Long Neck Tenon, Advantages?

pondcaster · Aug 4, 2023

... Don't forget us Weightweinersteins!

Pancreas · Oct 15, 2024

Note Milker said:
It's really all in the glue, don't forget about the glue. All the tone comes from the glue. It's the thing!

Hmmmm..... all this time I thought it was the Truss Rod Cover.

moreles · Oct 16, 2024

Long tenons are not a "marketing ploy." They are simply the form used when these guitars were developed because they are a stronger and more rigid joint -- that is, superior. But "superior" sometimes is non-essential, or overkill, and in my experience, the later, short, rocker, or transitional tenons do not really break, fail, etc. I don't think they even pull up. There were some periods under Norlin ownership in which it appeared that Gibson's assembly line was playing it a little loose/sloppy with neck angles, making for sub-optimal bridge heights, but aside from that I think it's unjustified to get hysterical about short tenons. With today's precise mechanical shaping, I think parts fit pretty precisely, short tenons included. Sure, I think Gibson made the change from the superior long tenon because they could build faster with short tenons that do not require precise fit across a larger part, and I think this reflects a bad attitude on the part of the brand. But I wouldn't lose any sleep over a shorter tenon. But on a SG... long tenon please.

Pancreas · Oct 17, 2024

moreles said:
Long tenons are not a "marketing ploy." They are simply the form used when these guitars were developed because they are a stronger and more rigid joint -- that is, superior. But "superior" sometimes is non-essential, or overkill, and in my experience, the later, short, rocker, or transitional tenons do not really break, fail, etc. I don't think they even pull up. There were some periods under Norlin ownership in which it appeared that Gibson's assembly line was playing it a little loose/sloppy with neck angles, making for sub-optimal bridge heights, but aside from that I think it's unjustified to get hysterical about short tenons. With today's precise mechanical shaping, I think parts fit pretty precisely, short tenons included. Sure, I think Gibson made the change from the superior long tenon because they could build faster with short tenons that do not require precise fit across a larger part, and I think this reflects a bad attitude on the part of the brand. But I wouldn't lose any sleep over a shorter tenon. But on a SG... long tenon please.

CNC's are a beautiful thing....

ArchEtech · Oct 18, 2024

Resale and bragging rights to potential buyers that really care about it. That’s prooooobably it.

1allspub · Oct 18, 2024

I’ve had great guitars and meh guitars with both long and short tenons. Personally don’t think it makes any difference.

GenghisBomb · Oct 18, 2024

Historical accuracy. Nothing more.

Illluminostro · Oct 19, 2024

Pancreas said:
Hey Group. Here is a dumb question. What exactly are the advantages of a long neck tenon in a Les Paul?
Currently, my 2 favorite Epiphones are my Jerry Cantrell Wino and my Adam Jones Veil of Bees.
Both are fantastic instruments, with the Adam Jones having a long neck tenon while the Wino doesn't.
I can tell zero difference in feel or sustain that I could attribute to the tenon. There are differences, sure. But the differences line up with the specific attributes of the different models.
So, what gives? Is a longer neck tenon just a marketing ploy?
Thanks!

It's a psychosomatic reassurance that the guitar is more stable, neck pocket-wise.

Like the old timers say: It ain't the arrow, it's the Indian. Beck, Page, Clapton, Gilmour, Kossof, Kath, etc., played instruments far inferior to what's available from Indonesia today. It's the talent, not the tool. But a good tool helps.

Spirit · Oct 19, 2024

For me I do not really care about the Neck tennon length,I care more about how the actual guitar plays and sounds,
I do not notice any difference between the two

efstop · Oct 19, 2024

If you have a long tenon it will reach further into the cavity. Everything else is the same as a short one

DrBGood · Oct 19, 2024

Pancreas · Jul 4, 2025

Note Milker said:
Yeah, don't look in there! I have a junk 78 norlin with the junk tenant, a traditional, r7, r9. They all sustain like crazy, don't tell it to the norlin. Short neck tenant junk, bumble bees can't fly. Don't look in there....

I don't know what you're trying to say here....

VictorB · Jul 4, 2025

Pancreas said:
I don't know what you're trying to say here....

I wouldn’t take a single post of his seriously, they’re all meant to be “funny” in some way, but they all come across as stupid AF. I’ve trained myself to skim over them and just move on.

edro · Jul 4, 2025

Some of y'allses gonna have some major issues with the Tenonites...

LtDave32 · Jul 4, 2025

VictorB said:
I wouldn’t take a single post of his seriously, they’re all meant to be “funny” in some way, but they all come across as stupid AF. I’ve trained myself to skim over them and just move on.

I suspect copious amounts of alcohol..

Pancreas · Jul 4, 2025

VictorB said:
I wouldn’t take a single post of his seriously, they’re all meant to be “funny” in some way, but they all come across as stupid AF. I’ve trained myself to skim over them and just move on.

Sounds like good advice, thanks

WaywerdSon · Jul 13, 2025

I've always been curious as to why they even do different tenon lengths. The difference in material cost for that extra inch of wood is negligible, and would likely be offset by not have to retool for different production runs. Seems like it would just be easier and cheaper to cut all the neck blanks to the same spec. But I'm not a mass production guitar expert, i just bash on them and make awful noises come out

Maguch! · Jul 13, 2025

I always liked the Long Necks.

InTheEvening · Jul 20, 2025

It’s technically more “structurally sound” with more contact points…tonally it’s prob such a minuscule difference 99.99% wouldn’t know. As with most things it just devolves into a tenon measuring contest. xD

dc007 · Jul 20, 2025

The wife says long tenons rule

Long Neck Tenon, Advantages?

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