Peerless Necks

[mark105]

Peerless owners, What is the neck like on the peerless archtops? I have an Ibanez GB15 and I like the necks on the Benson models, For those that have played both, are the Peerless necks similiar?

[whosgarethparry]

i have a peerless sunset, and i find the neck quite small and thin, definitely more than the GB's i've played. not sure if the necks are the same on all models.

[mark105]

Thanks whosgarethparry, good info.

[2bornot2bop]

Peerless owners, What is the neck like on the peerless archtops? I have an Ibanez GB15 and I like the necks on the Benson models, For those that have played both, are the Peerless necks similiar?

The neck profile of my Peerless Imperial is identical to my Heritage Golden Eagle...a medium C...very comfortable and plays fast. I've not owned an Ibanez other than a vintage 2460 L5 replica, which too was very similar to the Imperial. What Peerless are you considering?

Great guitars!

[mark105]

2bornot2bot,
I was looking at the Cremona 16" w/Florentine cutaway on ebay. Glad you mentioned the heritage I'm kicking that idea around as well.

[2bornot2bop]

2bornot2bot,
I was looking at the Cremona 16" w/Florentine cutaway on ebay. Glad you mentioned the heritage I'm kicking that idea around as well.

Hot looker. If I hadn't acquired the Imperial I'd likely have acquired that very Cremona. What a great buy for a stellar guitar. Although, one could acquire a used Heritage 575 for less.

Also, that Ibanez 2635 on the 'bay, which happens to be local to me, is an honorable mention as well...reserve is $1250.

[Chimera1to1]

From memory, Peerless has all the neck dimensions on the appropriate webpages. The neck on the Monarch is fine for me,quite slim like a typical solid body electric but when I got an Ibanez L5 copy I found the neck too deep front to back and couldn't gel with it, having got used to the relatively slim Peerless neck. I would definately try before buying

[CaseyW]

I have the Manhattan. Neck is thin, not beefy like the 50s necks on my LP or Dot. Not as thin as others. I find it very comfortable, though thicker necks don't bother me.

[raetiger2992]

I play on Washburn J6 and a Peerless Jazz City, the neck of the Jazz City is thicker than the Washburn neck but very comfortable and fast.

[mad dog]

With the Peerless Wizard I had, neck feel was just about perfect. Medium C, not too slim or too fat. Played very well.
MD

[2bornot2bop]

I play on Washburn J6 and a Peerless Jazz City, the neck of the Jazz City is thicker than the Washburn neck but very comfortable and fast.

Love those J6's. That was my first archtop. I've owned 3 of them over the years, all J6S Montgomery models. The last one I owned I placed a pair of SD Seth Lover SH-55 pups in...it became an entirely different guitar that had tone for days. That's one cost effective upgrade if one intends to keep that guitar.

[raetiger2992]

I have my J6 for over 20 years, the acoustic sound was getting better over the years, great electric sound, unfortunately there are some dead frets (I hope this is the right expression) on the 15th fret of the E and A string ...

2bornot2bop : did you upgrade the pickups yourself ? I'd like to change the neck pickup, perhaps a Gibson '57 classic ?

[samship8]

First time poster here to what is a wonderfully informative forum. I'll have to concur with 2bornot2bop and say my Peerless Monarch is also of a medium C neck profile. As far as comparing to my other archtops, I have a 1995 Gibson ES175 which has, I believe, a much thinner neck and an older Ibanez Artcore AG85, which also has a thinner neck in comparison to the Peerless Monarch, but more substantial than my 175. Both the Monarch and AG85 have scarf neck joints. Overall, the Peerless guitars I've played have been top notch with excellent construction. I'm actually contemplating another Peerless purchase in the Martin Taylor Maestro because of my experience with the Monarch. Good luck in your quest.

[failed_astronaut]

Hi folks,

I have a Peerless Gigmaster Standard. In comparison to other archtop or semi-hollows I've played I find the neck really comfortable. It's not too fat, very C shaped and I can play reasonably fast around it (I'm not a fast player by any stretch). The only mod I've done is put a pair of 57 classics that has elevated it from an ok guitar to a thing of wonder.

My guitar teacher has a 335 that is an incredible guitar but I found the next a bit square (probably more of a D) and the frets very prominent. A word on the Martin Taylor signature Peerless, it's a lovely guitar but for almost a third of the price you can get an Aria with all the same appointments.

[Peter C]

.

I have nothing to say about Peerless necks. Your nick made me chuckle

[2bornot2bop]

I have my J6 for over 20 years, the acoustic sound was getting better over the years, great electric sound, unfortunately there are some dead frets (I hope this is the right expression) on the 15th fret of the E and A string ...

2bornot2bop : did you upgrade the pickups yourself ? I'd like to change the neck pickup, perhaps a Gibson '57 classic ?

No, that's an expertise I'll happily pay for. My luthier charged me $50 to do the pup swap.

It's interesting that you mention the '57 classic, for that's the pup I'd intended to swap the stock J6 pups for, but I followed the luthier's recommendation to go with the SD Seth Lover's instead. The day I picked up the guitar it was one big smile after another. Those SH-55's are bad ass old school. A year after the pup install I took that archtop to the Seattle guitar show, thinking I'd flip it. A dozen or so people played it, and there wasn't one person that wasn't overly impressed with the tonality of that guitar. She eventually sold to a buyer in Romainia of all places. The buyer had a local family member to me, so I didn't have to ship it...thank goodness 4 that!

There's my former black and flaming wine red J6S archtops. Both fairly rare finishes.

[mark105]

Thanks for all the replies, I feel alot more informed now. I really like this forum, lot's of information on a wide range of subjects.