1959 Les Paul: what's the real deal's neck profile?
- Thread starter theWalrus
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JeffB
Let it B
Re: 1959 Les Paul: what's the real deal's neck profile?
They all vary as they.were done by hand. Most are big by todays standards, but they were not as big as previous years. Some ended up.C or D...some have claimed a few had a very soft V,.along with rounder raddii,.similar.to a.fender.
There is no single neck profile. Even if you try 5 modern r9s they will all be different..
Only you can decide what is comfy. Your hands are different than every single person on this forum.
They all vary as they.were done by hand. Most are big by todays standards, but they were not as big as previous years. Some ended up.C or D...some have claimed a few had a very soft V,.along with rounder raddii,.similar.to a.fender.
There is no single neck profile. Even if you try 5 modern r9s they will all be different..
Only you can decide what is comfy. Your hands are different than every single person on this forum.
Edgecrusher
Well-known member
Re: 1959 Les Paul: what's the real deal's neck profile?
This ^^^ The hand shaping made for variations from guitar to guitar sometimes pretty massive ones. Even if you go shopping for modern R9's they still shape them by hand so each is a bit different in very general terms though a 59 should have a thinner neck than a 58 and a thicker one than a 60 but thats very general terms.
This ^^^ The hand shaping made for variations from guitar to guitar sometimes pretty massive ones. Even if you go shopping for modern R9's they still shape them by hand so each is a bit different in very general terms though a 59 should have a thinner neck than a 58 and a thicker one than a 60 but thats very general terms.
the guy who invented fire
Fuzzy. Guitars
Re: 1959 Les Paul: what's the real deal's neck profile?
While they did all vary from one to the next the 59's were all still pretty large however they do tend to have much softer shoulders than most reissues.
While they did all vary from one to the next the 59's were all still pretty large however they do tend to have much softer shoulders than most reissues.
Re: 1959 Les Paul: what's the real deal's neck profile?
At least back in the day when Gibson made a copy of Eric Clapton's "Crossroads" ES-335, there was a computer to laser scan it and model the entire guitar in 3D; it's on youtube. I bet they do the same for historics. However, when it comes to necks, they had a standard neck for a sanding machine operator to feel, compare, and stop when the time is right. Of course they more than likely do a rough measurement to check. I don't know if that still applies today.
Thanks for the responses, folks. I think I might get a '59.
At least back in the day when Gibson made a copy of Eric Clapton's "Crossroads" ES-335, there was a computer to laser scan it and model the entire guitar in 3D; it's on youtube. I bet they do the same for historics. However, when it comes to necks, they had a standard neck for a sanding machine operator to feel, compare, and stop when the time is right. Of course they more than likely do a rough measurement to check. I don't know if that still applies today.
Thanks for the responses, folks. I think I might get a '59.
Edgecrusher
Well-known member
Re: 1959 Les Paul: what's the real deal's neck profile?
k: Post pics if you do.
I think I might get a '59.
k: Post pics if you do.
MetalManiac
Li'l Junior Member
Re: 1959 Les Paul: what's the real deal's neck profile?
What is a "Soft Shoulder" on a guitar? The one I play from a studio I get to play at has a beefy neck, but i like fat necks..it feels perfect to me, Not huge , but considerably bigger than medium and I don't have big hands. Maybe its cause of the shoulder.
What is a "Soft Shoulder" on a guitar? The one I play from a studio I get to play at has a beefy neck, but i like fat necks..it feels perfect to me, Not huge , but considerably bigger than medium and I don't have big hands. Maybe its cause of the shoulder.
Last edited:
Peter Crossley
Active member
Re: 1959 Les Paul: what's the real deal's neck profile?
The shoulder of a neck is the section just below the fretboard, I like to remove a lot of the timber there when making necks, even for guys with big hands,
a skkinny neck with big shoulders feels uncomfortable too,
If you play with your thumb hooked over the top, I know its not ideal, but a lot of guys do it, then its where yout\r thumb joint, just back from the knuckle towards your hand makes contct with the neck, remove a lot of that, and hey presto!!!
it starts to feel great...
D necks are the biggest culprits here, and can actually accelerate carpal tunnel and tendonitis..
The shoulder of a neck is the section just below the fretboard, I like to remove a lot of the timber there when making necks, even for guys with big hands,
a skkinny neck with big shoulders feels uncomfortable too,
If you play with your thumb hooked over the top, I know its not ideal, but a lot of guys do it, then its where yout\r thumb joint, just back from the knuckle towards your hand makes contct with the neck, remove a lot of that, and hey presto!!!
it starts to feel great...
