Sweetwood Guitar Co. - Retro Series

Progressive Asymmetric Necks

The next level of neck design allowing you to play longer with less fatigue, greater accuracy and stripping away the barriers of creativity. The shape evolves across the neck - rounder by the nut, and "progressively" more asymmetric towards the heel (shaped like a bass clef).

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.

Testimonial

"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

Precision Machining

If you are one of the Cretons out there who still thinks hand machining is a superior construction method compared to CNC methods, this ends the debate. The CNC is a simply a tool. In this case, it is a router, being controlled in 3D by a computer with a precision of .001" tolerance over X, Y and Z axis. The end result is better tone and a more reliable service life. /rant. Our "3D" Coupling is simply the best in the industry. It works over 3 primary diameters, hence "3D", and has a true pipe fit. There is no air or "wedge effect" in our connection that plagues other designs (like the trapezoid coupling). Ours is 180 degrees of contact on both the neck and pocket. In skateboarding, there are halfpipes that have vert, and those that don't.

Better Tone

Having "vert" on the side walls strengthens the lateral impact load the neck can take but it also captures more string energy. More wood in the block also creates additional stiffness. Tone is subjective, but if you desire things like 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 Once you feel the string energy transfer and CONNECTION, it's obvious your square neck pocket is obsolete.

Machine Bolts

Seriously, how many of you are playing a bolt-on (er "screw in") neck where one or more of the screws can barely hold a thread?

Imagine screaming down the mountain on a snowboard. Would you prefer your bindings mounted with chincy wood screws or true machine bolts into super strong inserts on the receiving end? Thought so. We use the same stainless steel inserts that go into snowboards with a taller collar for even more threading.

Well now, you can finally call it a "bolt-on!" Sounds kinky! ;)

Pocketed Fret Slots

Some call this "blind" fret slots...either way, we started producing fingerboards this way to have a cleaner, more sophisticated look on the edge...but there are advantages.

Why Pocketed Slots are Better?

Cleaner look
Like an i-Beam, the fingerboard is stiffer = MORE SUSTAIN
Also, due to the i-Beam effect, the necks aren't as prone to seasonal adjustments = MORE STABLE

Carbon Fiber Reinforcement

This is an option on all models. You should get it.

Higher peak resonance and frequency response
Across the entire fingerboard, the resonance is more even - dead spots are unheard of
Set it and forget it. You could drive a forklift over the neck and it would still be in tune! Seasonal adjustments...LOL

Seriously though, don't drive a forklift over your guitar.

...Just Doing What's Right

Because we care:) In every aspect of production, we use the best materials and processes to ensure our footprint is as small as possible. We build our instruments to stand the test of time and hopefully, our instruments will outlive us and become family heirlooms.