neck width, 2010 '61 reissue?

[CajunQueenSG]

Hi all, I see conflicting info around the 'Net re: the neck width of the 2010 RI. I mostly see postings that it's 11/16 (which is what I would have guessed), but I also see postings referring to "the wider neck" on the 2010 RI. Anyone able to confirm for me? hey thanks!

 

[cerebral gasket]

The nut width is 1-11/16 inches.
The reason the neck feels wide is because it is so thin from top of fingerboard to backside of the neck. Also the backside of the neck is very flat. The neck is not round at all. Feels like playing a slide ruler. I don't know if all of them are like that, but the 2009 SG '61 Reissue that I had in the past was like that and I ended up getting rid of it for that very reason.

I had a 2004 SG Special (gloss finish, not Faded) at the same time with a fat rounded neck that played and sounded much better for my own personal preference.

 

[CajunQueenSG]

@cerebral gasket : Thanks!

 

[CajunQueenSG]

@cerebral gasket : I'm going to see a used one today (New Year Guitar!), so now I'll know what to expect. Thx again :)

 

[cerebral gasket]

That's the best thing to do is play it and not base your decision from what you read online. I can only tell you my own personal experience with it which may be different from other folks. Also if you don't have another guitar to compare it to, then the neck will probably feel fine to you. It's all a matter of personal preference. None are better or worse than others, only different.

 

[CajunQueenSG]

{"Feels like playing a slide ruler"} I haven't run into this before, but I can picture it; sounds interesting. Or slightly strange. :)

 

[cerebral gasket]

With the SG '61 Reissue having a flat and thin (front to back) profile, it resembles a ruler. I prefer baseball bats as opposed to rulers.

 

[CajunQueenSG]

haha, I'll let you if I agree. :)

 

[Col Mustard]

Welcome to ETSG
Lots of opinions on neck shapes on this (and most) guitar fora.
On this forum, you'll find info that seems to me more accurate
than I see on other boards.

+1 on what CG said...
Play it before you buy it, especially if you want to be picky about neck shapes.

My own perspective is that the human hand can play any instrument
from a mandolin to a double bass with no problems.

So you choose your guitar based on the tone you need for the
music you intend to play. Then you practice with it until your hand
learns the moves. *grins. Begin with the assumption that your hand
can learn how to play a guitar that gives the tone you need.

Good luck in your quest, I hope you find something that comes alive
in your hands, so that you don't have to get a ruler out and measure
anything... you know it's right.

 

[CajunQueenSG]

@ Col Mustard : Sure, I don't disagree with anything there. I was mostly wanted to know about the guitar, before I get there to see it. i.e. So nowly I won;t be totally gob-smacked when I see this flat RI neck.
thanks!

 

[CajunQueenSG]

{"I hope you find something that comes alive in your hands"} However, the feeling of "this think comes alive in my hands" is a sum of different components and inputs (some of them intangible), and one of those components is "how does this piece of wood feel in my hands". Sure, I *can* learn to like anything, but in the 10 minutes I'm at some guy's house, thinking about should I buy this guitar, I have to go with a lot of gut feeling: does this thing sound, and feel, good to me.

 

[Col Mustard]

yep...
I think we're all behind you on this.

 

[CajunQueenSG]

But I do luv the main thought behind what you were saying, people spend too much time worrying about a few millimeters. You can see how easy it is to adapt, if you go to a friend's house and end up playing his guitar: for the first five minutes the neck feels very foreign to you, then you completely forget about it and just have fun. :)

 

[ventura]

With the SG '61 Reissue having a flat and thin (front to back) profile, it resembles a ruler. I prefer baseball bats as opposed to rulers.

With ya on this. Prefer the Louisville Sluggers.

Had an ‘11. Ruler/rubber neck. Naturally, it’s gone now.

 

[pancake81]

I can throw some calipers on if you let me know where exactly you want the measurements

 

[CajunQueenSG]

haha, okay!

 

[CajunQueenSG]

FYI, I did go to see the 61RI I mentioned; loved it and took it home.

 

[arcticsg]

FYI, I did go to see the 61RI I mentioned; loved it and took it home.

Sweeeet! HNGD to ya!

Where’s the pics? Let’s see that beauty!

 

[Col Mustard]

{"I hope you find something that comes alive in your hands"} However, the feeling of "this think comes alive in my hands" is a sum of different components and inputs (some of them intangible), and one of those components is "how does this piece of wood feel in my hands". Sure, I *can* learn to like anything, but in the 10 minutes I'm at some guy's house, thinking about should I buy this guitar, I have to go with a lot of gut feeling: does this thing sound, and feel, good to me.

Most Gibson guitars are made with the same neck width: 11/16.

Where they differ is in the depth, or thickness of the neck.

Gibson describes these two neck profiles as "fifties rounded" and "Sixties slim."

Guitarists on internet fora go to great lengths to exaggerate the difference.
They make I sound like it's a lot more than what it is.
... a couple millimeters of wood, one way or the other. IMHO this is mostly nonsense.
...BUT I do understand that for some players, it's crucial.
...and I do understand that the feel of the guitar is either appealing or not.

I own a number of guitars and basses, and they all have different neck
shapes. I just play them. I never have thought about it much until I started hanging out on guitar
fora about ten years ago. Then I started reading what other players had to say, and I wondered
"really?"
"You'd order a guitar online, unplayed, and then send it back because the neck was too
thick or too thin?" *laughs

I would never do that. I've ordered three guitars online, unplayed... because I found something
I knew I could use, and at a price I could not resist. Because I knew I wanted THAT guitar, and at
THAT price, the neck shape was not relevant. Whatever shapes they are, my hand can play them.

In your case, going to see the guitar seems like absolutely the right thing to do.
That's how you know. Play it before you buy it. But IMHO, the Gibson SG '61 RI is one
of the best guitars they've ever made.

Now let's see some pictures. I'm glad you found something you liked.

 

[CajunQueenSG]

can;t figure out how to uplaod pictures here