Gibson R- guitars and their necks

[Guthrie]

Hi guys!

I'm new at this forum, although I've been sneaking around not registered.
I'm from Norway, but do most of my buyings from the states since the selection in Norway is not what you can call "up to date".

I tend to get bitten of GAS once a week, but for some time now I thought I had settled my Gibson GAS with my two LPs and one SG; Gibson LP R8 '02(flammes) and R9 '06, and a SG (R1) VOS '07.

The thing is, that lately when I play my LPs(the SG is fan-tas-tic!), their necks tends to get my thumb all wore out... Strange, as I previously liked better the baseball-bat neck...

I have not tried any of the R0 out there, so I was wondering: how is the neck on those compared to the R8s and R9s? Are there other good Gibson LPs R-s alternatives with small necks?

[JGV]

Welcome!

The R0 ('60) necks are indeed smaller than an R9, which is smaller than an R8. The R0 neck is still fuller than a LP Classic (which I personally find too thin). These are generalizations as I have played some R9s that had the largest neck I have ever put my hand around, easily larger than an R7.

Having said that, I think the 2007 necks have come down in size a little bit, with perhaps less shoulder material.

It seems as if the custom shop is obsessed with putting big necks on everything, not just Les Pauls.

[lp59aholicDon]

Originally Posted by Jeff

Welcome!

The R0 ('60) necks are indeed smaller than an R9, which is smaller than an R8. The R0 neck is still fuller than a LP Classic (which I personally find too thin). These are generalizations as I have played some R9s that had the largest neck I have ever put my hand around, easily larger than an R7.

Having said that, I think the 2007 necks have come down in size a little bit, with perhaps less shoulder material.

It seems as if the custom shop is obsessed with putting big necks on everything, not just Les Pauls.

Jeff, the last VOS I played was a faded R8, the neck was truly more like an R9 , original 59 or early 60. Not much difference in original 57-58 Necks, they are FAT , That guitar had some extreme mojo goin on too

[rockinlespaul]

The historic necks are all over the board, being hand carved.

As a reference as far as I know, the early one's up to the R7(so R2, R4, R6, etc)have the biggest necks and they go down from there. R8, R9 etc...

This can vary though like I said. I know of some R8's that had bigger necks than some R7's, but my old R8 was smaller than my R7 by quite a bit.

YMMV...

[05hummer]

I found the neck on my new Chambered R9 to be the most comfortable yet. Les shoulder and thinner than my other R9s. I would its in between a R9 and R0. Either Gibson is finally getting it or dumb luck, I don't know. If possible aways try as many as you can, but I found that places like Centre City and Wildwood, those guys really go above and beyond to get you what you want and take the time to give a full report on the guitar you are interested in.

[Guthrie]

Hi guys!

Thanks for your answers. To day I tried a Gibson LP R0/G0, and I really liked it!
Anybody tried these?

[LPCollector]

Originally Posted by Guthrie

To day I tried a Gibson LP R0/G0, and I really liked it!
Anybody tried these?

I love my Cloud 9 R0, the neck isnt as small as everyone assumes. The smallest neck in my toy box is my USA Standard with a 60's neck.
Good luck and welcome!

[BOBBO]

A question not being asked is how big are your hands and are you comfortable with a slightly chunky neck ? I know my 05 R8 has a thick but not too clubby neck ! But I have pretty big hands ! From what I've heard from guys who know vintage LP's .. The historics of today have thinner necks than thier vintage forefathers !

[rockinlespaul]

Originally Posted by BOBBO

A question not being asked is how big are your hands and are you comfortable with a slightly chunky neck ? I know my 05 R8 has a thick but not too clubby neck ! But I have pretty big hands ! From what I've heard from guys who know vintage LP's .. The historics of today have thinner necks than thier vintage forefathers !

I wouldn't say they are thinner, but the carve is definetely different.

[lp59aholicDon]

Originally Posted by BOBBO

A question not being asked is how big are your hands and are you comfortable with a slightly chunky neck ? I know my 05 R8 has a thick but not too clubby neck ! But I have pretty big hands ! From what I've heard from guys who know vintage LP's .. The historics of today have thinner necks than thier vintage forefathers !

Good point Bobbo Man, I have a size 9 and half to 10 Glove hand, no small mitt here Having played several 52-54 LPs back as early as the 70s I noted they had much clubbier/ basball bat necks than anything Gibson was producing at the time VOS 54-57's come close to that large chunky neck feel but are still a far different carve, R8's dont feel as large and full as the few originals I played either I do like the newer neck demensions though
In short R8's feel closer to original spec 59;s R9's feel like very early 60s R0's feel like 61 SG/LP Necks

[Red Baron]

Originally Posted by Guthrie

Hi guys!

