Thinning down a fat neck

SGFanatic

SGFanatic

New member
I have an older Orville Les Paul Custom. I like the the guitar a lot, however the neck is a little too fat for me. Maybe not fat, but just not the shape I like. It’s sort of a 50s style C shape. I really like the SG Standard or the ESP necks for my playing. I guess that would more of a D shape. I’m wanting to sand the neck down some, just to give a little more comfortable play. Some of the feedback I’ve gotten is that I shouldn’t do it, with the risk of sanding through to the truss rod slot. I guess that could happen, but I’m not sure I would be that careless. Anyway, has anybody out there done this modification before, and what were your results? If you have had positive results, please let me know how you did it. Thanks
 
Re: Thinning down a fat neck

I have a thinned down neck. Went from a C to more of a D and no finish. It plays great but looks like crap :)
 
Re: Thinning down a fat neck

Haven"t done it yet but I have a LP I'm going to shave down a bit. Go get a micrometer measuring tool at an auto parts store. Sometimes they are called a "dial indicator". Take measurements from the middle and outboard areas at the first fret, 5th fret, 12th fret ...ect... of a neck you like. Then take the neck down incrementally to the points that it matches the neck you took the measurements from, and then smooth it out with 600 grit.
 
Re: Thinning down a fat neck

There are several luthiers out there who do complete historic makeovers on Les Paul's, and part of the process available to you is having the neck reshaped to a specific profile; ex. 59' profile, 60' profile and more. Based on your description, the shoulders on your neck are larger than you prefer. If you have the shoulders softened, the shape morphs into a very soft V, and it's fantastic. It's not a V shape at the bottom, it retains the roundness. Just more like a V than either a C or a D. I have that neck shape on my 57' RI LP. It's thick..... .90 @ 1st fret and 1.01 @ 12th fret, but since the shoulders are soft it fits my hands perfectly, even though my hands are not big.

There are probably at least a half dozen shops out there with the qualifications to do this. Historic Makeovers are the best hands down, but expensive. I'm also not sure they'd take on just a neck reshape/refinish. Check out Lay's (in Ohio somewhere) and even RS Guitar works. They get praise for their work.

One more place.... let me find it, hold on. https://www.badmojomakeovers.com/gibson

Give these guys a shout. Great reputation. They don't list neck reshape specifically, but they have some ala cart options listed where some of the others offer packages only. If you ask them and they don't offer that service, I bet they know who does.

I would have it done professionally no matter what. My guess is $300 ish, maybe a tad more. The price of a high quality refret. You don't want to cheap out on something as important as the neck shape.
 
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Re: Thinning down a fat neck

I'm about ready to do the same to my 2016 Gibson SG Special. It has a 70's neck profile which is pretty big. My SG has a black finish so it will be really easy to blend in the color after filing and sanding. I bought a nice StemMac file for the job. I didn't see where you mentioned the color of your neck. The other factor is the top coat. My SG has a Nitrocellulose finish will be easy to blend. Poly finishes are not easy to blend. I plan on using a moulding conture finder to measure 3 places on my 2008 Gibson Flying V and make three 1/8" plywood templates to use while reshaping the SG. I'm keeping it a C profile because the chances of taking too much wood off the back of the neck are less. If you change the profile to a D there will be less wood in the back/ middle and the neck could become "noodley" and loose it's structural stability. If you want to see how a V profile feels, check out Eric Johnson's signature strat. (I personally don't like the V profile). I like the Epiphone 60's slim taper D profile (Casino), the regular Gibson slim taper C profile (like the Flying V and Les Paul Special) and The G&L / Fender stratocaster C profile the best. Good Luck!
 
Re: Thinning down a fat neck

Go get a micrometer measuring tool at an auto parts store. Sometimes they are called a "dial indicator".
Click to expand...

These 2 precision measuring tools ARE NOT the same things.

This is a micrometer: It's a hand held measuring device.
https://ae01.alicdn.com/kf/HTB1Y436...Screw-Gauge-103-137-Caliper-Measure-Tools.jpg

This is a dial indicator: It is NOT hand held - it must be used in conjection with another measuring device that holds the indicator.
http://www.mini-lathe.org.uk/images/dial_indicator.jpg
 
Re: Thinning down a fat neck

Thanks for the replies folks. I thought I had instant email subs to this thread, but I guess not. I’ve been to Lay’s guitar in Akron, and they’re good guys. I’m still thinksong about doing this myself.
 
Re: Thinning down a fat neck

I've done many, many necks.

Very easy and not much chance of going into the truss rod (unless you're a complete idiot and use a belt sander with an 80 grit belt and wear a blindfold while working).

