Sweetwood Guitar Co. - Unique Features

Progressive Asymmetric Neck Profiles

Our neck designs are what put us on the map. We feature Progressive Asymmetric necks on all our guitars. Countless hours and revisions to our computer models ensure you are getting the highest performing neck in the industry.

The designs work like this: The rear profile changes across the neck - rounder by the nut and "progressively" more asymmetric towards the heel (shaped like a bass clef). This results in greater accuracy and speed in your playing with less fatigue - lowering the barriers to creativity.

Asym Standard Profile

This is a medium-thin neck. It has the illusion of feeling skinnier due to the asymmetry, but it is a medium thickness and just a hair skinnier than an American Standard for reference.

Asym Classic Profile

This is our take on the 50's neck, but less cumbersome and "not in the way." As with the Asym Standard, it feels skinnier than it is and is a big boy neck that little hands can feel right at home on.

Asym Boat Profile

This is a man's neck. Order this if you need the meat! 1.05" with very little taper like an old T...but with an Asymmetric twist making it less fatiguiging and resistant to proper technique/grip.

"I played the Leopard this AM and actually played it tonight at a party and I am absolutely floored - that guitar plays so nicely and feels so comfortable that I never managed to switch guitars . . . I play with some friends and we cover albums and tonight played Abbey Road and the Leopard Jr is phenomenal. This is just day #2, but that neck is sooo nice and plays so nicely that I do not foresee putting it down anytime soon."
-Eric T. (11/17/2013)

3D Neck Coupling

Pictured is a "Re-Imagined" Supro prototype featuring 3D coupling. The original Valco/Supro's were coupled with 2 inline bolts (really one was for the coupling and the other for the tilt). Their design was avant garde in the 50's, but this neck joint is precision machined to .001" tolerance and leaves no "air" in the gap. It also doesn't have a wedge effect like the newer Tom Anderson guitar that if over tightened can split the body. Take note how much more wood is in the block. Keep in mind this is a skinnier design than our other models and the bevel makes an illusion for being even skinnier. When you approach the edge of the neck, the block is considerably thicker and stiffer than a square block. The extra lumber is the secret sauce combined with precision machining.

Precision Machining

CNC carved to .001" tolerance over 3 diameters (the "3D" in 3D Coupling). A pipe in halfpipe connection - tighten the bolts and the neck is locked solid in place with no wiggle or slop. There is no air or "wedge effect" in our connection that plagues other designs (like the trapezoid style). 180* surface contact on the neck, 180* contact in the pocket for 360* of tone!

Stronger

True machine bolts for a longer more reliable service life. We use the same stainless steel inserts that go into snowboards with a taller collar for even more threading. No more chincy wood screws.

Better Tone

Tone is afterall subjective, but if you desire higher resonance, longer sustain and stronger frequency response (bloom), this might be for you! Once you feel the string energy transfer and CONNECTION, it's obvious your square neck pocket is obsolete.

Pocketed Fret Slots - Why is it better?

We started doing pocketed fret slots simply to have a cleaner more sophisticated look on the edge of the fingerboard. We soon realized that there are some serious advantages.

What are they...

Instead of cutting fret slots all the way through the fingerboard, .100" of material is left on the end of each slot. It hides the slot from the edge of the fingerboard making a much slicker look.

Why are they better...

Similar to an I-beam, a fingerboard with pocketed fret slots gives you Improved Strength. From the added stiffness comes Enhanced Sustain. The stiffer something is, the less vibration is lost into the neck. Another unforeseen benefit we have discovered is, due to the added stability, necks with PFS require Significantly Less Seasonal Adjustment.

Carbon Fiber Reinforcement

This is an option on all models. You should get it. The frequency response is increased across the entire fingerboard. It is more reliable and less prone to adjustments, sustains longer, a dead spots are unheard of.

...Just Doing What's Right

Because we care:) In every aspect of production, we use the best materials and processes that ensure our footprint is as small as possible while creating an instrument that will stand the test of time and hopefully out live the original owner by a long shot. We take great pride in doing what's right and responsible.