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Charvel Neck thicknesses

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  • Charvel Neck thicknesses

    Another mid-life crisis guy here starting to recoup that old 80's Charvel magic.

    My old 88 model 4, despite the somewhat inferior JT-6 plus behind the nut lock, had a nice thin neck. My newly-acquired 550XL on the other hand, is so much more solid (neck-thru + schaller), but the neck is TOO THICK for my hands!! My next try is a '89 predator.

    So what models have the thinnest necks? Is it as simple as bolt-ons versus neck-thrus, or are there even differences amongst each type?

  • #2
    My 86 model 6 neck is pretty thin, so maybe it's the different years that are the problem for you. I think I read that they got a little thicker from 89 on. try getting another 86-88 model.

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    • #3
      As a general rule, the bolt-ons were thinner. Quite a few people have said that the '86 neckthroughs were thinner than neckthroughs from the later years. Most Model Series or toothpaste logo bolt-ons should be thin enough for you if you liked the '88 Model 4.

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      • #4
        From my experience, I agree with dg about the neckthrus. I have a '86 model 6 with a nice thin neck. A long-time friend of mine has a '88 (firecrackle BTW) and it definitely has a chunkier neck, I do not like it. Plus the crappy JT-6
        Unleash the fury.....Texas style!

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        • #5
          Can anyone comment on the thickness of an '86 neck-thru versus a bolt-on?

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          • #6
            Hi sysin, looks like we're thinkin' the same... I used to have a white Model 6 back in the day. I can't quite work out what year I bought it but the more I look at catalog pictures the more I think it was 86-87.

            I just bought an SL3 thinking it was going to have that same luverly thin neck but it does feel chunkier than I remember my old 6 to be. I put it down to 20 year memory fade though but perhaps not.

            Can anyone here actually take a few measurements of different years & models for comparisson? I'll measure up the SL3 when I get home just for reference.

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            • #7
              I'll start. I'm just using a flexible tape from a sewing kit, measuring along the nut-side of the fret.

              '89 550XL (neck-thru):
              1st fret: 4 1/2"
              12th fret: 5 1/4"

              '91 CX 390 (bolt-on):
              1st fret: 4 3/8"
              12th fret: 5"

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              • #8
                Yeah, I've got an '86 Model 5 and a couple of '88 Model Sixes. The later guitars definitely have fatter necks.
                The only solution to GAS is DEATH...

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                • #9
                  Ok, 2006 model SL3:

                  1st fret: 4 7/16"
                  12 fret: 5 1/8"

                  I'd love to hear from some late '80s Charvel M4/5/6 owners to compare as these figures are all looking very close, I am assuming the neck width is constant as otherwise the circumference measurements are a bit useless?

                  For reference, at 1st fret, width is 1 11/16" and at 12th fret it's 2 1/16".

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                  • #10
                    You may be the first person here to do neck circumference measurements. I guess it could work, but like you said other factors like width or variances in backshape could muck it up. I measured the thickness on my '87 Model 6 with calipers a while back:

                    .750" at the 1st fret
                    .766 at the 3rd
                    .875 at the 12th

                    For comparison, catalog specs for the SL1 are .790 at the 3rd and .850 at the 12th.

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                    • #11
                      calipers? whoah, I'm over my head here

                      I know the tape is low-tech, but maybe that will encourage more ppl to measure.

                      Anybody out there do thumb-fretted bar chords? For me, the thicker necks make this impossible.

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                      • #12
                        This thinnest neck I own, by far, is on my JSX Concept 94. I was moving guitars around today and grabbed that one and thought I missed. It is paper thin.
                        I am a true ass set to this board.

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                        • #13
                          I always thought the CX necks were complete pencils compared to other Charvels. Narrow and small diameter wise, but they play like something else.

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                          • #14
                            thinnest necks AFAIK are the fusions, My KV1 was very thin also. why the hell don't they give neck thickness on guitar spec sheets?
                            I say the boy ain't right!

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                            • #15
                              Summarized & ranked:

                              4th:
                              '89 550XL (neck-thru):
                              1st fret: 4 1/2"
                              12th fret: 5 1/4"


                              3rd: '06 model SL3:
                              1st fret: 4 7/16"
                              12 fret: 5 1/8"

                              2nd: '89 Predator (bolt-on):
                              1st fret: 4 3/8"
                              12th fret: 5 1/8"

                              Winner: '91 CX 390 (bolt-on):
                              1st fret: 4 3/8"
                              12th fret: 5"

                              Got a Fusion Deluxe coming this week, will also measure that one.

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