SG Standard - Neck Size Too Big For Me

[toocommercial]

Hi guys and gals,

This is one of my first posts. I'm really liking this place. :)

I recently got a 2008 SG Standard which sounds incredible. The body size and weight feel good to me as well, when I'm gigging and such. But I have fairly small hands and the neck is bit much for me. It's really chunky for my hand size. I don't want to give up this great sound, so what guitar should get that will retain this type of tone and sustain but have a smaller, more manageable neck? I heard the SG Classics were smaller neck-wise, but I played one just last week and it didn't feel that small to me.

I also have a Casino, which has a neck that's the perfect size for me. I'm not great at measuring necks or knowing the difference between the C, V, U, etc. I have a vague idea, but overall I just need a narrow neck.

Any ideas would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

[Tone_Terrific]

Necks can be reshaped to be smaller.
Strip the finish, resize exactly to your spec, refinish in oil or something smooth...could be sweet. Maybe not a DIY, but if the rest of the guitar is so good, check.

[operanonverba]

Welcome toocommercial! The 61 RI has a slimmer neck that would probably suite you. The pups in the Standard are different than the 57 Classics in the 61 and it will change your tone but you could also change the pups without losing your tone. It is also a bit more. You could probably post it for trade here and put a little $ with yours for a swap. Heck, someone else may be unhappy with the thinner 61 neck and want to swap. I went though the same thing but I did not like the 61 neck. I like the chunkier necks. Try to get by a shop and try one first. You could always have it shaped down if it's "the one and only" guitar for you.

[corn husk bag]

Yep, you will probably be real happy with the 61 reissue, great neck if you hate baseball bats. Playability is superb on those. I have had a real one and a reissue since 1963. They usually have one at GC you can test drive. You may even like the tone of the pick ups in thw 61 better than the standard.

Best Regards,
Steve

[toocommercial]

Thanks, guys....I will get out to try a '61 Reissue today, and if I like it, I may try to do a trade. I'm a little bit hesitant to fool with the neck on the one I have now; I think I'd like to leave it as is, and do a trade for something similar that has a smaller neck.

[welcometoashley]

i had an SG Classic that had a BIG neck. at first i didn't like it as i kind of have small hands and was used to playing telecasters. i gave it a few weeks of constant playing and grew to really like it and found that chords and solos were almost easier to play, IMHO, on the thicker neck. if you haven't given it much of a chance yet, give it a few weeks and really spend some time with it.... then, if you still don't like it then maybe trade it. you'll be amazed how much TGP can spur a player to trade/buy/sell stuff without giving a new piece of gear some quality playing time first...

bottom line is if it's not comfortable to play, you probably won't use it much. that said, i had a Casino a long time ago that just sounded killer but i just never played it 'cause the neck was SO small for me.... i tried and tried to like the neck, but in the end it just wasn't for me....

good luck.

[fuzz_factor]

I heard the SG Classics were smaller neck-wise, but I played one just last week and it didn't feel that small to me.



Nope. The neck on my SG Classic is a bit bigger, both in width and thickness, than the necks on SG Standards that I've played.

[jads57]

Once you get used to big necks, it`s hard to go back to skinny ones!

[toocommercial]

I just got the SG back from my tech, who has set it up with nice, low action. It still feels big, but I'm gonna give it a bit more time before trading. I tried the '61 while I was at the store, and it didn't feel that much smaller to me. Thanks again, everyone!

[zombiwoof]

My '92 Standard doesn't have a big neck profile, it's the regular "rounded '59" that Gibson uses on a lot of guitars. Do the newer ones have a bigger profile?

Al

[toocommercial]

Al, I'm not sure. This neck feels bigger than an '87 LP Studio I used to own. The SG neck gets bigger as you go up the fretboard. I'm sure there's proper terminology for that. :)