Neck shapes on SG Jnr 61 v 65

K701 · Jul 24, 2016

My next purchase will likely be a nice Jnr. My experience of SGs is limited. I had a 99 standard and while it was a lovely guitar- played perfectly (only Gibson I've owned that played perfectly out the box), no neck dive- it just didn't have any magic and so fell neglected.

I realised I preferred the deeper cuts on the old models and love P90s. I just love the SG shape, but I don't like skinny or flat necks which a lot of SG listings proudly announce. I may be incorrect, but from what I gather a 65 neck might be more to my taste, more or a C and thicker Vs the early Les Pauls.

I live in the UK and there aren't shops with racks of vintage Jnrs and so I would have to travel to see one or 2 or buy blind. I don't want to travel to find skinny flat necks at the end of each journey.

Also are all SG necks wider than LPs?

Are the necks fairly consistent in there periods- is it even possible to find slightly chunkier C?
A lot of questions I know, any advice much appreciated.

Kris Ford · Jul 24, 2016

I had a '65 and the neck was a fuller but wide c shape, that was probably the best profile I have ever gripped in my life.
A '64 was nice as well.

Monroe · Jul 24, 2016

My early '65 (pots are late '64) SG Junior's neck isn't narrow.
It's the typical for a Gibson 1 11/16" width at the nut (1.6875")

A bit thin at the first fret: .807"
Thickness at the 12th fret is: 1.005"
Width at the 12th fret (never measured a guitar for this before) is 2.078"

For comparison, My '76 LPC is:
.863" thick at first fret,
.963" thick at 12th fret,
2.032" wide at 12th fret

And my '07 R9 is:
.934" thick at 1st fret,
1.039" thick at 12th fret,
2.067" wide at 12th fret

K701 · Jul 25, 2016

Fuller and wide- I could certainly go for. Sounds like a recipe for a tone machine.

Monroe- thanks so much for taking the time to do the measurements- very handy indeed! I haven't been able to find anything like that on he net so far. The neck of your early 65 certainly seems to fit the bill.

64s/65s it is.

Kris Ford · Jul 25, 2016

K701 said:
Fuller and wide- I could certainly go for. Sounds like a recipe for a tone machine.

Monroe- thanks so much for taking the time to do the measurements- very handy indeed! I haven't been able to find anything like that on he net so far. The neck of your early 65 certainly seems to fit the bill.

64s/65s it is.

You won't be sorry with one of those!

Progrocker111 · Jul 25, 2016

My former 64 SG Junior had wide and fairly fat, low tapered C-profile neck. Definitely not 60s thin kind of neck like on many later SGs or even reissues. It was one of the most resonant guitars i ever played.

mingus · Jul 25, 2016

Most '63s seem to be fairly full as well.

K701 · Jul 25, 2016

It's tricky asking sellers as one persons thin neck is chunky to anothers. I thought a lot of my guitars were heavy (my back said they were), never weighed them- then bought a Mustang that was weighed under 7lbs and it's similar in weight to most of my other guitars!

Are 63s still called Les Pauls?

One last question: I remember reading about a common break sight to look out for on these SGs (aside from the general Gibson headstock break areas). Where abouts shall I look? Thanks

Kris Ford · Jul 26, 2016

That would be the neck joint, and VERY possible to see a Les Paul Junior marked VERY early '63.

latestarter · Jul 26, 2016

There was no consistent profile for any of these years....just general dimensions. My 64 was like a 59, my 63 is massive like an R8 on steroids, my 65 like a wide and flat 61, my old 62 was like a mix between them all.

But the sound on each and every one was/is spectacular!

Best wishes.

Neck shapes on SG Jnr 61 v 65

K701

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Kris Ford

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Monroe

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K701

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Kris Ford

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Progrocker111

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mingus

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K701

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Kris Ford

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latestarter

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