D necks are the biggest culprits here, and can actually accelerate carpal tunnel and tendonitis..
MetalManiac
Li'l Junior Member
Re: 1959 Les Paul: what's the real deal's neck profile?
^ I HATE D necks! I have a thin guitar with a D neck that really gives me aggravation. Its an EVHJ guitar, wonder if his necks were D necks. I play with my thumb over the top, but only sometimes, not always.
^ I HATE D necks! I have a thin guitar with a D neck that really gives me aggravation. Its an EVHJ guitar, wonder if his necks were D necks. I play with my thumb over the top, but only sometimes, not always.
Re: 1959 Les Paul: what's the real deal's neck profile?
The one that I got the opportunity to play about 10 years ago had an amazing neck. Much closer to the 60's neck profile than the 50's but it felt different than either of those - a tad less shoulder. Felt amazing, in other words. I've not played a Paul with a neck like that before or since. Of course the age and the usage it had on it could've had something to do with it.
The one that I got the opportunity to play about 10 years ago had an amazing neck. Much closer to the 60's neck profile than the 50's but it felt different than either of those - a tad less shoulder. Felt amazing, in other words. I've not played a Paul with a neck like that before or since. Of course the age and the usage it had on it could've had something to do with it.
Boogie Bill
New member
Re: 1959 Les Paul: what's the real deal's neck profile?
They vary quite a bit..new and old. My 2006 R9 is just as big as my R8, which is supposed to be bigger. A couple of friends have R9s with much smaller and more comfortable necks, and I have played some R8s with smaller necks.
My fave is the neck on on my Guitar Center Custom Shop 1960 Tobaccoburst VOS. It's the baby bear version...just perfect for a Les Paul neck.
Supposedly Gibson has reworked the profile on their 2013 R9s to give a more accurate vintage profile.
Bill
They vary quite a bit..new and old. My 2006 R9 is just as big as my R8, which is supposed to be bigger. A couple of friends have R9s with much smaller and more comfortable necks, and I have played some R8s with smaller necks.
My fave is the neck on on my Guitar Center Custom Shop 1960 Tobaccoburst VOS. It's the baby bear version...just perfect for a Les Paul neck.
Supposedly Gibson has reworked the profile on their 2013 R9s to give a more accurate vintage profile.
Bill
PFDarkside
of the Forum
Re: 1959 Les Paul: what's the real deal's neck profile?
I've been trying to figure out what really makes a comfortable neck for me lately... Width, depth, profile, etc. so I bought a little profile gauge and started measuring all my guitars. The interesting thing is I'm most drawn to a C profile, somewhere between 1-11/16" and 1-3/4". The vintage V (like my 52 Tele) is just a tad chunky, and the more D shaped thin neck on one of Mike's clones has too much shoulder for how thin it is. Amazingly enough, the most comfortable neck is the medium C on the $200 Fender acoustic I'm borrowing from my brother! What's interesting is that the profile gauge indicates its a pure C, no character at all, just a perfect typography C from a CNC Machine.
Jeffrec
New member
Re: 1959 Les Paul: what's the real deal's neck profile?
+ 1. They varied, but in general, '58's had the fattest neck profile, followed by '59's, then the thinner profile of the '60's LP. Check out a copy of "The Beauty of the Burst". Great book with a ton of info on every aspect of the LP's from the '50's.
+ 1. They varied, but in general, '58's had the fattest neck profile, followed by '59's, then the thinner profile of the '60's LP. Check out a copy of "The Beauty of the Burst". Great book with a ton of info on every aspect of the LP's from the '50's.
uOpt
Something Cool
Re: 1959 Les Paul: what's the real deal's neck profile?
I have long ago discovered that all this neck-shaping is BS.
What I need is a good perfectly half or a bit less than half circle back and middle of the road thickness. The Warmoth '59 roundback is just perfect.
I really hate it when Fender cuts too much out of the circle, making it a too flat C, because then the angle at the fretboard is too steep.
Shoulders, outside of what would be a part of a circle, are even more stupid.
Flattening out the back also serve no purpose. Requires more thumb for for barre. Useless.
I have long ago discovered that all this neck-shaping is BS.
What I need is a good perfectly half or a bit less than half circle back and middle of the road thickness. The Warmoth '59 roundback is just perfect.
I really hate it when Fender cuts too much out of the circle, making it a too flat C, because then the angle at the fretboard is too steep.
Shoulders, outside of what would be a part of a circle, are even more stupid.
Flattening out the back also serve no purpose. Requires more thumb for for barre. Useless.
hamerfan
Well-known member
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