You'll need a course and fine rasp and some sandpaper.

Like Jeff suggested, reducing the shoulders (creating a semi soft V) requires very little work, but makes a big difference in the way the neck feels.

I totally love the feel of an asymmetric soft V shape...the thickest part of the neck is more toward the top of the neck, about opposite to the "D" string. That makes it feel thin under your fingers but fills-in some thickness in the crotch of the hand. It's very comfortable and easy to play. I've been making this neck shape on all of my builds lately.

Just go to work and do it.
 
Re: Thinning down a fat neck

I agree with Guitardoc. If you're worried about screwing it up, go with sandpaper only and it'll be so slow going you won't have any issues.

I'm about to reshape the neck on my Dot Deluxe. I like the guitar a lot, but I'd like it more with the asymmetrical shape described above.
 
Re: Thinning down a fat neck

ICTGoober said:
These 2 precision measuring tools ARE NOT the same things.

This is a micrometer: It's a hand held measuring device.
https://ae01.alicdn.com/kf/HTB1Y436...Screw-Gauge-103-137-Caliper-Measure-Tools.jpg

This is a dial indicator: It is NOT hand held - it must be used in conjection with another measuring device that holds the indicator.
http://www.mini-lathe.org.uk/images/dial_indicator.jpg
Click to expand...

I have both these separate tools in my shop so I have no excuse for having described them as the same. Thanks for the correction.
 
Re: Thinning down a fat neck

I would sell it to someone who wants it for what it is. You can find Les Pauls with thinner necks, easy.

If you must do it, you should take it to a pro IMO. If you must do it yourself, do practice runs on beater guitars first.
 
Re: Thinning down a fat neck

A micrometer or caliper is useful for overall depth, but one of these is the best way to visualize and replicate the actual shape of a neck, IMHO;
johnson-gauges-2206-64_1000.jpg


Larry
 
Re: Thinning down a fat neck

GuitarDoc said:
I've done many, many necks.

Very easy and not much chance of going into the truss rod (unless you're a complete idiot and use a belt sander with an 80 grit belt and wear a blindfold while working).

You'll need a course and fine rasp and some sandpaper.

Like Jeff suggested, reducing the shoulders (creating a semi soft V) requires very little work, but makes a big difference in the way the neck feels.

I totally love the feel of an asymmetric soft V shape...the thickest part of the neck is more toward the top of the neck, about opposite to the "D" string. That makes it feel thin under your fingers but fills-in some thickness in the crotch of the hand. It's very comfortable and easy to play. I've been making this neck shape on all of my builds lately.

Just go to work and do it.
Click to expand...

I think I will. I just wanted a few opinions first. The “soft V” shape is intriguing. The contour gauge might be the way to go for me. I do have a junk guitar I’ll mess with first.
 
Re: Thinning down a fat neck

I spent all afternoon yesterday sanding and thinning the neck on my Nightswan because it was too thick and I like bare oiled necks. Id recommend getting a junk neck or two and practice on those first so you get the hang of it because despite how simple of a job this really is, there is so much more to it than youd read on a screen. Hands on seat time is what will get you going more so than anything else so grab a junk neck and start sanding.
 
Re: Thinning down a fat neck

I have an SG Special in Worn Brown that has been an excellent candidate for this process. I always liked it but the the neck was their '50s shape, and I prefer a '60s profile. Years ago, I rounded off the fretboard edges and that helped quite a bit. But I still wanted to do thin it up a bit more, so last year I started taking a file to the back of the neck and have been very gradually working it into a more asymmetrical shape. Every time I change strings I file it a little more, and it gets better each time. The nice thing about that model is that all I have to do is sand and oil the wood after each filing session and we're good to go.
 
Re: Thinning down a fat neck

SGFanatic said:
I have an older Orville Les Paul Custom. I like the the guitar a lot, however the neck is a little too fat for me. Maybe not fat, but just not the shape I like. It’s sort of a 50s style C shape. I really like the SG Standard or the ESP necks for my playing. I guess that would more of a D shape. I’m wanting to sand the neck down some, just to give a little more comfortable play. Some of the feedback I’ve gotten is that I shouldn’t do it, with the risk of sanding through to the truss rod slot. I guess that could happen, but I’m not sure I would be that careless. Anyway, has anybody out there done this modification before, and what were your results? If you have had positive results, please let me know how you did it. Thanks
Click to expand...
I wouldn't, if I were you. Leave it stock, and buy an Epiphone with the carve you like.

Sent from my KFGIWI using Tapatalk
 
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