Les Paul 50's neck vs. 60

[lex666]

Whats the main difference between the 50's and 60's neck on a Les Paul? I know the 60's is described as 'slim taper'. Does that mean more narrow at the nut? And I think I read the 50's neck uses meduim jumbo frets. Isn't that on the 60 too? What are the pros and cons of the 2 necks, and which more closely resembles the neck on an Epi Les Paul?

 

[Thames]

Re: Les Paul 50's neck vs. 60

A 50's neck is usually a baseball bat neck. Fat and chunky.
A 60's is slimmer/thinner. Some refer as "faster".

I do prefer the 50's neck.

 

[Simon_F]

Re: Les Paul 50's neck vs. 60

Does that mean more narrow at the nut?

The width of the necks (i.e. side to side of the fingerboard and nut) is the same. It's the depth and profile that's different.

I have a Standard with 50s neck and a Classic with 60s neck and I like them both. The 60s neck feels smaller in your hand, and if you have small hands it's easier to play with regard to stretches and also accessing the top frets. Conversely, the chunkier 50s neck gives you more leverage for bending and is more comfortable for chording. I don't know how they compare with Epis.

 

[Marty Horne]

Re: Les Paul 50's neck vs. 60

I have fairly small hands and short fingers but thin necks have never felt good to me. The 50's style Les Paul neck is very comfortable for me as is the wide-fat PRS neck.

 

[Jeffrec]

Re: Les Paul 50's neck vs. 60

A 50's neck is usually a baseball bat neck. Fat and chunky.
A 60's is slimmer/thinner. Some refer as "faster".

I do prefer the 50's neck.

I defintiely prefer the '50's neck. My LP Custom has a nice fat, but tapered neck. I think it gives you more sustain.

 

[59paul]

Re: Les Paul 50's neck vs. 60

I have Paulys with Both necks.
The 60's ( actually a 1960 ) feels less " substantial " in your hands.
I find this more comfortable for me.

I dig both, but I prefer the 1960.
< see avatar....1960 Les Paul.
...........................................

 

[ex-250]

Re: Les Paul 50's neck vs. 60

anyone know how explorer necks compare statistically to the 50s and 60s shapes? gibson doesnt list the thickness at 1st & 12th frets for explorers on their site, but they do for SGs and LPs. im just wondering cause i wanna do a warmoth this summer, and the explorer's neck feels a little more flat on the back than i want for the warmoth, so maybe their version of the '50s is what i want

 

[Gearjoneser]

Re: Les Paul 50's neck vs. 60

I only like the 50's neck, or also referred to as the 59 profile.
When I had a Classic 60, my left thumb muscle would get fatigued faster, especially when playing rhythm for a long time. A 50's neck can play just as fast, provided the nut is cut right and the action is perfect. Some people don't think thinner necks have a thinner tone, but I think it's almost more important than the body wood itself.
The fatter the neck, the less energy is lost between the body and headstock.
That's one reason why the Historic 'batnecks or boatnecks' sound so great. I still think those are tad chunky for my taste, so I opt for the regular 59 profile.
I won't ever consider a 60's neck anymore. I quickly sold every Gibson that had one.

 

[strat_master]

Re: Les Paul 50's neck vs. 60

just wondering but how does a 60 neck compare to a strat neck? My hands are relatively small so would i prefer a 60's neck? A strat neck fits me perfectly

 

[JeffB]

Re: Les Paul 50's neck vs. 60

just wondering but how does a 60 neck compare to a strat neck? My hands are relatively small so would i prefer a 60's neck? A strat neck fits me perfectly

Which Strat? There are a bazillion shapes and feels in Strat necks over the years. They still make about 20 different kinds I think ...C shape, V shape, U-shape..baseball bats, 7.5" radius, 9.5 radius, 12" radius, etc etc.

Even the MIM strats don't feel the same as the american strats...even thogh they both are touted as having the "modern c-shape w/ 9.5" radius" neck.

 

[Simon_F]

Re: Les Paul 50's neck vs. 60

My hands are relatively small so would i prefer a 60's neck?

I don't think anyone else can tell you that. You just have to play some of each and see.

 

[texasguitarslinger]

Re: Les Paul 50's neck vs. 60

I've played both and prefer the '60s neck.

 

[ledzepp29]

Re: Les Paul 50's neck vs. 60

The 50's neck on the standards is really only a little bit bigger than the 60's, I don't even think its quite as big as the 59's shape. I've compared both. The 'real' fat ass neck is the "early 50's" neck, this is the neck that truly carries the "base ball bat" nickname. The early 50's neck comes on the 57 reissue goldtop and all the LPs before that. I own a classic and am buying a 57 reissue(after I sell the classic of course), two polar oposites of gibson neck profiles, and I can't honestly say that the 57s neck is SO much better than the 60's, they are both cool. But do I prefer the early 50's to the 60's now? Yes...

edit* and yes, I have fairly small hands