The world of music is vast, and one of the most popular and top brands is the Fender company. They are renowned for their exquisite instruments that, in comparison to other instruments, are of the best quality and features.
As the world is moving with fast-paced technologies, one of the advantages of using Fender instruments is that you can easily embed the latest modern technologies onto their instruments as well as other musical equipment such as equalizers, speakers, amps, etc.
This is an added benefit to help you achieve all your musical requirements.
However, as marvelous as Fenders are, you still need to make sure that you carefully check if you are not missing out on some features when you choose to buy an instrument from Fender.
It is wise that you clearly understand your needs and wants; it can make picking instruments easier.
Once you are clear on what type of sounds you want to produce, you can choose guitars that fit the description. Not all typical guitars are the same but you can always modify your guitars.
The Fender channel bound neck is a particular term that the Fender company introduced, dating back to 2013.
The channel-bound necks are created for guitars to have a more compound and radius-friendly fingerboard that is laid directly into the neck of the guitar.
This can give you more liberty over the fretboard and help you attain an enjoyable musical experience.
You can easily adjust the guitar neck up and down through the Fender channel-bound neck, which will primarily help your fingers work their magic over the guitar’s fretboard.
Like many people, if you are a fan of the Fender products and are planning to buy the Fender channel-bound neck, there are a few things that you will need to keep in mind before choosing the Fender channel-bound neck.
These may not be any significant problems but it is best if you know what can be expected sometimes; such problems include:
Troubleshooting Fender Channel Bound Neck Problems
1. Missing 22nd Fret
Since the Fender channel-bound neck has a compound radius on your fretboard, you will need to understand that you will not be able to play the 22nd Fret.
This can be a problem for people who prefer to have all the fret keys on their guitars to pick tunes as per their requirements.
If you are a guitarist who doesn’t mind missing the single note that you usually find through the 22nd fret key, the Fender channel-bound neck would be a great addition that can be easily installed on your guitar, and you can enjoy tunes fully except the tune of the 22nd Fret.
You can also always choose a guitar that already comes with this particular neck type. However, if you often use the 22nd Fret on your performances or it is a must-have keynote, the high D note is also not present.
Both are necessary for you when choosing the Fender channel-bound neck is not a wise option.
Once you have bought and installed the Fender channel-bound neck onto your guitar, you cannot try and figure out an alternative way of using the 22nd fret key.
This is one of the drawbacks of using the Fender channel-bound neck, and you will have to ensure that all your performances with this neck do not involve the use of the D note or the 22nd fret.
Obviously, there is a reason why the 22nd fret key is present in your typical guitars but you need to understand that this key is not compatible with this type of Fender’s neck.
You will not find any major difference playing without this fret if you are new to guitaring and it entirely depends on what type of sounds you want to produce with your guitars.
2. Posture Problems
One another common issue you will have to encounter if you decide to buy the Fender channel-bound neck is that due to the compound radius and the arc of the saddles that match the radius changing from the starting point of the neck to the endpoint
It is not considered to be comfortable by many guitarists who have tried playing with the Fender channel-bound necks.
If you are comfortable playing the guitar in the typical posture, it is advised that you should not choose a guitar that comes with the Fender channel-bound neck installed in it.
It can cause a hindrance in your guitar playing experience, and you may not be able to create tunes as ideally as you do on any typical guitar posture.
Over time and with practice, many guitarists learn to adjust their posture and play to the best of their capabilities with this Fender channel-bound neck.
It can be difficult in the beginning for those who are accustomed to playing with the typical guitar postures and all you will need is some time and practice.
For some people, where the outlook of the guitar matters as much as the sound they produce, the Fender channel-bound neck guitar is an excellent choice!
However, if you are a true guitar enthusiast and the aesthetics of a guitar mean a great deal to you, a guitar with the Fender channel-bound neck is an attractive choice. You can quickly try to adjust your playing posture and style per this guitar’s needs.
3. Intonation issues
A common issue that most guitarists face is the intonation of this channel-bound neck with their respective guitars. Usually, guitars that already get this neck directly from the Fender company are made sure to be designed according to the neck.
When the guitar comes with the Fender channel-bound neck, it gives the guitarists the right convenience, measurements, and leverages that help with the intonation, and you will not have to be concerned about facing intonation issues with your guitar and the Fender channel-bound neck.
However, this cannot be claimed for intonation issues that might arise on other guitars if you plan to install the Fender channel-bound neck yourself.
The guitar’s bridge must be placed at a certain right angle and distance from the Fender channel-bound neck.
While trying to install the Fender channel-bound neck onto your guitars by yourself, you need to be very careful about this, as you can easily end up with multiple issues simultaneously.
It is recommended to get the Fender channel-bound neck installed by a Fender company professional who can ensure that this neck is correctly installed on your guitar.
Fender company representatives understand the technicalities of the Fender products, and they are experts at installing the Fender channel-bound neck onto your guitar.
When you get your Fender channel-bound neck installed with the help of a professional, you will not have to face any intonation problems.
If you want to install the Fender channel-bound neck on your own, you have to be careful at placing the neck at the right angle and make sure the distance between the neck and the bridge of your guitar is sufficient for the neck to be perfectly installed.
These may sound like small things to keep in mind, but it is all about how precisely the Fender channel-bound neck is installed onto your guitar.
If the neck is not correctly installed, you will notice problems immediately, and in the worst-case scenarios, either this neck or the bridge of your guitar can get damaged during the installation process.
Both the Fender channel-bound neck and the bridge of your guitar are fragile parts and must be handled with utmost care. If at some point, you feel unable to set the right angle and distance, you should consult a Fender professional who can help you.
It would help if you did not keep trying, as it can cause severe damage to the channel-bound neck and the bridge of your guitar.
Just finished installing a channel bound neck on a fender costume bode . Had 0 problems. Used a SM shin in the neck pocket , intonation was no problem. Set the bridge at a 16” radius. Think you make to much out of a simple problem. Love it.