R9 anyone explain 'relaxed shoulders'

[dirty little face]

I own a '58 2006 and am familiar with this historic...I am looking for a '59 and want to know what they mean by 'relaxed shoulders' for the 2009 and up '59 model. I found some info, but not enough...my questions are: are relaxed shoulder necks on the 2009 and up guitars closer to the first original produced 1959 guitar necks?...or are the 2008 '59 models necks closer to the first original produced 1959's?...what specific parts of the neck are different on the relaxed shoulder necks?...any help would be greatly appreciated...I found this quote in another post explaining the change on the 2009 models: "Neck profile changed - now has less "shoulders"...thanks...

 

[JimmyAce2006]

i never heard the term "relaxed shoulders" but i have heard the term "reduced shoulders". my understanding is that they slimmed down the bulky sides near the binding based on measurements taken from actual 1959 bursts

 

[Liam]

The earlier ones tend to be a bit D shaped. '59 necks tend to be more of a C shape, but still a decent handful. The overall depth doesn't seem to have changed a lot, just the width of the neck about 2/3 of the way back from the fingerboard. I find they are a lot more comfortable.

I had my old R9 shaved to match a '59 profile. He took a lot of wood off the shoulders, surprisingly so. It's still not really any thinner than my '55 LP Junior neck, and is a lot more comfortable for the missing wood.

Liam

 

[dirty little face]

The earlier ones tend to be a bit D shaped. '59 necks tend to be more of a C shape, but still a decent handful. The overall depth doesn't seem to have changed a lot, just the width of the neck about 2/3 of the way back from the fingerboard. I find they are a lot more comfortable.

I had my old R9 shaved to match a '59 profile. He took a lot of wood off the shoulders, surprisingly so. It's still not really any thinner than my '55 LP Junior neck, and is a lot more comfortable for the missing wood.

Liam

thanks for your input!

 

[dirty little face]

i never heard the term "relaxed shoulders" but i have heard the term "reduced shoulders". my understanding is that they slimmed down the bulky sides near the binding based on measurements taken from actual 1959 bursts

thanks for your input

 

[Danelectro]

Here's a sketch comparing the soft shoulders of the Wildwood '55 neck to a typical R4/R6/R7/R8.

 

[ctkarslake]

So...relaxed shoulders are more like a '55 profile than any other year? Am I getting this right? I think the '55 profile is known for it's "V" profile if I'm not mistaken. No wonder you can see the neck binding from the back!

 

[Liam]

No, they all varied a bit. '54 and '55 can be a bit "boaty" IME, but not necessarily. Obviously it's in Gibson's interest to nail particular profiles to particular years, but the reality is that there was a step change in early 1960. Prior to that they just varied a bit. I've never come across a 50's neck with shoulders as big as some of the R9s though.

Liam

 

[uburoibob]

No, they all varied a bit. '54 and '55 can be a bit "boaty" IME, but not necessarily. Obviously it's in Gibson's interest to nail particular profiles to particular years, but the reality is that there was a step change in early 1960. Prior to that they just varied a bit. I've never come across a 50's neck with shoulders as big as some of the R9s though.

Liam

Me neither. Been playing vintage Gibsons since the late 60s - having worked in guitar stores early in my career, I'd say I played thousands.

When I got my 2001 R9, it's neck was so "square" feeling with those big shoulders - nothing like any vintage Gibson or any other Gibson for that matter...

My 2009 Bloomie is perfect to vintage feel, though. Despite the fact that some are deeper overall and some are shallower, Gibson necks always felt like they were in the same family. Not so with those early 2000's R9s. They felt like a different brand entirely...

Bob

 

[jwinger]

i've never come across a 50's neck with shoulders as big as some of the r9s though.

Liam

+1 !!!

 

[Todd68]

A friend of mine has some vintage gear. I had a chance to play his original '52 LP. I was very surprised to find out that the neck really isn't very big. No where near the D shape I've felt on '52 - '58 reissues, and smaller than most R9s I've played. Bloomfield necks are much closer to the real thing (based on my limited experience). A lot of positive neck shape changes were made in 09. With that said, I've had R9s from various years that have great profiles.