• Guys, we've spent considerable money converting the Les Paul Forum to this new XenForo platform, and we have ongoing monthly operating expenses. THE "DONATIONS" TAB IS NOW WORKING, AND WE WOULD APPRECIATE ANY DONATIONS YOU CAN MAKE TO KEEP THE LES PAUL FORUM GOING! Thank you!

335: 30/60 vs Clapton vs Slimtaper

Tonebender

Member
Joined
May 19, 2004
Messages
721
I've been thinking about ordering a new 335, but want block inlays, but not sure if I want the slim taper neck. For those of you in the know how does the 30/60 feel vs the Clapton/64? Are they similar? Not even close? This wil be my first (and probably only) 335 and I want to get it right. ANY help would be greatly appreciated. Elliiot Easton, if you're around you're opinion would be most especially appreciated becuase of that amazing 335 you own.
 

Tonebender

Member
Joined
May 19, 2004
Messages
721
I know what the slim taper feels like. Might be a wee bit too thin for me. That's why I was curious to see what the 30/60 felt like and how close to the Clapton it was or was the Clapton closer to the `59. I do know Gibson says they won't make the Clapton neck anymore, hence my curiosity about the 30/60. Might go with Dave's or Mark's once I do my homework.
 

esjazz

New member
Joined
May 14, 2004
Messages
122
Try the neck on a 1963 Historic if you can. It's bigger than the slim taper but not overly large.

I know what the slim taper feels like. Might be a wee bit too thin for me. That's why I was curious to see what the 30/60 felt like and how close to the Clapton it was or was the Clapton closer to the `59. I do know Gibson says they won't make the Clapton neck anymore, hence my curiosity about the 30/60. Might go with Dave's or Mark's once I do my homework.
 
R

red59dot

Guest
The 64 335 neck is the best neck ever to leave the Gibson factory (IMO, of course..). What's odd is that Gibson knows how much people like them and they have all the measurements from when they reissued the Clapton. I had the good luck to have a broken 335 repaired by Gibson and, to my horror, the only neck they were making at the time with the proper tenon was the Clapton. Now they don't make it any more and they told me they had none left. The only way to get one now is to buy a 64 335 (or SG-it's pretty close) or maybe a 330. they only made this profile from late 63 to early 65. It is a good bit chunkier than the 63 Historic (which I've owned) and has a lot less shoulder than a 59 Historic (which I've also owned). If you like the Clapton, you will likely find the '63 Historic too thin. If you find the 59 too fat, as I did, you are out of luck unless you want to start sanding. Or you can get a 64 or a Clapton (about the same price these days too-a nice 64 went for $11.5K or so on Ebay yesterday).
 

LSGoCards7

Member
Joined
Apr 3, 2009
Messages
716
I actually just bought a 1963 Reissue 335 today. I'll let you know how I like it. I love the neck on my 09 R9, so I'll see how they compare. I can usually become comfortable with any neck profile, but if it's VERY thin I probably won't like it. It should be here by Friday at the latest.
 

Tonebender

Member
Joined
May 19, 2004
Messages
721
The 64 335 neck is the best neck ever to leave the Gibson factory (IMO, of course..). What's odd is that Gibson knows how much people like them and they have all the measurements from when they reissued the Clapton. I had the good luck to have a broken 335 repaired by Gibson and, to my horror, the only neck they were making at the time with the proper tenon was the Clapton. Now they don't make it any more and they told me they had none left. The only way to get one now is to buy a 64 335 (or SG-it's pretty close) or maybe a 330. they only made this profile from late 63 to early 65. It is a good bit chunkier than the 63 Historic (which I've owned) and has a lot less shoulder than a 59 Historic (which I've also owned). If you like the Clapton, you will likely find the '63 Historic too thin. If you find the 59 too fat, as I did, you are out of luck unless you want to start sanding. Or you can get a 64 or a Clapton (about the same price these days too-a nice 64 went for $11.5K or so on Ebay yesterday).

I well remember that 65 re-neck. It was gorgeous.
 

Tonebender

Member
Joined
May 19, 2004
Messages
721
I actually just bought a 1963 Reissue 335 today. I'll let you know how I like it. I love the neck on my 09 R9, so I'll see how they compare. I can usually become comfortable with any neck profile, but if it's VERY thin I probably won't like it. It should be here by Friday at the latest.

I'd appreciate the info! What color by the way?
 

LSGoCards7

Member
Joined
Apr 3, 2009
Messages
716
I'd appreciate the info! What color by the way?

Cherry

ES335_Block_Plain_Antique_Red_10110720_1.jpg
 

Gold Tone

Well-known member
Joined
Apr 2, 2002
Messages
6,825

That's not a '63 Historic is it? The f-hole edges are painted black...regular production 335 right? I've never seen the Historic f-holes painted anything other then the same red as the rest of the body (on the cherry ones of course).
 

Elliot Easton

Well-known member
Joined
Mar 5, 2003
Messages
3,478
I've been thinking about ordering a new 335, but want block inlays, but not sure if I want the slim taper neck. For those of you in the know how does the 30/60 feel vs the Clapton/64? Are they similar? Not even close? This wil be my first (and probably only) 335 and I want to get it right. ANY help would be greatly appreciated. Elliiot Easton, if you're around you're opinion would be most especially appreciated becuase of that amazing 335 you own.

Well, mine's a '63 Historic and the neck is my favorite, to the point where I based the neck profile for my signature SG on it. It's just the sweetest neck. Being a lefty, I've never played a 30/60 but I did play a friend's Clapton a couple of times and it felt like mine. It feels the most like a vintage Gibson of all my custom shop guitars. I hope this helps!
 
Last edited:

Tonebender

Member
Joined
May 19, 2004
Messages
721
Thanks Elliot! It helps alot. I've started emailing Dave's Guitars to maybe get the ball rolling and see what happens. Great place and very helpful. I'm still curious to know how the 30/60 compares to the others though.
 

MikeG59

Active member
Joined
Jan 17, 2003
Messages
1,884
the issue will not be thinness of thickness. it will be width
 

mwm523

Member
Joined
Feb 15, 2007
Messages
190
That's not a '63 Historic is it? The f-hole edges are painted black...regular production 335 right? I've never seen the Historic f-holes painted anything other then the same red as the rest of the body (on the cherry ones of course).

I agree... The '63 Historic shouldn't have black painted edges on the F holes... Mine doesn't.

BTW, the '63 Historic neck is VERY nice. Not real thin like the regular production 335, but not a baseball bat like my R4.
 

aperlm

New member
Joined
Apr 2, 2010
Messages
44
Looks like a Memphis because of the f holes and also the thickness of the neck binding.

I agree... The '63 Historic shouldn't have black painted edges on the F holes... Mine doesn't.

BTW, the '63 Historic neck is VERY nice. Not real thin like the regular production 335, but not a baseball bat like my R4.
 

zombiwoof

Active member
Joined
Feb 22, 2003
Messages
3,565
the issue will not be thinness of thickness. it will be width

What do you mean by this?. Most modern Gibsons have the same width at the nut - 1 11/16. AFAIK, the only ones with different widths were the ones in the past that had the narrow 1 9/16 nut width. The main difference these days is in the thickness, and profile (slim taper, 50's rounded, etc.). Are they making any reissues with that old narrow neck?.

Al
 

Gold Tone

Well-known member
Joined
Apr 2, 2002
Messages
6,825
BTW - my '63 Historic neck is very nice. Not thin at all compared the slim taper necks std on most models.
 
Top