Question about Les Paul Necks

[Rich919]

I know a variant of this question has probably been asked a thousand times (sorry about that) and I hope I am asking in the right pub. This question would be targeting guitars made after 2020 if that helps.

From what I understand, custom shop necks from thickest to thinnest go from R7, R8, R9, R0. My question is where in this spectrum do the standard 50's and standard 60's fit?

Would you say that a Standard 60's is generally thicker or thinner than a R0, and would a standard 50's be closest to a R8 or R9?

I unfortunately do not have a store around me that has these so I need to go to the pros. I tried to search the web for answers but the specs I was reading seemed all over the place.
Thanks in advance.

 

[Xpensive Wino]

I know a variant of this question has probably been asked a thousand times (sorry about that) and I hope I am asking in the right pub. This question would be targeting guitars made after 2020 if that helps.

From what I understand, custom shop necks from thickest to thinnest go from R7, R8, R9, R0. My question is where in this spectrum do the standard 50's and standard 60's fit?

Would you say that a Standard 60's is generally thicker or thinner than a R0, and would a standard 50's be closest to a R8 or R9?

I unfortunately do not have a store around me that has these so I need to go to the pros. I tried to search the web for answers but the specs I was reading seemed all over the place.
Thanks in advance.

The specs are all over the place, as you have already read.

Consistency isn't really a thing, and there aren't any standards I'm aware of.

Neck profile is just one component of any buying decision.

Unfortunately, you really do need to try a guitar before you buy a guitar.

 

[the_007_life]

Before I say this I will say all of this is very dependent on neck dimensions.

In my experience and speaking solely for my quiver of guitars…On my R0 V2 neck compared to a standard 60’s (post 2020)…The V2 neck is more a slim C shaped neck and the Standard 60’s is slim but has more shoulder on it compared to my V2 neck.

Remember that the R0 necks you have at certain points in time been able to get in V1, V2 and V3.

V3 being the slimmest and V1 for all practical purposes being close to an R9 medium C.

As far as R9 or R8 compared to Standard 50’s (post 2020)…it’s somewhere in between the R8 and R9. I feel the Standard 50s has a touch more shoulder than the R9s I own; however is not as full bodied as my R8.

Again very dependent on neck dimensions but for my stable that is what I feel between those necks.

Hope that helps and happy hunting!

 

[Rich919]

Before I say this I will say all of this is very dependent on neck dimensions.

In my experience and speaking solely for my quiver of guitars…On my R0 V2 neck compared to a standard 60’s (post 2020)…The V2 neck is more a slim C shaped neck and the Standard 60’s is slim but has more shoulder on it compared to my V2 neck.

Remember that the R0 necks you have at certain points in time been able to get in V1, V2 and V3.

V3 being the slimmest and V1 for all practical purposes being close to an R9 medium C.

As far as R9 or R8 compared to Standard 50’s (post 2020)…it’s somewhere in between the R8 and R9 for the R8 and R9s I own. I feel the Standard 50s has a touch more shoulder than the R9s I own however is not as full bodied as my R8.

Again very dependent on neck dimensions but for my stable that is what I feel between those necks.

Hope that helps and happy hunting!

That's brilliant and very helpful. Thank you

 

[the_007_life]

No sweat at all. Hope you find a dandy my friend

 

[charliechitlins]

I remember picking up one of the early 1960 Reissues...I suppose it was an RO.
It was a gold top with "1960" in gold on the pick guard.
Biggest neck I've ever seen on a Lester.

 

[Xpensive Wino]

I remember picking up one of the early 1960 Reissues...I suppose it was an RO.
It was a gold top with "1960" in gold on the pick guard.
Biggest neck I've ever seen on a Lester.

Les Paul Classic? Like this?

 

[charliechitlins]

Les Paul Classic? Like this?

Yup.
My memory tells me the one I played had pickup covers, but it was a long time ago.
I had a hard time putting it back on the rack.
It was a beauty.

 

[Xpensive Wino]

Yup.
My memory tells me the one I played had pickup covers, but it was a long time ago.
I had a hard time putting it back on the rack.
It was a beauty.

I remember Luther Allison played one.

 

[c_wester]

I have had lots of Gibsons, Reissues and Standards. Non alike we are talking 30+ guitars.

Try before you buy and avoid dark sounding ones.

 

[Wilko]

These days, consistency is vey much a “thing”
I haven’t played many as m not in the market, but a “60s” neck is pretty close to what an R0 feels like. Slim C with no surises. “1960” Classic guitars were a long time ago and aren’t R0 at all. Most are slim-ish taper that is close to what you’d expect from an R9.
50s necks are pretty close to an R9, which is too thick for many people.
The average buyer thinks thin necks are “fast”

 

[Xpensive Wino]

I haven’t played many

 

[charliechitlins]

There have been times when Gibson necks were all over the place...thankfully.
Because there was no uniform "truth" about neck size.
My '71 Deluxe neck is fat, and a dead ringer for both of my 50s ES models.
I guess this is from the stone age when we used to go to a guitar store and try several guitars.
Now, when it shows up in the mail, we want to know just what to expect.

 

[1allspub]

Yep, not a lot of consistency… that said, a USA 60s Standard will have a neck most similar to an R0… and a USA 50s Standard will have a neck most similar to an R7/R8 (at least in feel… and largely because of the shoulders, which are on the bigger side on both the 50s Standards and R7s/R8s). But again… inconsistency rules the day, so what I’ve just written is best to be taken as “generally” correct. Any given neck on any given guitar can be an outlier.

 

[NickiC]

From playing Les Pauls off the wall, this year 50s + 60s standards have crept into more their own slim taper now.

 

[Scozz]

Gibson neck profiles are all over the place, ‘inconsistent’ would describe it accurately.

 

[Wilko]

"...guitars made after 2020 if that helps. "
How many have you (or anyone here) played made after 2020?

Later models are so much CNC that every one of the 6 or so that I've picked up at GC for the hell of it are one of two shapes. thin and thicker. Nothing these days is close to a 2000s R6-8 which were absolutely square shouldered.

All the comments here seem to be reflect the reality of the past 50 years, but these days consistency is a brand target and sign of "quality"

 

[charliechitlins]

consistency is a brand target and sign of "quality"

For me, consistency always meant mass-produced, made-by machine.
I remember around 1985 needing a good, cheap guitar for travel/out-of-town gigs.
I went looking for a Squier Strat.
I had the guy drag 5 or 6 of them out of the back and they ALL has a slight fret buzz on the high E at the 13th fret.
I was shocked at the consistency.
OTOH, a lack of consistency often said, hand made by creative craftsmen.
Even in the early Norlin years, the craftsmen must still have been at Gibson and some great instruments could still be had.
I've had 2 '71 Deluxes that were very special...still have one.

 

[Wilko]

Charlie, That's exactly why I put Quality in quotes. "quality"=So-called quality.

It wasn't too long ago when we were expected to play a few in a store and see what worked for us. damn I'm old. It was actually 20+ years ago... oy!

 

[El Gringo]

These days, consistency is vey much a “thing”
I haven’t played many as m not in the market, but a “60s” neck is pretty close to what an R0 feels like. Slim C with no surises. “1960” Classic guitars were a long time ago and aren’t R0 at all. Most are slim-ish taper that is close to what you’d expect from an R9.
50s necks are pretty close to an R9, which is too thick for many people.
The average buyer thinks thin necks are “fast”

My 1994 Les Paul Classic Premium Plus has such a tiny pencil thin neck that it is a smaller profile than an R0 I believe.