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Neck shave, LP Custom

Leee

New member
Joined
Jan 31, 2021
Messages
18
I finally found a Custom that I love.

Problem is, the neck is just a little thicker than I prefer.
(I am a ‘60 slim taper guy all the way.)

I’m not absolutely certain I need to shave the neck, but every time I play my beloved 335 or some of my other Les Pauls I keep thinking about how right the 60s neck feels to me.

I fully understand all of the concerns regarding structural stability, resale value, possible tonal differences, and all of that.
So we can dispose with the naysaying and move on with the best way to move forward.

The neck doesn’t need much material removed, and I am OK with leaving it alone above the first fret and past the nut. The finish is natural, so re-spraying it should not be terribly challenging.

Who here has any neck shaving success stories to share?

Jimmy Page, if you are reading this, feel free to put in your two cents on your 59’s…
 
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gibson-r8

Active member
Joined
Jul 15, 2004
Messages
574
I would just keep looking for ‘the one’ whatever that means. I’ve never met a guitar I didn’t like for one thing or another After I got to know them.
 

Leee

New member
Joined
Jan 31, 2021
Messages
18
I hear you.

NAYSAYER!!!!

:)

But after 30 years, and more Les Pauls than I can count?
I’m THIS close.
Almost there.

It’s probably going to happen.

If the job is done well enough, good enough that a casual observer would not be able to discern the modification?

That’s a homerun in my book.
 

El Gringo

Well-known member
Joined
Apr 8, 2015
Messages
5,657
I finally found a Custom that I love.

Problem is, the neck is just a little thicker than I prefer.
(I am a ‘60 slim taper guy all the way.)

I’m not absolutely certain I need to shave the neck, but every time I play my beloved 335 or some of my other Les Pauls I keep thinking about how right the 60s neck feels to me.

I fully understand all of the concerns regarding structural stability, resale value, possible tonal differences, and all of that.
So we can dispose with the naysaying and move on with the best way to move forward.

The neck doesn’t need much material removed, and I am OK with leaving it alone above the first fret and past the nut. The finish is natural, so re-spraying it should not be terribly challenging.

Who here has any neck shaving success stories to share?

Jimmy Page, if you are reading this, feel free to put in your two cents on your 59’s…
Why not take the Les Paul with the neck that is to large and flip it towards a slim taper 60 profile neck on another Les Paul ? I think you save $ in the long run by not wasting money on a tech to slim the neck and down the line if you want to sell the Les Paul with the shaved neck it will give you diminished returns as it has been altered .
 

guitartsar

Member
Joined
Jul 24, 2010
Messages
85
If it was me I'd just keep at as it is and learn to love that fact that the neck is different to your other guitars. As others have said if you want to sell in the future the shaved neck will hurt the value. I also like slimmer necks but still love playing my LP Jnr with a baseball bat sized neck.
 
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Leee

New member
Joined
Jan 31, 2021
Messages
18
Guys, this is the problem with forums…

After 30 years, and more Les Pauls than I can count, this is the closest I have been to what I really, really, really want.

I mentioned all of this right up front.

I understand the concerns.
If done properly, resale value would not be affected in the least. If no one notices it when they look at the guitar, it is simply up to me to disclose it before I sell.

Few people who love the guitar and seriously want it are going to change their mind on the purchase at that point.

A favorite saying of mine is, a man with experience owes nothing to a man with an opinion. I’ve probably done 50 private guitar sales in 30 years, and most of them were not cheap. I have an idea how this works.

But if any of you have a killer natural flame top Les Paul Custom in exquisite condition laying around, and it just so happens to have a slim 60 neck, let me know.

We might be able to make a deal!

But until that happens, my neck shaving plan is percolating on the back burner.

I appreciate the love and concern from all of your naysayers, and the advice that comes from your heart, but what I was asking for is words of experience on the matter.

Anybody?
 

DutchRay

Well-known member
Joined
Mar 15, 2015
Messages
872
Shops like Historic Makeover and Florian Jaeger reshape necks and tops all the time, so if you have it done correctly it'll cost you but you end up with the one that fits all your wishes. Just be careful and not overdo it, I've seen a couple of guitars with shaved necks that had the truss rod coming out from the back.
 

