Comparison of DC594, SC594, and Gibson Les Paul Neck Profiles/Cutaways/Body

[JJDon]

After just getting my new SC594 (see other post), I just thought I'd post a comparison pic of the PRS SC594, DC594, and Gibson Les Paul Traditional neck and cutaway profiles for those who maybe interested in buying one of these guitars.The DC594 definately has the thinnest neck of the 3. I was surprised because i had figured both PRS would have the same exact neck carve since they're both considered Pattern Vintage. The Les Paul in the pic looks like it has the thickest neck, but its actually the flatest of the 3. Id say the SC594 may have the thickest neck of the 3 based on thickness from back to front rather than width. The SC594 definately has a better taper than the Gibson LP which id say makes it more comfortable (for me) despite it probably being bigger. In terms of upper fret access, the DC594 is the clear winner if you want an LP type guitar. The upper frets on the SC594 are definately easy to get to and would be right after the DC594 for me followed by the Gibson LP. You can also tell the differences in body size and body tapers taking a look at the pics.

 

[DISTORT6]

Man, those tuner buttons on that SC594 are WHITE.
Like Erik Estrada’s teeth white.

 

[Herr Squid]

Nice post! I had not realized that the geometries of the two PRS guitars were that different around the neck/heel/body join area.

 

[bodia]

Man, those tuner buttons on that SC594 are WHITE.
Like Erik Estrada’s teeth white.

Bwahahahhaha!

 

[douglennon]

I have both 594 and SC594, my SC594 seems to have thinner neck than DC594 though. Guess it just a variation from the factory.

 

[Joesnewmatch]

Great PSA. Thanks!

 

[3rdstone]

Interesting. I've got the same 3 hanging on my wall and never thought to compare like that. Of the three I prefer the SC neck.
What really throws me off is scale length. I never even gave it a thought until I got a Tremonti and was like "why does this feel so weird?"
I actually got out the tape measure to make sure I wasn't going crazy.

 

[11top]

I have not played a LP Traditional. However, I find R9 necks, beginning 2013 and beyond, are the most comfortable I’ve ever played. That said, I find the pattern vintage to be very comfortable as well, and I still like the wide fat.

 

[docteurseb]

Neck difference between the DC and SC is just the usual PRS neck to neck variance.
I played a SC last week that was a very comfortable Pattern Vintage and thinner than usual, whereas a few DCs felt very asymmetrical (and thus thicker feeling than they really were).

 

[Joesnewmatch]

@11top Yeah, something magical started happening at Gibson in 2013. My 2013 VOS SG is stellar, and my 2015 R8 feels more like an older R9.

 

[Lister]

Thanks for the pics, that's a really interesting comparison.

 

[JJDon]

Neck difference between the DC and SC is just the usual PRS neck to neck variance.
I played a SC last week that was a very comfortable Pattern Vintage and thinner than usual, whereas a few DCs felt very asymmetrical (and thus thicker feeling than they really were).

Yea that's what I originally thought. I'd still like to see some more comparisons or comments to confirm this, however. Maybe its just my guitar, but the SC is noticeably bigger than my DC and I can't see how if they swapped necks, it would work on the body of the slimmer DC. I can see either the thicker or slimmer neck working on the SC due to its bigger body though.

 

[docteurseb]

Yea that's what I originally thought. I'd still like to see some more comparisons or comments to confirm this, however. Maybe its just my guitar, but the SC is noticeably bigger than my DC and I can't see how if they swapped necks, it would work on the body of the slimmer DC. I can see either the thicker or slimmer neck working on the SC due to its bigger body though.

In my limited experience of cycling through way too many guitars this year, I've found this to be the case of almost every single neck shape I've tried.
YMMV depending on your sensitivity to variations.
Just slightly extra shoulders and/or off center shape can give the impression of a much thicker feeling neck, even if it's in fact of equal thickness.

I've had 3 Silver Skys, all rosewood, and loved the neck on just one of them (a 2019). The other (2019 and 2020) two felt uncomfortable
as the neck shape was more off-center and thus too thick feeling
Likewise I've had one Pattern Regular that felt just as thin as Pattern Thin with a very pronounced V shape.
At the moment I have a Pattern Regular CU24 whose neck feels just as big as some Pattern necks, and another one that's so off-center it feels like the thicker Silver Sky necks.

 

[alantig]

I still like the wide fat.

I still like you, too.

 

[aphantomvaper]

This is a great post! Thanks for that comparison.

 

[TubeStack]

After just getting my new SC594 (see other post), I just thought I'd post a comparison pic of the PRS SC594, DC594, and Gibson Les Paul Traditional neck and cutaway profiles for those who maybe interested in buying one of these guitars.The DC594 definately has the thinnest neck of the 3. I was surprised because i had figured both PRS would have the same exact neck carve since they're both considered Pattern Vintage. The Les Paul in the pic looks like it has the thickest neck, but its actually the flatest of the 3. Id say the SC594 may have the thickest neck of the 3 based on thickness from back to front rather than width. The SC594 definately has a better taper than the Gibson LP which id say makes it more comfortable (for me) despite it probably being bigger. In terms of upper fret access, the DC594 is the clear winner if you want an LP type guitar. The upper frets on the SC594 are definately easy to get to and would be right after the DC594 for me followed by the Gibson LP. You can also tell the differences in body size and body tapers taking a look at the pics.

Hey, any chance of reposting these pics? They don't seen to show anymore.

 

[DISTORT6]

Hey, any chance of reposting these pics? They don't seen to show anymore.

One of the best avatars in this forum. Tone is in the Tube Stack switch.

 

[deathworlder]

One of the best avatars in this forum. Tone is in the Tube Stack switch.

Oh wow...blast from the past.