Pre-CBS Offset Necks

Discussion of vintage Jazzmasters, Jaguars, Bass VIs, Electric XIIs and any other offset-waist instruments.
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bterry
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Pre-CBS Offset Necks

Post by bterry » Fri Nov 17, 2017 8:53 am

Ladies and Gents, curious if we can assemble some information here about our Pre-CBS offset neck specs.

I recently picked up an interesting one, a mid-year 1960 JM with a neck width of just a hair over 2" (!) which would technically make it a D width (or a really wide C width). However, I've owned/played a ton of '59/'60 JMs and most are quite skinny IME, so this one seems to be an anomaly or special order of some kind. It's probably the widest pre-cbs neck I've played, honestly.

The pencil date is 8-60, and the shape is similar to other necks from that period, being more of a D shape - I need to get the measurements regarding the nut and 12th fret thickness, will post those ASAP.

Anyway, I'm curious to know what your pre-cbs offset neck specs are if you care to share...I'm interested to see how much variety there was and what was really (not just anecdotally) typical.


Thanks!

BT

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Ursa Minor
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Re: Pre-CBS Offset Necks

Post by Ursa Minor » Sun Nov 19, 2017 8:46 pm

Thats a crazy wide neck. Since they didn't establish a system of recording specs on the necks pre-62 it sounds like a custom one-off, special order.

I've always been really interested in the subtle variation of necks - the shapes and depth mostly - and how they changed over the course of a few years. There definitely seems to be some generalities in certain eras.

A couple I've had:

‘63/64 Jazzmaster Sunburst (4DEC63B)
Chunky but pretty average size for 63 necks. Very round C.
Depth: Width: (didn't measure, similar to AUG64 below )
1st: .83" Nut: *Will add soon.
12th: .98" 12th: *Will add soon


‘64 Jazzmaster Black (4AUG64B)
Very much typical C. Noticeably slim at the first fret.
Depth: Width:
1st: .78” Nut: 1.674”
12th: .97” 12th: 2.01”


'63 Jaguar (1MAR63B) not a JM but had the specs. This one has a typical C but with an almost D like quality.
Depth: Width:
1st: .82” Nut: 1.67”
12th: .99” 12th: n/a


‘66 D+B Jazzmaster Sunburst (13FEB66B) not pre-CBS but still interesting to see how much slimmer this was compared to earlier - and even slimmer than some from the same month!) This one had a really lovely almost D shape to it.
Depth: Width:
1st: .82-.84” Nut: 1.658”
12th: .92” 12th: 2.05”


Some others I've noted in passing and research (sorry just depth info but still interesting.)
‘60 JM (ebay) .77” / .95”
‘61 JM 11 / 61 pencil date (ebay) .80” / .97”
‘62 JM .83” / .97”

Curious to hear your thoughts and findings on this one and if what you can say about the generalities of different eras.
I'm pretty intrigued about the 58-61 era since I haven't had a ton of experience with them. I've mostly had or been around 63-66 JMs.

Oh...one last guitar that comes to mind was a refin '61 I tried out once. It had the absolute thickest neck I've ever encountered on an offset. It was a huge, like a baseball bat and fairly wide at the nut. Probably not 2" wide, but wide enough that it was very noticeable and almost difficult for me to play given how much wider the string spacing was. No measurements but it made a lasting impression. Not typical of '60-61 necks from what I've been able to gather.
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Re: Pre-CBS Offset Necks

Post by 46346 » Wed Nov 29, 2017 2:55 pm

Hi bterry> long time. we're talking 2" wide at the nut? that's amazing - i would love to try that guitar.

kos - how do you measure depth? can you do it without a caliper?

i'm interested in these specs too - lots of anecdotal discussion here over the years, of course. let my post serve as a placeholder until
i can get some numbers off of mine.

until then i'll just say that my '59 JM has the slimmest neck taper to the nut (depth) that i've played on a JM, and may be ever so slightly wider
then the typical 1.65-ish width.

sorry for the lack of numbers - just want to show my interest encourage this thread!
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Re: Pre-CBS Offset Necks

Post by Ursa Minor » Wed Nov 29, 2017 3:31 pm

46346 wrote:
Wed Nov 29, 2017 2:55 pm
kos - how do you measure depth? can you do it without a caliper?
Not sure it can be done accurately without a caliper. I went out and bought cheap digital calipers (sub -$20) at the hardware store. Definitley a good investment. Apart from guitars, they're quite handy to have around.
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Re: Pre-CBS Offset Necks

Post by 46346 » Thu Nov 30, 2017 2:23 pm

that sounds worthwhile - i remember paying lots more for the classic analog calipers when i helped run a bicycle builder's workshop. so i never justified one for myself.
i'm not into xmas much, but you got me thinking about a stocking full of small tools... ;D
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Re: Pre-CBS Offset Necks

Post by Ursa Minor » Thu Nov 30, 2017 2:50 pm

They were definitely more affordable than I expected. Who knows if they're quality but they work like they should. Calipers and other measuring devices can get really $$$$$. My dad and brother are both machinists so they've got all the great precision tools both old and new. :?
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