I'm Nihei, in charge of electric guitars!!
When you think of Fender neck shapes from the 1950s, isn’t the V-neck the first thing that comes to mind?
I think that distinctive V-shape is one of those designs that people either love or hate!
So why did Leo Fender adopt the V-shaped neck?
It’s said that the inspiration came when Leo watched a country-western musician play, noticing how they used their thumb to fret the low strings (the so-called “handshake style”).
Apparently, the guitar they were using at the time was an Epiphone Emperor.
So it’s said that the Fender V-neck was modeled after the Epiphone Emperor!
I actually had the chance to handle a 1953 Emperor and examine the neck shape—I still remember being impressed and thinking, “It really does look just like the Fender V-neck!”
Around 1958, the neck design shifted from the V-neck to a flat neck, and there’s a story that Leo made this change based on feedback from players.
The V-shape was born precisely because Fender was so attuned to players’ needs. Conversely, it’s quite moving to think that it eventually disappeared precisely because of that same commitment to listening to players.
If you ever get the chance to play an Emperor, try to picture Leo’s face and the Fender V-neck!!
See you next time!
Nihei
