Neck re-carve - slimmer - down to .800/.880

[edhamgtr]

Wondering if any luthiers out there have re-carved a core model neck down to an even C .800/.880 ish carve?

I'm old. Made a living at this for a VERY long time and this is the neck size my hand prefers.
I've owned many PRS's and none last long just due to neck carve.

Would love to pick up an HBII and slim it down but would want to connect with a luthier that has done this without issue.

Appreciate your help!

 

[Rider1260]

PTC has done it before I would check with them first if it was me ,
The Pattern neck is 27/32 ( .84 ) and the Pattern Thin is 25/32 ( .78 )

 

[Greywolf]

It's an easy job for any Luthier.

 

[Huggy Love]

I've had one done at the PRS PTC and done one myself, both core.
Most pro luthiers should be able to do such a job and there's nothing better than a neck that fits your hand and playing style.

 

[edhamgtr]

I guess its more about the depth of the truss rod.
Does PRS use different depths for different carves - or are all PRS necks capable of being recarved that thin without risking the truss rod popping out of the back.?

 

[KentuckyBoiledChiccan]

PTC has done it before I would check with them first if it was me ,
The Pattern neck is 27/32 ( .84 ) and the Pattern Thin is 25/32 ( .78 )

We had a thread about it not long ago. PTC both in the States as well as in the UK will no longer offer this service

 

[Ballistic]

I've done it on a few older core models, essentially taking a W/F down to a W/T. Once PRS went to the V12 finish, I stopped doing work that required any amount of refinishing. I know they moved on from V12, but these days I'll only do reshaping work on bolt-ons.

 

[sdcoffeeroaster]

Wondering if any luthiers out there have re-carved a core model neck down to an even C .800/.880 ish carve?

I'm old. Made a living at this for a VERY long time and this is the neck size my hand prefers.
I've owned many PRS's and none last long just due to neck carve.

Would love to pick up an HBII and slim it down but would want to connect with a luthier that has done this without issue.

Appreciate your help!

I'm in the same boat as you except not professional. I have done a couple of neck carves, one from scratch. I think if you find a good luthier getting the carve right is the easy part since there are template and precise methods to control the outcome if you know what you're doing. Getting the finish right is really the bigger battle. I happen to have an SE HB Piezo and for tone it's amazing, especially when using Fishman mini loudbox for the Piezo and a deluxe reverb for the humbuckers. I'm even using the TC Helicon IR Impulse set to the Martin D28 option to make it sound even better. But the the wide fat neck doesn't even meet the PRS spec for wide fat. My Pauls wide fat is so much more comfortable and thinner (no not wide thin but right around the wide fat spec ) and I've heard the issue is that the SE HB's are built in the Chinese acoustic guitar factory. My HB is really a 1 3/4" nut for instance and is about 1.03" thick at the 12th fret and about 0.06" wider than their own spec. It's very noticeable but probably OK with a medium or larger hand. Mine are slightly less than medium but not ultra small either. So it's very chunky. It's really an amazing guitar that I still play often but with smaller hands (older too, 76 now) it's not my most comfortable guitar to play and it has given me some hand issues at times. I've had it for sale many times only to regret that and keep it because it's just so damn unique. I've got a very skilled luthier I know and I guess I need to have him tell me I'm crazy, lol. Their new semi-hollow Piezo is nice but a lb or more heavier. My HB is only 6 lb 3 1/2 oz.