• 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!

Gibson vs Fender neck feel

E.M.

Active member
Joined
Aug 6, 2016
Messages
141
We all know that necks come in all shapes and sizes. But one thing is for certain IMO, a Gibson neck feels like a “Gibson” and a Fender neck feels like a “Fender”, all other factors being equal. Anyone else share this experience? And why is this? Neck wood type (maple vs mahogany), machine cut vs hand sanded, etc?? I’ve played a Fender Custom strat with a chunky C type neck and compare it to an R9 59 type neck with nearly same neck thickness at the 1st and 12th frets (.86-.97) and yet they are completely different animals. Same frets (6105) only major difference being radius (10” vs 12”) and scale length. Width at nut maybe?
 

ADP

Well-known member
Joined
Jul 16, 2015
Messages
682
I don't feel the same. I have played all kinds of Fender's some feel like Gibson necks and I've played Gibson's with tight V shape necks like an old Strat. Every guitar is different. Anything is possible.
 

WillyW

Active member
Joined
Apr 17, 2021
Messages
125
I have a Gibson bass with an ash body, maple/rosewood neck and it feels very much like a Gibson.

I have a goldtop set neck 7ender telecaster with a mahogany body and neck and it feels so much like a Gibson that I even measured the scale length, it was 25.5” but I still don’t believe it.

I’m not a “tonewood” zealot, but I do think mahogany has a physical warmth and feel to it. but the above Gibson bass has those qualities. So maybe it’s just Gibson mojo that I’m feeling.
 

ourmaninthenorth

Well-known member
Joined
Mar 28, 2009
Messages
7,119
I don't feel the same. I have played all kinds of Fender's some feel like Gibson necks and I've played Gibson's with tight V shape necks like an old Strat. Every guitar is different. Anything is possible.
I'm pretty much with this Gentleman's statement.
 

Keefoman

Active member
Joined
Nov 4, 2009
Messages
576
Very true. Both Fenders and Gibsons come with a huge variety of neckshapes, profiles and whatnot. The most consistent differences are the scale-lengths.
 

charliechitlins

Well-known member
Joined
Nov 16, 2021
Messages
1,020
IME, the Fender feel is a narrow nut and a C shape.
Gibson...wider nut and more of a D, increasing more in size as you go up.
This is, of course, a generalization, but we're talking about generalities...Fender vs. Gibson...not my '57 Strat vs. your '77 ES335.
 

E.M.

Active member
Joined
Aug 6, 2016
Messages
141
IME, the Fender feel is a narrow nut and a C shape.
Gibson...wider nut and more of a D, increasing more in size as you go up.
This is, of course, a generalization, but we're talking about generalities...Fender vs. Gibson...not my '57 Strat vs. your '77 ES335.
Agree. Yes - the post is related to general observations, not comparing one specific instrument to another.
 
Top