Definitive "San Dimas" neck thickness numbers?

[Admiral Ballsy]

Can anyone steer me towards a set of thickness measurements for whatever Charvel is calling a "San Dimas" profile? I can find plenty of anecdotal 'feeling' descriptions but no actual numbers.

I'm considering a custom order but I don't have the ability to try one first. My experience with the brand is limited to an '88 Model 3DR and a '90 USA Fusion in the past; I currently own a recent RR1, one of the Zoo SL2 "Vs", and a recent MIJ Pro Mod So Cal.

The Pro Mods seem to be described as like the SDs, but mine is thin...like, Wizard thin. 0.720 at the 1st and 0.750 at the 12th. If that's the SD profile, it ain't for me.

[P I K A]

750 at the 12th seems far too thin for a Charvel. I think you need to consider the shape of the neck as well as the thickness to get that "feel"

[Admiral Ballsy]

That's what I thought; my RR and Soloist have significantly larger profiles, with bigger shoulders as well. My Fusion was like grabbing a 1x6; this isn't that bad but it is quite a bit thinner than I'd prefer.

[shreddermon]

I haven't played a Japanese Pro Mod. The USA Pro Mod necks were pretty similar to the custom shop "San Dimas" neck profile, though. Not exactly the same, but reasonably close. So if USA = Jap necks, there's your answer.

I have the dimensions on my laptop at home. Think it might be .750 at 3rd fret, .810 at 12th fret. I'll try to remember to look on the laptop this weekend. I posted them in some prior thread a while back, too. Can't remember which one though.

[P I K A]

750 810 is the dk1 profile.

[shreddermon]

Yep, my bad. Actually, those are the same dimensions for the Charvel pointyhead neck profile, too.

The classic strathead profile is .735 at 3rd fret, .825 at 12th fret. A little rounder too, whereas a pointyhead would be more like a flat "D" shape.

[Newc]

My Japan-made ProMod neck doesn't feel Wizard-thin. It feels a lot like the USA-made ProMod necks to me. Maybe a hair thinner and the shoulders are sloped a tad more, but I've had thinner necks.

[BlackRR]

I had a prepro strathead that measured .762 at the 1st and .842 at the 12th

[Newc]

Real San Dimas neck profiles were very inconsistent, though. Whether it was due to the Custom nature of each one or because someone couldn't agree on a "standard" is unknown.

[Rich#6]

Every usa promod, MIJ promod, reissue charvel I've had had a different neck thickness. If you don't like thin necks USA Charvels are not for you. the 2005 reissues are wizard thin,theMIJs are wizard II thin. The USA pro mods are more strat like (C Shaped) and are comfy for me but they still can be thin. The thin D profile that is .75 to .81 I think is what the standard Charvel is supposed to be, but good luck finding one that measures that. The MIJ model series and the comtemporary series that had maple necks(and boards for the smart asses) are thicker necks.

[Admiral Ballsy]

Thanks for that, I've come pretty much to the same conclusion - I'm not really gonna like any Charvel neck very much, at least not enough to pay USA dollars. I like the neck on my Soloist fine - and I have a custom order working its way through for another - but it looks like I'll be better off doing a parts guitar here. The CS order sheet doesn’t discuss neck profiles beyond “San Dimas”, “Soloist”, or “KV1” profiles – and while I like the Soloist, I’m not gonna roll a $3000 pair of dice on something I’ve never experienced in person.

I sure wouldn't have called my 3DR's neck 'thick’ – it was a long time ago, but my main guitar at the time was an ’81 B.C. Rich Eagle – the Charvel neck was wider, but not nearly as deep. I reckon you’re talking ‘by comparison’, though.

[Emerald]

http://www.jcfonline.com/threads/129...w-Charvel-4790 this is the ultimate San Dimas Charvel neck..it is the best of that style that I have ever held in my hands. It inspired two other guitar companies to try and replicate it, Wasburn came the closest, but this guitars neck is a one of a kind!
Emerald

[xenophobe]

Whether it was due to the Custom nature of each one or because someone couldn't agree on a "standard" is unknown.

It was because they were all final drum sanded by hand, and probably by several different people.

They were hand sanded to feel, not specific dimensions...

[j2379]

Personally I think it's feel not exact size. I have a few older SD era necks and a few have the flat spot profile but they are different thickness. The strat head being the thickest of the bunch. I have others that have a soft curve with more rounded edges, like a squashed D, those are almost identical to my ST-IIIs. My favorite is a dinky that has a very flat wide feel, very similar to an old custom soloist I have that was ordered with a custom neck profile.

[ps43203]

The first run pro-mods and usa pro mods have the profile pretty damn close and are easily acquirable, for now anyway.