The general myth is that thick neck = thick fat tone. But is that true? People have done experiments by swapping necks, but the wood is not the same. Here's a great test that keep all the control variables constant except for the neck thickness -- by using the same neck and thinning it down and tone testing! This is a very definitive test.
Listen to the examples. There isn't a huge difference. Neck thickness should likely be based on user playability preference and neck stability. Once the wood is stiff enough that it doesn't dampen the string vibrations, thickness should not be an issue. Kirn mentions he hears a difference, but that's likely because of the wood he is using and the thickness gives it more stability. But using another stiffer wood would likely negate this. And of course, the pickups and electronics, as well as amp likely dominate any of this from a tone perspective.
I have Strat-style guitars with varying body woods and neck woods. Some very different -- like Wenge vs Maple for the neck woods, or Basswood vs Alder for the body woods. But using very similar single-coil pickups and electronics, they sound incredibly similar! Changing the pickups and electronics (and component values) make much more difference in the tone. The neck and body woods help in weight, playability, stability. But way less importance on the tone.
Listen to the examples. There isn't a huge difference. Neck thickness should likely be based on user playability preference and neck stability. Once the wood is stiff enough that it doesn't dampen the string vibrations, thickness should not be an issue. Kirn mentions he hears a difference, but that's likely because of the wood he is using and the thickness gives it more stability. But using another stiffer wood would likely negate this. And of course, the pickups and electronics, as well as amp likely dominate any of this from a tone perspective.
I have Strat-style guitars with varying body woods and neck woods. Some very different -- like Wenge vs Maple for the neck woods, or Basswood vs Alder for the body woods. But using very similar single-coil pickups and electronics, they sound incredibly similar! Changing the pickups and electronics (and component values) make much more difference in the tone. The neck and body woods help in weight, playability, stability. But way less importance on the tone.