Thanks for your answers. To day I tried a Gibson LP R0/G0, and I really liked it!
Anybody tried these?

I've got one Guthrie, I really like these G0's... they often have a slightly fuller neck than a typical R0, somewhere in-between an R9 and and R0, which I think is perfect.

Many people say how good their G0's sound (mine is the best sounding Historic I've ever owned), plus they're excellent value for money.

As a side note, one of the guy's who works at Guitar Sale was telling me that the Custom Shop has 3 people shaving necks, and their interpretation of dimensions is different to one another - hence why we see this variation in neck sizes.


My '06 G0

[Red Baron]

Originally Posted by BOBBO

From what I've heard from guys who know vintage LP's .. The historics of today have thinner necks than thier vintage forefathers !

All of my vintage Les Paul's have had smaller necks than any Historic I've played (except for R0/G0's)... these include 54, 55 and 68 LP's.
IMO Gibson are still way off on their neck proportions.

[BOBBO]

Originally Posted by Red Baron

All of my vintage Les Paul's have had smaller necks than any Historic I've played (except for R0/G0's)... these include 54, 55 and 68 LP's.
IMO Gibson are still way off on their neck proportions.

So an R8 neck now is fatter than a real 58 ?

[Red Baron]

Yes definitely.

[Mike60]

Originally Posted by Red Baron

Yes definitely.

+1...But based on playing a few originals(not including mine),I think though that it has more to do with the profile of the Historics being different than a vintage one...not the depth...

[BOBBO]

Originally Posted by Mike60

+1...But based on playing a few originals(not including mine),I think though that it has more to do with the profile of the Historics being different than a vintage one...not the depth...

So it's more of the fact of Historics being more D shaped and Vintage are more soft V ? or C ? But general thickness is about there ?

[Mike60]

...don't know for sure on the thickness,as I have only ever measured one (a '57) other than the two I have, which are from 1960...what I have noticed for sure is the vintage guitars I have played generally have "softer shoulders" than the Historics do...having said that,if you were to go and have in hand several Historics to sample,I'm sure you would eventually find one with a more "correct carve" or a carve which suits you...everyone has a different idea of what the "perfect neck" is...

[Red Baron]

Yeah Mike sums it up well, I think the roundness of vintage necks compared to the pronounced shoulder shape of Historic's is one of the biggest differences.

[lp59aholicDon]

Originally Posted by Red Baron

Yeah Mike sums it up well, I think the roundness of vintage necks compared to the pronounced shoulder shape of Historic's is one of the biggest differences.

The ones I have tried really dont feel exactly or even close to exact of the Vintage ones I've encountered, not exactly a bad thing Its just something Gibson didnt exactly spec correct again . once you can play well on those old club neck's though you should be able to handle bout anything

[Guthrie]

Thanks for all the answers guys.
Guess it's like we always say, try before you buy. Well, that's not easy
when your over here in Norway, but a G0 is on it's way from Memphis, TN!

[Mike60]

..."try before you buy" is a good way to look at it...I also live in an area where Historics are hard to come by in a shop and normally have to get one online.If there is one or two in a shop locally, I always check them out.This way I have a pretty good idea of the guitar in the flesh.
Congrats on your score...

[Redfish]

In my experience the necks are getting smaller on R8's. My 2002 had a baseball bat, my 2006 had a slightly smaller neck and my 2007 has what I would call a med/plus. The 2007 is only .84 inch at the first fret and goes to .94 at the 12th fret. Maybe they are all over the place and the trend I'm seeing is just my luck of the draw. Interestingly the 2007 is the best sounding guitar of the three by far but I wish the neck was fatter.

[Red Baron]

Yeah the 07's seem to be getting rave reviews from their owners... mine should be arriving today

[Redfish]

Originally Posted by Red Baron

Yeah the 07's seem to be getting rave reviews from their owners... mine should be arriving today

Red Baron.....Well, how about a report on the new axe and some photos.

[Red Baron]

Originally Posted by Redfish

Red Baron.....Well, how about a report on the new axe and some photos.

It arrived today... I am lost for words, its so good.
Will take some pics and post pics tomorrow

[Mondoslug]

Geez...I just returned an R6. The neck was freaking huge & it weighed 9.5+lbs. It literally was a baseball bat. I will say it sounded great and I could get used to the neck...not really a problem. I just didn't want to get used to it.

I miss it already. heh.

[dwagar]

I've got pretty small hands, the big necks don't bother me at all. It's the thin necks I don't like, tend to make my hand cramp up after a couple of hours. As a matter of fact, at a gig the other night, I was starting to think my R9 neck could have been bigger.

Have a look at the Historic Makeovers site, I'm pretty sure they have pics of how they change the shoulder on the neck, you might have a local luthier that can do that for you. That might help.