Neck Profiles for Arthritic Hands

[Diane Kauffmds]

With the problems I'm having with my hands, I'm rethinking neck profiles. I have trouble keeping my thumb in the right position. It can make fretting painful for My wrist.

I've tried playing different neck profiles, but none have helped. Does anyone have suggestions?

[Gary Gill]

I play tenor ukulele as well as built them. Arthritis in my hands is often worse if I play much. I recently acquired a square neck resonator thinking I might play it with less discomfort.

[tippie53]

good luck , hope it helps you.

[johnnparchem]

I make the steel string necks for myself more like a D shape, A typical overall thickness but a little thicker on the sides. The shape I use is more like a classical guitar. I use it for two reasons I am not getting any younger and I find that the shape helps me avoid hand pain also I play a classical so I end up with a more consistent neck shape.

[Diane Kauffmds]

Thanks everyone.

[Randy]

Hi Diane

For the world to me I can't remember this builders name he's Japanese and builds in Japan but instead of putting the main apex of a more sharp D shape in the center of the back of the neck he moved it up a small amount. In the playing position the hand is tilted more up and the crook of the thumb is actually higher than the center of the middle of the neck creating a more natural place for the thumb crook and thumb requiring way less muscle or stress on the thumb and the hands.
I actually built a good jumbo with this neck profile and invited quite a few players to play it, they all thought it was really weird and didn't know if they liked it at first, but as they started playing they really grew into it and all said it seem more natural but they didn't know if they would like it in the long run so I hung it up... sold that one... and don't build them anymore You might search for this builder and check this neck profile out it's quite popular in Japan and Europe.

[Diane Kauffmds]

Hi Diane

For the world to me I can't remember this builders name he's Japanese and builds in Japan but instead of putting the main apex of a more sharp D shape in the center of the back of the neck he moved it up a small amount. In the playing position the hand is tilted more up and the crook of the thumb is actually higher than the center of the middle of the neck creating a more natural place for the thumb crook and thumb requiring way less muscle or stress on the thumb and the hands.
I actually built a good jumbo with this neck profile and invited quite a few players to play it, they all thought it was really weird and didn't know if they liked it at first, but as they started playing they really grew into it and all said it seem more natural but they didn't know if they would like it in the long run so I hung it up... sold that one... and don't build them anymore You might search for this builder and check this neck profile out it's quite popular in Japan and Europe.

Randy, your post helped a lot. You're describing precisely what I want to achieve.

I don't have the strength to keep my thumb in the proper position when I fret; my thumb slips up toward bass E, which throws my hand outward. I just had a major revision surgery in my right hand and wrist; I'm scheduled in January for the same on my left. It's important for me to keep my wrist and hand in a neutral position. It's clear that the "one size fits all" conventional neck profiles, don't work for me.

I thought of a trapezoid shape as shown in this picture, but softened with the "ridge" between P2-P1 slightly higher, which would give me an "anchor point" for my thumb. It sounds similar to what you're describing. I'll search the internet for the builder that you mentioned.

I think I need to sit down and hold the neck so that my hand and wrist falls into the right position, then mark where my thumb really needs to be, at the top, center, and bottom of the neck, then go from there. I'll look for the builder that you mentioned.

thank you!

[RnB]

For the world to me I can't remember this builders name he's Japanese and builds in Japan but instead of putting the main apex of a more sharp D shape in the center of the back of the neck he moved it up a small amount. In the playing position the hand is tilted more up and the crook of the thumb is actually higher than the center of the middle of the neck creating a more natural place for the thumb crook and thumb requiring way less muscle or stress on the thumb and the hands.

Isn't this neck contour referred to an 'Asymmetrical' shape? SRV's favored shape...

http://www.kappi.com/blog/2012/10/asymm ... ck-shapes/

[Diane Kauffmds]

For the world to me I can't remember this builders name he's Japanese and builds in Japan but instead of putting the main apex of a more sharp D shape in the center of the back of the neck he moved it up a small amount. In the playing position the hand is tilted more up and the crook of the thumb is actually higher than the center of the middle of the neck creating a more natural place for the thumb crook and thumb requiring way less muscle or stress on the thumb and the hands.

Isn't this neck contour referred to an 'Asymmetrical' shape? SRV's favored shape...

http://www.kappi.com/blog/2012/10/asymm ... ck-shapes/

Thanks! I've bookmarked the URL so I can refer back to it.