Question on 52/59 conversion - neck reset vs shaved bridge

fronobulax · May 3, 2022

Hi all,

I was at the Dallas show 4/28-4/29 and got smitten with a 52/59 Les Paul conversion while there. The guitar had all 1959 parts, including PAFs, but the shallow 1952 neck angle was remedied by shaving down the bridge rather than resetting the neck.

I'm curious how much of value detractor this is. Also, a couple of knowledgable people at the show told me it might cost around $5k to get a proper neck reset, so curious to get confirmation of that price estimate, too.

Thanks!!

DutchRay · May 3, 2022

5K for a neck reset seems a bit high. Are you sure that's not for a complete refin including neck reset?

charliechitlins · May 3, 2022

I've played several 52s and never even noticed the neck angle.
I guess a neck reset would make it more like a 58-60, but put the final nail in the coffin for it to ever be a proper 52 again.
I just paid $450 to have THE Gretsch guy do a reset on my 52 6192.
It's an easier job, but not 10x easier.

Phatfrank · May 3, 2022

charliechitlins said:
I've played several 52s and never even noticed the neck angle.
I guess a neck reset would make it more like a 58-60, but put the final nail in the coffin for it to ever be a proper 52 again.
I just paid $450 to have THE Gretsch guy do a reset on my 52 6192.
It's an easier job, but not 10x easier.

Can I ask who THE Gretsch Guy is?

jb_abides · May 3, 2022

I am confused by what you really want to get to...

Are you asking the detractor factor because the neck angle isn't like a 59, or because a vintage bridge was shaved...?

If the vintage bridge is already shaved and working fine, why think about a reset? [If it needs a shallow bridge, why not shave a non-vintage repro?]

As @charliechitlins states, why put a nail in reverting back to a 52..?

fronobulax · May 3, 2022

Let me try to clarify.

As I understand it, the neck angle on a 52 is very shallow, which makes it more difficult to make bridge adjustments. People get a neck reset to reset the angle and make it more flexible to adjust string height.

An alternative approach is to shave down the bridge, but then there's really no room to make any further adjustments to the bridge. A neck reset offers more flexibility.

All of the above comments are based on my limited, non-expert (or barely novice) understanding, so I could well be wrong on these points.

Why do I ask if the guitar is playable as is? The answer is simply that if the value of the guitar varies significantly (like +/-$5k) due to this issue, then I don't want to overpay for it. If the Les Paul experts here say no big deal, then I'm content to leave it as is and pay closer to the asking price.

Hopefully that helps.

Armenfish · May 3, 2022

I have a 52/57 conversion with the neck reset, but haven't played a non reset neck... so i dont know how it feels.. But if this conversion has i nice top i would take it! looking for a '59 conversion and very hard to find here in EU

dwagar · May 3, 2022

Some may consider a reset neck as a value detractor. If it works with the shaved bridge, personally I'd leave it alone.

ckouba · May 3, 2022

I have a '52 non-neck-reset, shaved bridge. I don't know how much it was shaved, nor do I know its origin (vintage vs period replacement- the 70's or 80's I was told). What I can tell you is that it plays just fine.

I am not a gigging professional, more of a former amateur hobbyist who has less time to play than when I was in my 20's and 30's, but I thoroughly enjoy my own modest collection of Les Pauls- the 52, plus 2x '71's, an '84, '92, '00, '12, and '21. Do I notice the neck angle? When I look at them side by side on the wall rack, yes. When I pick them up and play them? No, not really.

The bridge shave vs neck reset seems to be an effective method to upgrade the guitar. I am quite enamored with my 52 and don't think twice about it. If the price point is something you're comfortable with and you like the feel and sound of it, I'd say go for it.

If it just doesn't feel right (the guitar or its set up), no matter what the price, I'd say you already have your answer.

Chris

fronobulax · May 3, 2022

Thanks all, those are very helpful answers!

Armenfish · May 3, 2022

If you end up not buying, please let me know the seller

charliechitlins · May 3, 2022

Phatfrank said:
Can I ask who THE Gretsch Guy is?

Curt at Old School Guitars

Jumping@Shadows · May 3, 2022

I’ve done them both ways- with early ‘53s, a slightly shaved bridge is far preferable than steaming out the neck and all the rest, but on most ‘52s it makes sense.

Here’s a ‘52 that’s entering the finishing process, and required a neck reset, as well as other repairs to rectify a previous sloppy conversion done pre ‘69:

https://imgur.com/DgGzQu6

I dig it without Bigsby too, but the plugs from previous misplaced stoptail bushings may be too obtrusive, but we’ll see..

https://imgur.com/JHUpz3A

ADP · May 3, 2022

The flatter the neck angle, the better - in my experience.

mdubya · May 4, 2022

If it plays well as is, I would much prefer the original neck joint to one that has been drilled and steamed out and reset. But that is just me.

Too bad it got converted.

bern1 · May 6, 2022

A ‘52 can be made playable and sound great without any non reversible mods.

If a person wants something that looks like a sunburst, then buy one, new or old.

Let the ’52’s be. There aren’t that many of them left in an unmolested state. They will never sound or look like a ‘59 so why try?

bern1 · May 6, 2022

ADP said:
The flatter the neck angle, the better - in my experience.

To a point. I generally like the meaty sound of a flatter neck angle as well. However, there is definitely a sweet spot with a slightly higher bridge delivering the perfect blend of harmonics and fundamentals on a vintage Gibson. Rare to find everything you can wish for in a single package though…….

Lucky for us, we live in the modern era when we can just twiddle a few knobs with a cool amp and a decent guitar and get 99.9% there.

AA00475Bassman · May 6, 2022

I have owned Jazz guitars with neck sets this IMO did not effect value as they needed a set for playability issues .

IMO the OP should not reset the neck, as the guitar plays . The guitar is not a 59 nothing you can modify will make a conversion a 59 . IMO a neck set would just move the guitar further into the land of limbo .

jwalker · May 6, 2022

My '52/'57 conversion has a neck reset and strangely it feels a little more comfortable to play than my Les Pauls that were made with proper neck set angle from the factory. If anything I think a good neck reset increases the value of the guitar.

ADP · May 6, 2022

AA00475Bassman said:
I have owned Jazz guitars with neck sets this IMO did not effect value as they needed a set for playability issues .

IMO the OP should not reset the neck, as the guitar plays . The guitar is not a 59 nothing you can modify will make a conversion a 59 . IMO a neck set would just move the guitar further into the land of limbo .

I have a modified 1959 - all work done at Lay's Guitar Shop. It has immaculate harmonics and is perfectly in tune at any place on the neck. The neck angle is extremely low and flatter than a normal 'burst. In fact, I have to shave down the bridge pickup ring height to even fit it under the strings.

I maybe played 1000 Les Paul's and made my life's work to find such a perfectly made instrument, so I can understand how rare and near impossible something like that can be; not to mention the price once you finally find it!

Bottom line, if you reset the neck and the guitar ends up perfect, than who cares in the end?

If the guitar was a museum piece, all original, not a screw has been turned, that would be another story for another day.

Question on 52/59 conversion - neck reset vs shaved bridge

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