Rounded ‘50s neck

[DrBGood]

So, my sadness is that nobody around me (on the Jersey side of the Lincoln Tunnel) seems to have recent examples of Epi SGs for me to try, huh?

Are there any specific models that you guys can point to that don't have the flat back? I like the looks of the '61-style SGs but fear that they might also be the most likely to have the thin, flat neck, since original Gibsons didn't regain their chonkiness until... '64?

I found that usually, SGs with the full batwing ,guard tend to have a fat neck.

 

[Gary Gretsch]

So, my sadness is that nobody around me (on the Jersey side of the Lincoln Tunnel) seems to have recent examples of Epi SGs for me to try, huh?

Are there any specific models that you guys can point to that don't have the flat back? I like the looks of the '61-style SGs but fear that they might also be the most likely to have the thin, flat neck, since original Gibsons didn't regain their chonkiness until... '64?

I have a SG Tribute discontinued has a nice neck that is rounded. A SG Standard same rounded neck And a Tony Iommi, I would compare that to a 50's neck. All Gibsons. I like a chunky neck and they are all very comfortable to me. If you want Epiphone the only one that I am told has a chunky neck is the Tony Iommi.

 

[DrBGood]

I have a SG Tribute discontinued has a nice neck that is rounded.

Special Faded has the exact same neck shape, but in open grain mahogany. I had to sand it to get some kind of smooth surface.

 

[GilmourD]

I have a SG Tribute discontinued has a nice neck that is rounded. A SG Standard same rounded neck And a Tony Iommi, I would compare that to a 50's neck. All Gibsons. I like a chunky neck and they are all very comfortable to me. If you want Epiphone the only one that I am told has a chunky neck is the Tony Iommi.

Special Faded has the exact same neck shape, but in open grain mahogany. I had to sand it to get some kind of smooth surface.

Are we talking the Gibson versions? Unless I can get them around $400 used I'm more likely headed towards an Epiphone (or Japanese market Grassroots, Tokai, Burny, or something).

 

[DrBGood]

Are we talking the Gibson versions? Unless I can get them around $400 used I'm more likely headed towards an Epiphone (or Japanese market Grassroots, Tokai, Burny, or something).

Yes Gibson. Last year I got a Special Faded for ... 400 Canadian pesos. I know, once in a lifetime deal, but it happened.

You gotta be crazy, you gotta have a real need
You gotta sleep on your toes, and when you're on the street
You gotta be able to pick out the easy meat with your eyes closed
And then moving in silently, down wind and out of sight
You gotta strike when the moment is right without thinking
David Jon Gilmour / Roger Waters

 

[Norton]

just before 2020 Gibson/Epiphone revamped the neck profiles and the slim D taper is no longer part of the "feature" set.

IF you're looking at new or even newer guitars, you won't find the pronounced flat back D. shape of the early 2000's. And that pretty much goes for all models.

There have to be at least 4 guitar centers in NJ...

 

[Gary Gretsch]

Most every epiphone that is new description reads Slim Taper NECK.
I have a older epiphone that has the same chunky neck as on my Les Paul Jr.

 

[GilmourD]

There have to be at least 4 guitar centers in NJ...

Was just at the Paramus GC and not a single Epi SG. Actually, they only had three Gibson SGs, and one of them was a used Special Faded that needed a setup bad.

 

[DrBGood]

Actually, they only had three Gibson SGs, and one of them was a used Special Faded that needed a setup bad.

And ? How much was it ? If they don't bother setting it up, you can argue about the price according to that.

 

[GilmourD]

And ? How much was it ? If they don't bother setting it up, you can argue about the price according to that.

More than double what I'm looking to spend.

Also, it's Guitar Center. If you find a guitar that's set up it's by accident.

Went to a different GC tonight. They only had a few Gibsons starting at $2K.

Is GC not ordering Epi SGs, is Epi not producing them, or are they somehow the hot thing right now making them hard to find?

I just want to test neck shapes!

 

[DrBGood]

I just want to test neck shapes!

Look for video reviews that mention it.

 

[GilmourD]

OK, that's three different GCs without a single Epi SG.

Look for video reviews that mention it.

I've been poking around on YouTube and a lot of them just spout the spec without discussion.

 

[Les’s Nemisis]

Colin / The Guitaristas Youtube channel always measures actual specs at 1 & 12, shows you the profiles (stop the video or snapshot the dimensions) and tells you what shape it feels like to him. That's the best I've found. He's also very entertaining. He's reviewed a number of them. Trogly measures but I don't think he displays profiles.

For specific Epiphones with a rounded neck, the Tony Iommi is a rounded C. But I doubt you'll find one even used for less than $600 as they are $900 new and recent.

The newer Epiphones (post 2019) with rounder necks would be the Standard and the Classic. Even though the Classic leans toward the '61 style with the pickguard (see general rule #1 below), it seems to have the same neck as the Standard.

General Rule #0 - There are no hard and fast rules on Epi necks. Unless you have a comparison to a specific year and model, you could find a spec change with no neck-name change, even mid-year.

General Rule #1 - Anything with '61 in the name will tend to be skinnier. How skinny varies with years and specific models.

General Rule #2 - Any large heel Epi tends to have a larger, rounder neck. See photos below.

General Rule #3 - Any '61 heel style Epi tends to have a thinner neck. The post 2019 Classic is an exception. See photos below.

General Rule #4 - Historically, any Epi SG with a large batwing pickguard tends to have a larger neck. Any Epi with a small '61 style pickguard tends to have a thinner neck.

One last note: If you want to stay under $400, you're looking at used. Check the local FB and C/L. In most areas, there are a bunch for sale at any given time. Then you get to test hands on before buying.

