Reprofiling a guitar neck

[zcostilla]

So my arthritis has gotten to the point where it causes pain to play my 5th Avenue. I’m torn between reprofiling the neck or selling it and buying something thinner. Have any of you reshaped your guitar neck, and was it worth the trouble?

[oldane]

I too have problems with osteoarthritis in my hands but it has caused me to go up in neck size. I realized that I got more and more cramps playing my 1961 175 (with the slim neck front to back) while other guitars with thicker necks don't cause problems. Also a Squier Tele CV with a slim neck caused cramps. Replacing the Squier neck with a beefy 1950s neck (1" depth all the way down) has helped a lot. I also have a similar Warmoth neck avaiting installation on a partscaster. Insofar you haven't done so already, try out some guitars with slim necks (Ibanez? Squier CV?) before shaving the one you have down.

[zcostilla]

Thank you for this. I played a Fender American Professional II Telecaster and the carve was perfect. However, I really want a 24.75” scale guitar. I was beginning to think it was the setup on my 5th Avenue, but I got it really low and it wasn’t any better. Then I gradually raised it to see it there might be a sweet spot, eventually going even higher than my preferred height, and it didn’t help. I’m going to go to 11s and see it that does anything.

Zac

[jazzkritter]

Though not osteoarthritis I have surgical damage in the base of my left thumb. That’s the reason my L5 is a case queen, and my go to players are Ibanez. 24” scale and a thin neck ***for me*** means no pain. I had tried a 5th Avenue and could never live with that neck so you may want to try an Ibanez. You can buy into an AF75 used for under 300$ and see what happens... get it from a good return policy place and you’re safe as a clam in the sand.
(Actually that’s not a safe place at all, but it sounds nice.)

[lammie200]

...I was beginning to think it was the setup on my 5th Avenue, but I got it really low and it wasn’t any better. Then I gradually raised it to see it there might be a sweet spot, eventually going even higher than my preferred height, and it didn’t help. I’m going to go to 11s and see it that does anything.

Zac

It could be the fretboard radius. Aren't 5th Avenues fairly flat? I need to be at 12" or less to play comfortably.

[zcostilla]

It could be the fretboard radius. Aren't 5th Avenues fairly flat? I need to be at 12" or less to play comfortably.

You know, I think you’re right. I think those are 14” or 16” and I would much prefer a 10.5” or 12”. Guess I’ll be selling. I’m not going to do a re-fret just to change the radius.


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[John A.]

Tough call. It'll probably cost a couple of hundred bucks to get the work done, which doesn't seem worth it on a guitar that's not very valuable and will be devalued further by the work. But if that'll make it perfect for you, it might be worth a shot.

I really like my 5th Ave Kingpin, but the neck profile doesn't fit my hand well and it raised a big callous on my thumb. I thought about getting it shaved down. But meanwhile I picked up another archtop and decided to pass the Godin on to a family member. If I had more room at home, I'd keep it, but I have to stick to the one-in one-out rule. Mixed feelings about it, because I really got a lot out of the Godin.

John

[zcostilla]

I offered to trade it to my son and he doesn’t want it. So I’m about 90% sure I’m going to sell it to pay as much of my for my project guitar that I can. I’ve just commissioned the body for it. Going to do a lightweight, small body (think Electric Parlor Guitar) with a Telecaster bridge, and Firebird middle and neck pickups. I already planned on a complete fret job for the neck I’m using (an old Cort snakehead style with 24.75” scale) so I’ll make sure the fretboard is 10.5” radius before installing the EVO frets I was going to put in. The idea is to get as versatile a guitar as possible that is comfortable to play siting or standing.

I’m gonna miss my 5th Avenue, but jazz is not my main genre, and I am kind of a minimalist, preferring one electric, one acoustic, and one nylon string (which I just gave to my son, but since he’s only 16, I can play it anytime and I’ll replace it later).


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[jads57]

Don't do it! Sell it as is or trade for another guitar. It rarely turns out how you want and then you end up selling a devalued guitar as well.
Wait u til you actually play an instrument in person that works for you.

[neatomic]

just going from fendery 25.5 scale to gibby 24.75 can be a big help....and yes fretboard radius can also affect (i prefer 9.5 to 12)...work on your set-up and try lighter/less tension strings....luck


cheers

[zcostilla]

I’m definitely going to sell. Please pray/wish/hope it sells fast for me. Going to list it in the for sale thread.


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[Dave Johnson]

If you haven't played them recently, perhaps the 9.5" fingerboard radius of many Guild guitars would feel good to your hands. Your project guitar sounds great, too. Good luck to you in your search.

[Jim Soloway]

I’m definitely going to sell. Please pray/wish/hope it sells fast for me. Going to list it in the for sale thread.


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Good decision. Reshaping can be a real crap shoot. I just looked at your listing. Some nice custom features.

[coolvinny]

I’ve reshaped necks on two guitars...worked out great both times. One I sold anyway because of other reasons but the second, my Collings Eastside Jazz LC, is so much better with the sleeker neck (which I reshaped to their “60’s” profile after obtaining specs from Collings).