PRS Neck Shape

[Ben]

Hello,

I have an older PRS CE24 (bolt-on) and I would like the neck reshaped.  I find that my hands get cramped playing the PRS but if I play an Ibanez with a slimmer neck everything is ok - I'm at a computer all day so this is important to me... :)  Overall, I really like the guitar and a personalized neck would help the playability for me.

Does anyone know of a place in Minnesota that can do this for a decent price?  Could the giant heel be removed/lessened as well? 

Thanks!

[FRANK]

no i am in ca and can make a new neck for you and there are many more people here in this forum that can help also i suggest looking in the phone book under luthier lol guitar re pair .I do not recommend carving that nice PRS Neck

[William F.Eden]

Ben I met a wounderfull Mandolin player last week from Minnesota he plays with Monroe Crossings ,His name is Matt Thompson .He said that a luthier made all there Instruments from Minnesota you could likely find out from Art Blackburn what the luthiers name is. His ph# is 763-213-1349 or e-mail [e-mail] Good Luck .Bill."""""""""""""

[William F.Eden]

I am sorry Ben I thought you were looking for some one to do the job in your area. Not how to do it your self .Russell is on the money if you are thinking of doing it your self Good luck Bill.""""""""""""

[Mac Walker]

I would 2nd the suggestion not to carve up the original neck even though it is just maple (I assume). I would suggest an aftermarket bolt-on if for some reason it didn't work out. At least consider it as another option anyway. What do you consider a decent price, BTW?

[Jeffrey L. Suits]

I believe Ed Roman has a few words on this subject...

[Russell Vance]

Jeffrey's on the money, Ed Roman (the Athilla the Hun of luthiery) has been scathing of PRS and their large 'tone' oriented neck profiles for some time now. .....PRS have been making 'clunkers' for as long as I can remember and neck/heel reshaping/thinning is not an entirely unknown process with these things. It's a bolt-on so it isn't going to have a collectability issue and modifying the neck is no drama. The reason they are so big is the pursuit of tone through mass of wood and stiffness - which is correct but also makes the things uncomfortable. My first Ibanez's (RG'S) are also the most comfortable things.

The logic we use is that it's not a useful tool if you can't use it - mind you though: if you try to get is as skinny as an Ibanez 'Jem' (19-20 mm at the first fret ) you are likely to meet the trussrod which is in there somewhere. Go easy on the depth. Rusty.

[Mac Walker]

Another reason not to carve up the original neck, it will change the tone dramatically, at least that's the prevailing wisdom with bolt on electrics. If it sounds like a piece of garbage afterwards, you've gained nothing even though its more comfortable to play. Just sayin to consider an aftermarket neck, if the budget permits....

[Russell Vance]

Rest assured, Mac, the prevailing wisdoms are just people talking. We actually do this stuff, regularly, for a living, and taking off an ounce of shavings from a maple bolt on (especially in the heel area where it doesn't affect neck stiffness) does not appear to change the tone 'dramatically' - if at all. As I iterated, bolt on PRS's aren't about to become collectable any time soon and as PRS offers a skinny (yep, shaved down equivalent) as an option I guess it doesn't sound like a piece of garbage. I suggest you get the existing neck done to that spec if you feel like it and get rid of the clunky heel while you are at it. Otherwize just ignore this, it isn't important. Rusty.

[FRANK]

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