FAQ: Tenons

dwagar · 03-26-2009, 11:28 AM

Early Norlins (though 1974) had what are referred to as 'transitional tenons' or 'modified long tenons'. A long neck tenon with the tongue portion cut off. I assume trimmed prior to assembly, rather than milled out during assembly. This tenon is visible in the neck pickup cavity.

In 1975, along with the change to maple necks, came the short tenon, aka rocker tenon. Allowing for faster assembly, the neck can be 'rocked' slightly to achieve the correct angle. A short tenon is not visible in the cavity.

With Gibson, dates are not set in stone. I've seen pictures of maple necked '75s and one '76 with trans tenons.

I have a theory (but could be wrong) that Nashville never made a trans tenon Les Paul, that they all came from Kalamazoo.

diceman · 03-26-2009, 12:42 PM

Trans tenon in my '69:

JimmyAce2006 · 03-28-2009, 01:18 AM

Some Norlins that had a trans tenon were routed in the neck pickup cavity for a long tenon. In that case, a small block of wood was placed in the empty space where the tongue of a long tenon would have been. It makes it look like a long tenon. In that situation beware; take a close look at the end of the tongue. If it is not beveled on the end, it is a block of wood, not a long tenon. I have seen people try to sell them as long tenons on ebay in the past; could be an honest mistake, but a costly one.

dwagar · 03-28-2009, 01:49 AM

that was early, wasn't it? '68/69?

diceman · 03-28-2009, 02:27 AM

Should have been very early '69 when there were trans tenon necks and long tenon routes w/ the blocks. By mid/late '69, the switch to trans tenon should have been complete. I do not believe that there were any trans tenons in '68 - only long.

dwagar · 03-28-2009, 12:24 PM

thanks, that matches what I've got in the History thread.

icsm · 04-01-2009, 10:27 PM

Long tenons existed in the early 69s. I think the guitars that were started in 68 and shipped in 69 (aka early 69s) had long tenons. Trans tenons start mid 69 (i read somewhere Feb 69). Trans tenons are closer to long tenons than they are to short tenons in terms of construction.

lucy-guitar · 05-01-2009, 06:14 PM

Transitional neck tenon of my 1973 Custom

treatb · 07-30-2009, 03:43 PM

whats that big white thing along the truss rod of the short tenon

dwagar · 07-30-2009, 03:47 PM

I assume that's the filler strip - put in after the rod is put in. You don't see it in the other 2 photos as they aren't cut as deep (you can't see the rod)

Gregzy · 09-04-2009, 01:12 PM

Here's a trans tenon on my late '74/early '75 LPC (Mahogany neck) :

Greg

03-26-2009, 11:28 AM	#1 (permalink)
dwagar V.I.P. Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: C eh? N eh? D eh? Posts: 4,961 Thanks: 28 Thanked 51 Times in 9 Posts	FAQ: Tenons Early Norlins (though 1974) had what are referred to as 'transitional tenons' or 'modified long tenons'. A long neck tenon with the tongue portion cut off. I assume trimmed prior to assembly, rather than milled out during assembly. This tenon is visible in the neck pickup cavity. In 1975, along with the change to maple necks, came the short tenon, aka rocker tenon. Allowing for faster assembly, the neck can be 'rocked' slightly to achieve the correct angle. A short tenon is not visible in the cavity. With Gibson, dates are not set in stone. I've seen pictures of maple necked '75s and one '76 with trans tenons. I have a theory (but could be wrong) that Nashville never made a trans tenon Les Paul, that they all came from Kalamazoo. __________________ ------------ Don my favorite toys (one wants to be a '59, the other is a '59): Last edited by dwagar; 03-26-2009 at 12:49 PM.

