Relief differs on high vs low e. Twisted neck?

[dontblink]

Hi everyone,

I just recently purchased a 60s standard Les Paul. It plays really great and in overall happy with it.

My issue comes in when I was trying to do a setup and finding that the low e and the high e have different relief measurements (capo on first, fret 15th, measure at 7th). I found the low e to be at 0.007" and the high e at 0.003". I tried to see if there is a twist but I could not see anything. Or at least I don't know if I'm missing it.

Can anyone take a look at the photos and provide me with their opinion? Any help would be greatly appreciated. I'll have to look into scheduling don't time with a luthier hopefully soon.

Thank you

 

[DelawareGold]

Could you please take a few clear photo's of the nut.
Thanks.

 

[dontblink]

Added. My only concern is it continuing a twist if it is twisting. Overall it plays well which is the most important.

 

[guidothepimmp]

How are you measuring that? Feeler gauges? And I assume you are checking it over the fret.. if yes, are your frets 100% level?
I had to use a quick converter.. but 0.004 in is something like 0.1mm. I wouldnt have a concern with that at all. Seems negligble to me.

Disclaimer. I am no tech. So just my opinion.

 

[dontblink]

Feeler gauges. Yes over the frets. The guitar is brand new so I think the frets are level and from sighting it, does seem to be the case.

 

[LtDave32]

This is a common thing, and not something to be alarmed about.

In fact, most guitars are going to have a little bit of difference, for the string tension while tuned is greater on one side than the other.

There are dozens of little things like that going on with an instrument.

Old adage; If you look for a problem, you'll likely find one.

 

[Plant man]

Hi everyone,

I just recently purchased a 60s standard Les Paul. It plays really great and in overall happy with it.

My issue comes in when I was trying to do a setup and finding that the low e and the high e have different relief measurements (capo on first, fret 15th, measure at 7th). I found the low e to be at 0.007" and the high e at 0.003". I tried to see if there is a twist but I could not see anything. Or at least I don't know if I'm missing it.

Can anyone take a look at the photos and provide me with their opinion? Any help would be greatly appreciated. I'll have to look into scheduling don't time with a luthier hopefully soon.

Thank you

The neck definitely looks straight imo. Beautiful les Paul buddy

 

[ARandall]

Given the greater excursion of the low E, I'd want more clearance both in action and relief.

The problem with precision measuring tools is that you start finding everything you thought was square or even is not. Leave that sort of tolerance for makers of swiss watches, F1, aircraft and NASA to worry about.

 

[Maggot_Brain]

I stopped using strings to check relief because strings droop. When I compare relief measured with a straight edge vs strings, I get different results. The string measurement is ALWAYS smaller. Why? Likely because the strings droop. It may only be a fraction of a mm but I still measure a difference. So I stopped checking relief using strings. I only use an actual, verified straight edge since I know it won't droop.

 

[dontblink]

Thanks for the sanity check. This won't really bother me - just a bit worried if this is twisted so thanks for confirming it is probably not.

I uploaded all the photos I took here:

https://imgur.com/a/4ax4BMV

if anyone wants to take a closer look. For my own education, how were you able to tell it was straight vs not? What are you looking for?

The nut is cut a bit high which ends up making the first 2 frets slightly share on the low E. I believe that can be fixed hopefully pretty easily with a proper setup.

Thank you again for taking a look and providing your insights!

 

[DelawareGold]

When you sight down the guitar from the headstock to the bridge,
as you have done in your photo's a twist in the neck is readily apparent.
The Nut and the bridge should be parallel, as yours is. I don't see any
twist. I asked for clearer photo's of your nut, because sometimes the
slots are worn, or cut too deeply (Usually the unwound strings) and that
can be an issue when checking relief, but your slots look fine. The next
step would be checking the frets (a job for a Luthier) and a very light
dressing to bring the offending frets back to a tight relief, but that is only
if you really need a tight and fast fretboard. That isn't something I would
do just because I got a different reading than I was expecting.

 

[Freddy G]

As ARandall pointed out, a bit more relief on the bass side is perfect. That's actually a sophisticated set-up if it was done intentionally....if not, then just be thankful for the coincidence.

 

[emoney]

When you see a twisted neck, there won't be any doubt, that's for sure. I know this because I've built plenty twisted necks, which kinda makes me a big deal in the twisted neck world. Just sayin'

 

[LtDave32]

As ARandall pointed out, a bit more relief on the bass side is perfect. That's actually a sophisticated set-up if it was done intentionally....if not, then just be thankful for the coincidence.

+1.

When strings are plucked, they vibrate elliptically, not just side-to-side.

There's more of that happening on the bass side.

 

[fumblefinger]

When I do a nut I use the SM Safe Slot to start with. There is always .004" difference in spacers from the high to the low strings.

 

[dontblink]

Thank you for putting my mind at ease. I will celebrate my luck of accidentally (or intentionally ) getting a sophisticated neck by playing until my fingers bleed!

 

[LPTDMSV]

Thank you for putting my mind at ease. I will celebrate my luck of accidentally (or intentionally ) getting a sophisticated neck by playing until my fingers bleed!

- that’s the way to go!

 

[Maggot_Brain]

I almost ended up with an Ibanez Mikro with a twisted neck over the weekend because I bid on an auction before reading the description. All I saw was a $50 Mikro so I bid.

Turns out it had 0.004"(0.1mm) relief on the bass side and like 0.014"(0.35mm) on the treble side. I retracted that bid. Lol