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Fattest necks you have played?

jb_abides

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Apr 6, 2005
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that-aint-right.jpg
 

jb_abides

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43mm is typical nut width; was there a particular purpose/reason Gibson made the Standard with 46mm width for one year?

Firstly: 'Fat' here would have to be 'Wide-Fat' a la PRS style, not Depth-Fat. Since no one specified what was meant by Fat, fair game to @c_wester!

Yes! Absolutely, the move to the wide fretboard in 2015 was purposeful and reasoned, albeit many say poorly so.


2015 was the Les Paul 100th birthday celebration year, which Gibson saw as an opportunity to introduce a slew of 'innovations' into the range all at once, including push/pull PCB electronics and the much reviled G-Force tuners [I like actually like my SG with G-Force, it's nice to have one for rapid tuning changes, there's a place for them - but forcing you to buy across many models in the range was a bridge too far!].

Easily spotted by 'Les Paul 100' scrawl in Les's handwriting font on the headstock veneer, and a hologram sticker with Les waiving at you...

One such change was the 46 mm neck, actually 45.993 mm or as Gibson cites, 4.5993 cm / 1.795". This was an attempt to capture more modern sensibilities who they believed to include 'shredder' types for the string spacing and 10-16 compound radius. The neck profile depth was still asymmetrical Slim Taper, Fret 1: 20.32 mm / .800" and Fret 12: 22.225 mm / .875"

Another possible rationale for the new width was in-house development of the 'Zero Fret Nut' using cryogenically treated brass, which Gibson applied for a patent (... the PAF Redux :cool:). These actually allow for adjustment with a hex wrench via 2 Allen screws inside of the 1st and 6th strings. It could be the clearance for the screw adjustment necessitated the increased spacing and hence the neck width.

Another cool idea that is not for everyone.

You could only buy a new USA LP with a regularly sized nut from the lower-end: CM, LPM. Even USA SGs and Firebirds got them.

Gibson misjudged the modernity of their customer base, in terms of forcing change unilaterally [most likely with HJ banging tables and banging heads to push 'new R&D'. Witness the retreat back to the Original versus Modern product architecture under new ownership and JC/Cesar management. Even the LP Modern are arguably more traditional than the apex of HJ-era 2015 LP100 Standards and High Performance HP series.

If they can segregate the product lines and keep niche models with more modern features, I bet they'd have some buyers for the modernization features ... of course, it remains to be seen if they could be cost-competitive enough to justify the manufacturing expense of such model differentiation, when those buyers are already finding what they want in other brands, with other aesthetics.

Me? I am all for a thinline 'Lite' chambered body, whammy bar laden, Apex volute toting molten metallic sheened Lester with a flowerpot on the headstock 🤟

So long as you let me choose from among many varieties and I can still get a standard Standard like Standards ought to be. YMMV.
 

dwagar

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Apr 18, 2005
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Maybe it's just the way I remember it, but I swear it was my old '55 Special that I had in the late 60's. I thought it felt like a 2x4.
 

latestarter

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It’s true - we need measurements.

Every time I do a string change I’m winding the last one up, and then remember. Doh !
 

Wilko

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My fattest regular electric guitar is a '72 Tele Custom reissue an it's .91" at the first fret (not counting fret)

My traditional with a perfect feeling '59 profile is .84"
 

somebodyelseuk

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Jun 10, 2020
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I learned to play, initially, on my Dad's (previously, late Uncle's) 1962 Hawk Acoustic. I believe it was made in Germany by Framus(?). The neck on that is similar profile, but thicker than, my R7.

R7/9/Tokai LS150F/Yamaha SG2000S, a '54 Strat Reissue and the Precision Bass-a-likes I own.

I've got big hands. None of them feel "chunky", other than that acoustic.
 
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wmachine

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Mar 17, 2016
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I really love the 46mm necks on the Standards from 2015 those
were killer.
Djesus ..... in 2015 Gibson made the Standards with wider necks.... educate yourself.
2015 LP Traditional was even thicker. Standards have the Slim Taperâ„¢ Asymmetrical. The Traditional had the largest Rounded XL neck. That made for a truly huge neck. Couple that with the non weight relief, you get one big resonate hunk of solid wood. Add the '59 Tribute pups and you have really impressive LP goodness!
 

c_wester

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May 9, 2002
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2015 LP Traditional was even thicker. Standards have the Slim Taperâ„¢ Asymmetrical. The Traditional had the largest Rounded XL neck. That made for a truly huge neck. Couple that with the non weight relief, you get one big resonate hunk of solid wood. Add the '59 Tribute pups and you have really impressive LP goodness!
Drooolsmiley...... I am going to have to take a look.
 

CK6

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Feb 5, 2020
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I have a ’59 reissue Flying V that has a crazy huge neck!
 

Dave P

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Oct 13, 2001
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The first Jeff Beck Strats had necks that were gargantuan. A friend had a late 30's Gibson archtop with the biggest neck I've ever played. It had to have been 1-1/4" thick at least.
 

Wilko

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I just dug up an old strat that I never even played. 1978 hardtail that was in pieces. I just strung it up for the first time. Huge neck for a strat. I'm going to find my caliper...

It is .91" right behind the first fret (back of neck to fretboard) TOP

for reference, my fairly slim 1960 is .80" MIDDLE

1972 Tele Thinline average .84"

fender_neck_thickness.jpeg
 
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Kutt

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Jun 15, 2007
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I strummed one of the current production TV Yellow Les Paul Specials and that neck felt quite beefy to me. I have not played many other 50s spec necks (original or reissue) so maybe there are even beefier ones to be had.
 

56lp

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Dec 2, 2021
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A 2001 Historic Les Paul R8 Authentic, baseball bat size.

Beautiful flame on that R8.
 

Wilko

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A 2001 Historic Les Paul R8 Authentic, baseball bat size.

Beautiful flame on that R8.
I had a 2001 R8 briefly. It did have a very fat neck. I never measured it. Big and broad shoulders. I never measured it. Might have been the biggest neck I've owned. had forgotten all about it 'til your post.
 
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