03-26-2009, 12:42 PM	#2 (permalink)
diceman V.I.P. Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 16,308 Thanks: 307 Thanked 90 Times in 32 Posts	Re: FAQ: Tenons Trans tenon in my '69: __________________ My Band: www.comeupswingingmusic.com or www.myspace.com/comeupswinging

03-28-2009, 01:18 AM	#3 (permalink)
JimmyAce2006 Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 2,702 Thanks: 2 Thanked 65 Times in 19 Posts	Re: FAQ: Tenons Some Norlins that had a trans tenon were routed in the neck pickup cavity for a long tenon. In that case, a small block of wood was placed in the empty space where the tongue of a long tenon would have been. It makes it look like a long tenon. In that situation beware; take a close look at the end of the tongue. If it is not beveled on the end, it is a block of wood, not a long tenon. I have seen people try to sell them as long tenons on ebay in the past; could be an honest mistake, but a costly one.

03-28-2009, 01:49 AM	#4 (permalink)
dwagar V.I.P. Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: C eh? N eh? D eh? Posts: 4,961 Thanks: 28 Thanked 51 Times in 9 Posts	Re: FAQ: Tenons that was early, wasn't it? '68/69? __________________ ------------ Don my favorite toys (one wants to be a '59, the other is a '59):

03-28-2009, 02:27 AM	#5 (permalink)
diceman V.I.P. Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 16,308 Thanks: 307 Thanked 90 Times in 32 Posts	Re: FAQ: Tenons Should have been very early '69 when there were trans tenon necks and long tenon routes w/ the blocks. By mid/late '69, the switch to trans tenon should have been complete. I do not believe that there were any trans tenons in '68 - only long. __________________ My Band: www.comeupswingingmusic.com or www.myspace.com/comeupswinging

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03-28-2009, 12:24 PM	#6 (permalink)
dwagar V.I.P. Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: C eh? N eh? D eh? Posts: 4,961 Thanks: 28 Thanked 51 Times in 9 Posts	Re: FAQ: Tenons thanks, that matches what I've got in the History thread. __________________ ------------ Don my favorite toys (one wants to be a '59, the other is a '59):

04-01-2009, 10:27 PM	#7 (permalink)
icsm Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 129 Thanks: 1 Thanked 8 Times in 3 Posts	Re: FAQ: Tenons Long tenons existed in the early 69s. I think the guitars that were started in 68 and shipped in 69 (aka early 69s) had long tenons. Trans tenons start mid 69 (i read somewhere Feb 69). Trans tenons are closer to long tenons than they are to short tenons in terms of construction. __________________ '64 Fender Jaguar '68 Gibson Les Paul Custom '68/69 Gibson Les Paul Custom '89 Gibson Les Paul Reissue '89 PRS Custom 24 '05 PRS Custom 24

05-01-2009, 06:14 PM	#8 (permalink)
lucy-guitar Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Germany Posts: 37 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: FAQ: Tenons Transitional neck tenon of my 1973 Custom __________________ My Les Pauls: R9 Historic Reissue (2005) Custom (1973) Recording (1973) Les Paul Firebrand (1979) Standard HC (1988) Standard HB (2001)

07-30-2009, 03:43 PM	#9 (permalink)
treatb Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: nebraska Posts: 316 Thanks: 0 Thanked 6 Times in 2 Posts	Re: FAQ: Tenons whats that big white thing along the truss rod of the short tenon

07-30-2009, 03:47 PM	#10 (permalink)
dwagar V.I.P. Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: C eh? N eh? D eh? Posts: 4,961 Thanks: 28 Thanked 51 Times in 9 Posts	Re: FAQ: Tenons I assume that's the filler strip - put in after the rod is put in. You don't see it in the other 2 photos as they aren't cut as deep (you can't see the rod) __________________ ------------ Don my favorite toys (one wants to be a '59, the other is a '59):

09-04-2009, 01:12 PM	#11 (permalink)
Gregzy Junior Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Milky Way Posts: 1 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: FAQ: Tenons Here's a trans tenon on my late '74/early '75 LPC (Mahogany neck) : Greg

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