Stratocaster Necks

A Stratocaster neck is a replacement neck for a Stratocaster-style electric guitar, with a headstock for six tuners in a single row. Use it to replace a worn neck, switch to a different profile or fingerboard, or put together a guitar of your own. Here you'll find original Fender necks for Fender and Squier guitars from the Player II, American Professional II, American Performer, Vintera II, Road Worn and Classic Series ranges, as well as Dr.Parts ST NECK necks in the ST shape. You can choose between 21 and 22 frets and between maple, rosewood and pau ferro fingerboards. Necks for Telecaster-style guitars are on the Telecaster Necks page.

Which fingerboard and neck profile should you choose?

A maple fingerboard is light, while rosewood and pau ferro fingerboards are dark. Roasted maple has a darker shade and, according to the manufacturer, copes better with changes in humidity. You'll find it on the Satin Roasted Maple Strat Neck and the American Professional II Roasted Maple. The Player Series Reverse Headstock and the Sub-Sonic Baritone have a pau ferro fingerboard.

The neck profile determines how the neck feels in your palm. The Vintera II 50's has a V shape, the Vintera II 60's a C shape and the Vintera II 70's a U shape. The Player II has a Modern C profile, the American Professional II a Deep C profile, and the Satin Roasted Maple Strat Neck 22 Jumbo a flatter Flat Oval profile.

21 or 22 frets, and which fingerboard radius?

The Vintera II, American Vintage II 1961 and Dr.Parts ST NECK have 21 frets. The Player II, American Professional II, American Performer and Satin Roasted Maple Strat Neck come with 22 frets. On a 22-fret neck the last fret extends over the body, so check that the pickguard on your guitar has a cutout for it.

The fingerboard radius is 7.25" on the Vintera II 60's, 9.5" on the Player II and American Professional II, and 12" on the Satin Roasted Maple Strat Neck 22 Jumbo. The larger the radius, the flatter the fingerboard and the easier it is to bend strings.

What should you know before fitting a Stratocaster neck?

• Which guitars it fits – original Fender necks are designed for Fender and Squier by Fender guitars. With a body from another brand, compare the neck heel with the neck pocket in the body; you'll find bodies in the Guitar Bodies category.
• Nut – the string slots in the nut of Fender necks need to be filed to their final depth and the neck set up after fitting, which is usually a job for a guitar tech. The Player II and Vintera II have pilot grooves marked in the nut.
• Tuners – the Dr.Parts ST NECK has tuner holes with a diameter of 7.8 mm. Pick new tuners in the Tuning Machines category.
• Finish – the Dr.Parts ST NECK R and ST NECK M are unfinished, while Fender necks have a satin or gloss urethane finish.
• Baritone scale length – the Sub-Sonic Baritone has a 686 mm scale length instead of the usual 647.7 mm and turns a Stratocaster into a baritone guitar.
• Scalloped fingerboard – on the American Professional II Scalloped, the wood between the frets is scooped out, so your fingers touch only the strings.