Daved
Robben Connection
Joined: 08 Aug 2003
Posts: 943
Location: Terra Firma, Ether Sea
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 Posted: Tue May 06, 2008 8:14 am Post subject: ( }:-D Necks |
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FordFan sent me a PM awhile back (that I just discovered  and responded to) and I felt that it is info, general as that info might be, that others on the board might find of interest. I hope John doesn't mind my reprinting it here for the rest of you:
| FordFan wrote: | Hi David...I'm considering a purchase of a 1960 Esquire. While I consider myself quite schooled in Vintage guitars(mainly strats), I was hoping you had a bit of info for me.
Would you say that a 1960 Esquire/Tele neck is "thinner" in comparison to 1961 and on necks? Is Robben's on the "thinner" side? In comparing to my 63 Start it seems that way. I can only go by memory, but my friends guitar(why I didn't buy it is a mystery! LOL!), a 1962 Tele, had a bat for a neck....I know consistency in those years was all over that place, but I was hoping you might have some insight, seeing as Robben's I believe is a 1960. |
John, sorry for the delay in response. Somehow I missed your letter and only just discovered it while responding to some other messages.
I am not very familiar with the comparative thickness of Tele necks in general, but here are some thoughts.
I would say that the neck on Robben's tele is relatively thin compared to most that I have seen. It (and for that matter, most Teles I've had my hands on) is definitely much thinner than the standard Gibson (especially LPs) necks. I think Fender always did, as a general rule, go for thinner necks than Gibson.
I can't say for sure, but knowing that Robben never considered himself a Tele guy till he laid his hands on this particular one, the shape and thinness of the neck may have been one of the selling points for him.
I know that with any guitar he acquires, neck shape is always a major issue and, if all other details are favorable for him, he will often spend a lot of time having his luthiers reshape the neck till he is happy with it.
Neck shape and size is very important to him. He does not like the standard LP thickness on one end or the typical Ibenez or PRS thinness on the other. He doesn't care for squareness or half moon roundness either.
He does like medium-thin, but not excessively so, with a gentle roundness.
Again, MY experience with Teles (and I own a Thinline myself) is that the one he has is slightly thinner than most, but not excessively.
One more thought, if you find any guitar you like but are unsure of the neck thickness, MY recommendation is, if all other factors are favorable but the neck is not quite right, go with a thicker neck rather than a thinner neck than you usually like or are comfortable with.
You can always have a thick neck shaved and/or reshaped by a competent luthier, but it is pretty much impossible to ADD thickness or shape to an undersized neck."
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B C-ing U!
( }:-Daved
"This boy's diseased with rhythm!" -Bing Crosby (Road To Rio, '49)  |
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veldt666
Member
Joined: 29 Jul 2003
Posts: 40
Location: Scotland
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| Posted: Wed May 07, 2008 5:48 am Post subject: |
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Or an option would be,
if you find a neck profile which REALLY appeals to you, buy an Inexpensive radius gauge, to check & record the measurment.
Then you have a permenant reference for any potential future purchases.
Works for me! |
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