Trapezoidal Necks
I’ve always been passionate about pushing the boundaries of guitar design, and our latest creation, the Thor, embodies that spirit. One of the features I’ve been pondering on is the asymmetric trapezoidal neck profile, a design choice that builds on the work of Rick Toone and Ola Strandberg while carving its own unique path.
Last month, I tried to reach out to Rick Toone, the inventor of the Trapezoid Neck Profile. I’m a fan—both of his work and his approach to design. Out of respect, I wanted to connect and seek his thoughts before exploring my own take on the concept. I haven’t received a response, but with his patent (USD630676S1) having expired on January 11, 2025, I see an opportunity to build upon this idea and take it in a new direction.
I like innovation. I like breaking the mold, and this design has intrigued me for quite some time. To be honest, it’s interesting that it was ever patented at all, given its long history. The prior art for this neck profile dates back decades—Emmett Chapman, for instance, has used a similar shape on his Stick instruments since the 1970s. That said, I’m not a lawyer, so I felt it was best to wait for the patent to expire before exploring it further. I think this is an idea that all guitar builders should consider exploring beyond the traditional C, U, V, and D neck shapes.
The key advantage of this profile is its superior playability and stability. Unlike traditional semicircular neck shapes, which require constant hand adjustments to maintain contact with the smaller, tangential surface, the wide and flat contact area of this design provides a more stable and consistent grip. The trapezoidal neck design offers exceptional ergonomics for both thumb-over and especially with pinch-grip players. Many users of guitars with similar neck profiles have reported remarkable comfort, even during extended playing sessions.
It should be noted that Strandberg guitar’s EndurNeck™, invented by Ola Strandberg—another hero of mine—extends Rick Toone’s design with an asymmetric design that curves from the treble side to the bass side along the length of the neck, towards the body. The asymmetry is opposite at the headstock and body ends of the neck. Ola’s patent (US9029670B2) remains active until 2033.
Asymmetric Necks
When Ernie Ball took precise measurements of Eddie Van Halen’s guitar for the EVH signature model, they found that the neck was slightly thinner on the treble side. A similar observation was made by Fender when designing the SRV signature model. The necks were asymmetrical.
The asymmetric neck profile is another refinement aimed at enhancing ergonomics and playability. An asymmetric neck profile is one where the curve along the back is thicker on one side than the other. Typically, asymmetric necks are thicker on the bass side (or thumb side) and thinner on the treble side (or finger side). The idea behind this design is to maintain a good thickness, which some believe contributes to tone as well as improving stability, while also making it easier to reach around the neck and fret notes. Asymmetric necks became popular in the late 80s or early 90s.
Asymmetric Trapezoidal Neck
Thor Mark III’s neck will be a complete redesign. The picture above is our master template. The trapezoidal design results in more pronounced edges and flatter surfaces. This asymmetric trapezoidal neck features an off-center top plane. Unlike Strandberg’s neck profile, it maintains a straight-line transition across the neck—similar to a standard asymmetric neck but with a trapezoidal shape. The low E side has a steeper angle than the high E side, allowing the bulk of the neck to rest naturally in the curve of the palm while tapering beneath the fingers for enhanced comfort.
The original Thor neck design follows the Ibanez JEM7V, Steve Vai’s signature model, of which I am a huge fan. It has a thin “C” to “D”-shaped neck profile, more accurately classified as an Ultra-Thin C or Wizard-style neck with slight flattening towards the back. This profile has the comfort of a C-shape but with a slightly flatter feel, especially near the center, making it closer to a D-shape in some areas. It has an ultra-thin 19mm thickness at the 1st fret and 21mm at the 12th fret. This profile is optimized for fast playing, technical precision, and easy access to high frets.
This design revision incorporates both the trapezoidal neck profile and an asymmetric neck shape while retaining the ultra-thin taper of the original Mark II. This combination aims to enhance ergonomics, playability, and stability while maintaining the sleek feel that defines the Thor series. The volute, which reinforces the neck-to-headstock transition, has also been minimized and moved further back in this revision. This adjustment maintains structural integrity while reducing bulk, providing a smoother feel and improved playability. The modern aesthetics align perfectly with Thor’s design.
Pre-orders for Thor Mark III are still open! If you’re interested, reach out to us via the link below for more details.
Purchasing Thor will make you an official sponsor of the Infinity Project, an ongoing quest as presented in its white paper. Your sponsorship will mean the world to me. Ultimately, it will fund further hardware and software developments beyond what is currently already achieved.