Neck Size Changes

[letsgoaz]

Forgive my ignorance if this is more common knowledge to others,

but I was interested in why Gibson (or Fender) changed the size/shape of their necks in the late 50s into the 60s?

 

What was the motivation for producing a thinner "60's" neck instead of a "50's" neck?

Where players seeking something smaller?

[Guest Farnsbarns]

Forgive my ignorance if this is more common knowledge to others,

but I was interested in why Gibson (or Fender) changed the size/shape of their necks in the late 50s into the 60s?

 

What was the motivation for producing a thinner "60's" neck instead of a "50's" neck?

Where players seeking something smaller?

 

Yes. I think the drive was probably musical. More lead guitar going on and faster paced generally. Not to say speed never featured before that.

[pippy]

Yes.

Different playing styles were better served by slimmer neck profiles.

 

Pip.

[rct]

How much was actual change and how much is modern day marketing?

 

rct

[pippy]

How much was actual change and how much is modern day marketing?

I've only played 3 '50s and a couple of mid-'60sGibson electrics and, believe it or not, they did all seem to fit with the current 'Baseball-bat; Chunky; Slim' descriptions.

The '55 was the fattest; the '57 & '58 had slightly less heft and the '60s (both SGs) had slimmer necks than the others.

 

The '55 felt very like my '93 R9; the '58 (in particular) felt most like my '95 R0 and the '95 '1960 Classic' and both the SGs felt like my '91 '1960 Classic'.

The '57 was a bit different from the others as it's neck felt as thick as the '58 but there was a bit less shoulder which made it feel smaller but not slimmer in the hand than the '58.

 

I know full-well that a sample of just five instruments is hardly representative of Gibson's VAST output over a fifteen year period but, still,.........

 

FWIW out of all of them the '57 was - for me - the perfect shape.

 

Pip.

[rct]

I've played three or four pre 1960 Les Pauls that I remember, and I was mostly interested in the pickups. They were all club-y necked. Mine is a nail file compared to them.

 

rct