Leee

New member
Joined
Jan 31, 2021
Messages
18
Right on, Ray.
Appreciate the shop tips.

A luthier in Phoenix that has done several finish jobs for me since 2000 wanted no part of it.
I mean, I get it.
No one wants a headstock to break.
Not me, and not the guy who does the work on the guitar.

I talked extensively to Mark Erlewine in Austin about it, and he would have been willing to do it.
Especially considering that I’m not looking to remove a lot of material.
Problem is, he doesn’t do finish work anymore.
He recommended another well-established Austin-area luthier and we have been chatting over the last few weeks. He has detailed pics and feels confident in a happy ending.

A great idea would be to get the neck x-rayed to ensure exactly how much depth of material there is beneath the truss rod and nut.
But with the China Syndrome BS going on, none of the doctor’s offices or medical facilities I have talked to would even let me finish the conversation about carrying a guitar in…

I know plenty of people around Texas who work in the medical field and I have alerted them all to my need.
Waiting game now.
 

guitartsar

Member
Joined
Jul 24, 2010
Messages
85
If done properly, resale value would not be affected in the least. If no one notices it when they look at the guitar, it is simply up to me to disclose it before I sell.

Few people who love the guitar and seriously want it are going to change their mind on the purchase at that point.
I must admit I wouldn't be happy if I travelled to see a guitar and only found out it had had a neck shave and refinish once I'd checked out the guitar as for me personally that's a major modification and a deal breaker for me. I'd like that to be disclosed from the outset. But others may disagree.
 

Leee

New member
Joined
Jan 31, 2021
Messages
18
Is this habitual naysaying I’m reading?

And now insinuating I would intentionally deceive a buyer?

My, aren’t you just a giant ray of contrarian sunshine!

🤪
 

corpse

Well-known member
Joined
Jun 9, 2007
Messages
4,876
Kip Starr in Orlando- he did a 335 for a member here and it was well done. He does wood work and expert finishing- he worked for HM years ago. Starr Guitars.
 

El Gringo

Well-known member
Joined
Apr 8, 2015
Messages
5,657
Right on, Ray.
Appreciate the shop tips.

A luthier in Phoenix that has done several finish jobs for me since 2000 wanted no part of it.
I mean, I get it.
No one wants a headstock to break.
Not me, and not the guy who does the work on the guitar.

I talked extensively to Mark Erlewine in Austin about it, and he would have been willing to do it.
Especially considering that I’m not looking to remove a lot of material.
Problem is, he doesn’t do finish work anymore.
He recommended another well-established Austin-area luthier and we have been chatting over the last few weeks. He has detailed pics and feels confident in a happy ending.

A great idea would be to get the neck x-rayed to ensure exactly how much depth of material there is beneath the truss rod and nut.
But with the China Syndrome BS going on, none of the doctor’s offices or medical facilities I have talked to would even let me finish the conversation about carrying a guitar in…

I know plenty of people around Texas who work in the medical field and I have alerted them all to my need.
Waiting game now.
There are shops who won't take repairs as they are skeeved out from COVID-19 . This sucks mightily . One Shop told me that they won't take any chance with one of them getting infected and I was basically told to go pound salt and not to take it personally ( yeah right as if when pigs fly on a wing ) So I get where you are coming from about the X-Rays . This day and age when everyone is hurting about money and refusing work just doesn't make sense to me except what do I know ?
 

Reddart

Active member
Joined
Feb 26, 2004
Messages
286
The hell with the naysayers, I say go for it.
I’m gonna do a little shoulder shaving on my R9 whenever I get my little basement shop set up, and find the time...some day...though not sure I’ll do that first, or the third pickup route to my custom...

‘course, I could just sell it and find the one with the neck the way I want it. Still haven’t found that 8.0 lbs and great top R9 with the tone that mine has....and the perfect neck...perhaps someone here can direct me to the one. I’ll wait right here.
 
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