Guitar Center usually has a number of used SG's at or below that $ point. You get 45 days to try them (verify when you pick up), so you can order one that looks good and have it shipped to your local GC. Try it in store when it arrives there. If you don't like the neck, you can return it on the spot. Or keep it for a while and see if you bond with it. They won't refund the shipping, so it will cost you $26 if you don't like it.

Large heel:



Small heel:

 

[GilmourD]

Colin / The Guitaristas Youtube channel always measures actual specs at 1 & 12, shows you the profiles (stop the video or snapshot the dimensions) and tells you what shape it feels like to him. That's the best I've found. He's also very entertaining. He's reviewed a number of them. Trogly measures but I don't think he displays profiles.

For specific Epiphones with a rounded neck, the Tony Iommi is a rounded C. But I doubt you'll find one even used for less than $600 as they are $900 new and recent.

The newer Epiphones (post 2019) with rounder necks would be the Standard and the Classic. Even though the Classic leans toward the '61 style with the pickguard (see general rule #1 below), it seems to have the same neck as the Standard.

General Rule #0 - There are no hard and fast rules on Epi necks. Unless you have a comparison to a specific year and model, you could find a spec change with no neck-name change, even mid-year.

General Rule #1 - Anything with '61 in the name will tend to be skinnier. How skinny varies with years and specific models.

General Rule #2 - Any large heel Epi tends to have a larger, rounder neck. See photos below.

General Rule #3 - Any '61 heel style Epi tends to have a thinner neck. The post 2019 Classic is an exception. See photos below.

General Rule #4 - Historically, any Epi SG with a large batwing pickguard tends to have a larger neck. Any Epi with a small '61 style pickguard tends to have a thinner neck.

One last note: If you want to stay under $400, you're looking at used. Check the local FB and C/L. In most areas, there are a bunch for sale at any given time. Then you get to test hands on before buying.

Guitar Center usually has a number of used SG's at or below that $ point. You get 45 days to try them (verify when you pick up), so you can order one that looks good and have it shipped to your local GC. Try it in store when it arrives there. If you don't like the neck, you can return it on the spot. Or keep it for a while and see if you bond with it. They won't refund the shipping, so it will cost you $26 if you don't like it.

Large heel:

View attachment 56877

Small heel:
View attachment 56878

My biggest issue with the Epis has been the flat back. While I do tend to prefer a chunkier neck, they don't all need to be the AllParts TMO-FAT that I have on my Tex Mex Tele Special. I'd probably call my Gretsch G5220 and G5655TG necks slimmer, but they're also round.

It's good to know the general idea of what the necks look like with regards to heel, though. I know Gibson has definitely had some necks at certain points that were on the chunkier side with a '61 style heel, but that's also Gibson and outside my current budget.

As far as Rule #0... Yeah... I sat down once with three Anacondaburst Slash LPs at the same time and all three had different feeling necks.

As far as Guitar Center... As you can see, I've been to three and there was NOTHING either new or used. As a former GC employee (2001-02) and long-time tire-kicker/customer I'm actually kinda shocked. The only SG I saw under $2000 was that used Gibson Faded Special for $800ish at Paramus, NJ, while the Springfield and Totowa stores had $2K and up. Plenty of Epi Les Pauls, a couple DG-335s, and even a Firebird V, but not a single Epi SG.

 

[Gary Gretsch]

I wish you were a bit closer. You could buy mine. LoL

 

[Les’s Nemisis]

My biggest issue with the Epis has been the flat back. While I do tend to prefer a chunkier neck, they don't all need to be the AllParts TMO-FAT that I have on my Tex Mex Tele Special. I'd probably call my Gretsch G5220 and G5655TG necks slimmer, but they're also round.

It's good to know the general idea of what the necks look like with regards to heel, though. I know Gibson has definitely had some necks at certain points that were on the chunkier side with a '61 style heel, but that's also Gibson and outside my current budget.

As far as Rule #0... Yeah... I sat down once with three Anacondaburst Slash LPs at the same time and all three had different feeling necks.

As far as Guitar Center... As you can see, I've been to three and there was NOTHING either new or used. As a former GC employee (2001-02) and long-time tire-kicker/customer I'm actually kinda shocked. The only SG I saw under $2000 was that used Gibson Faded Special for $800ish at Paramus, NJ, while the Springfield and Totowa stores had $2K and up. Plenty of Epi Les Pauls, a couple DG-335s, and even a Firebird V, but not a single Epi SG.

Check online and order something used. It’s a $23 risk on the shipping cost but they’ll refund the rest.

Agree on the flat back. Doesn’t work for me. I like skinny, not flat.

 

[GilmourD]

Check online and order something used. It’s a $23 risk on the shipping cost but they’ll refund the rest.

Agree on the flat back. Doesn’t work for me. I like skinny, not flat.

Yeah, just gotta find one that looks good. Sometimes I wonder if Stevie Wonder is taking and editing the photos they use.

I mean... I take product photos on my dining room table for my shop using my phone. It's not THAT hard!

 

[GilmourD]

Well, the Yonkers, NY, Guitar Center also has zero SGs below $2K...

What's going on? Is GC not ordering Epi SGs or is Epiphone not cranking them out at the factory anymore?

 

[LetSGo!]

I found that usually, SGs with the full batwing ,guard tend to have a fat neck.

I'm pretty sure that a few of my long gone, previous Epis ( not SG's) had that ' D oval' neck ( like a rounded-off square) - that were just not comfy- and the pickups were just muted/no life...

Finally ( years later, after reading about Epiphone improvements, across the board around 2013) I got a 2018 Epi SG-400 Pro in 2020, a very nice '66 style SG, with a much rounder neck, still a bit oval ( not super fat), but comfy. And much better pickups

The neck shape is similar to the top necks in photo