The term “neck profile” refers to the shape of the back of a guitar neck in cross section, and it’s often used interchangeably with the term “back shape.” You can also refer to it simply as “neck shape,” although there are other important neck measurements with which “neck profile” shouldn’t be confused (i.e., neck width, neck depth and fingerboard radius).
So, what does all this mean to the average guitar player who is considering buying a Fender guitar with a description that mentions the instrument’s neck profile?