always seems to bring in these solos that hit those high notes. Alot of the more shreddy solos use them. Also, most rock or blues tunes are in "E". It's nice to easily bend that high D up a full step.

    But, all the necks with the cool feel have 21 frets...sigh...

  8. #8
    Formerly joe mama
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    Re: 22 vs 21 fret necks

    Oh yeah on my nocaster, I set the front pickup's height for a high E note! It works great. so that's my "secret weapon" 24th fret!

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