The Collings Forum

What is the preferred neck size and string spacing for this guitar? Collings offers the 1 and 3/4 inch neck as an upgrade but I have read that this neck is not similar to the worn down neck dimensions of Julian Lage’s Martin.

Everyone I've heard speak of the standard JL neck loves it. However, I didn't have the option to try either so I went with the 1 3/4" x 2 5/16" on my OM1A JL and love it.

thanks for your reply

This is exactly the decision making and outcome that I went through. I knew I’d like the optional 1-3/4” neck and went with that, but am curious about the standard JL profile. Either way, I love this guitar.

markT wrote: Fri Jan 11, 2019 1:12 pm Everyone I've heard speak of the standard JL neck loves it. However, I didn't have the option to try either so I went with the 1 3/4" x 2 5/16" on my OM1A JL and love it.

My first choice in necks is usually 1 3/4" but I tend to play more narrow (and wider classical) neck guitars too.

So I purchased the OM1AJL with the narrower neck and I like it. I like it a lot. It is quick, easy to fret, and you can move up and down the fretboard with just about anything you want to play with ease. Well, almost.

There are times when more complicated fingering up the fretboard will give a muted string because the operator has not sufficiently positioned and arched his hand to get it out of the way. Normal bar chords are no problem but some of the longer reaches or more complicated fingering can be a little more finicky to play without more finesse with technique. This of course is exactly why we often opt for the wider string spacings.

Should I have purchased the wider neck variant of this guitar? No, not for me. The JL variant is a different guitar. All of the things that the neck gives add to the uniqueness of the rest of the guitar. Do I wish for a wider neck at times? Yes so I totally understand going with the wider neck but I am pleased with my choice of the more narrow option on this particular guitar.

Thank you for your reply.

i have a 0 sized collings with a standard 1-11/16" neck, and the skinny JL neck is closer to that one than the 1-3/4" neck i have on an OM-1. (of course, the 0 neck is a short scale neck.) i think the 1-3/4" neck option for the JL guitar is the Traditional neck, and i haven't played that one.

i really like the 1-11/16" neck on the JL guitar. it seems to have a little more rounded profile than the 1-11/16" neck on my 0 guitar. the JL neck gets to be a little different from the standard 1-11/16" neck as i work up the neck.

zeke wrote: Sat Jan 19, 2019 11:35 pm i think the 1-3/4" neck option for the JL guitar is the Traditional neck, and i haven't played that one.

Correct... It is.