KVR Audio

Amberience · Post by **Amberience** » Thu Dec 29, 2005 6:16 pm

buying a guitar, and the neck is a set neck. Is this an indication of anything I should worry about?

my ibanez is bolted. What are the differences between the two apart from the obvious physical differences? Strength? Longevity?

Just researching here.

ew · Post by ew » Thu Dec 29, 2005 6:23 pm

Actually, with a well designed bolt-on, there's really no difference in strength. What you WILL see is a difference in tone due to the fact that a set-in neck will have absolutely no gap between the neck and the body, and any bolt-on WILL have a slight gap between the neck and the pocket. Also, set-in necks are usually 24 3/4" scale, compared to the 25 1/4" scale of a bolt-on. This DEFINITELY changes the tone, because of the lesser tension in the shorter neck.

ew

Amberience · Post by **Amberience** » Thu Dec 29, 2005 6:31 pm

yeah, i just found a page that says you get a more warm and "phat" tone with a set neck.

The body is made of alder, my Ibanez is mahogany. Ive never really used that many guitars, so i always compare to my ibanez, which is lovely to play. cant wait to checkout this new one though, hope it measures up.

Amberience · Post by **Amberience** » Thu Dec 29, 2005 6:32 pm

that page i mentioned:

http://www.cyberessays.com/Arts/35.htm

Hink · Post by **Hink** » Thu Dec 29, 2005 8:55 pm

$$$$$$$$$$$

Derek up North · Post by **Derek up North** » Fri Dec 30, 2005 10:10 am

What's the guitar by the way? I was trying out practice amps yesterday (settled on a Roland MicroCube - that's my birthday present from the wife sorted out for 2006!) using a very tasty Gibson Les Paul, though I must admit if I had £1300 to spend on a guitar I wouldn't spend it on that (nice though it was - just lacking the "wow" factor).

Anyway, with regard to your actual question, I wouldn't be at all concerned about set vs bolt-on as a matter of general principle - what's much more important is the quality of the workmanship in the manufacturing process. You can get great and dreadful examples of both set necks and bolt ons (and don't even get me started about electronics!).

Regards,

Derek.

Ian B · Post by **Ian B** » Fri Dec 30, 2005 10:28 am

Just out of interest, the makers of my Tele copy, Harley Benton, have just introduced a guitar (Duke http://www.thomann.de/thoiw2_artikel-180203.html) that is a 'hybrid' of bolt on and set neck. It doesn't say so on the site, but they've made a point of saying so in their most recent flyer. I can't see why anybody would want to do a guitar neck this way

j_T · Post by **j_T** » Fri Dec 30, 2005 11:01 am

Ian B wrote:Just out of interest, the makers of my Tele copy, Harley Benton, have just introduced a guitar (Duke http://www.thomann.de/thoiw2_artikel-180203.html) that is a 'hybrid' of bolt on and set neck. It doesn't say so on the site, but they've made a point of saying so in their most recent flyer. I can't see why anybody would want to do a guitar neck this way

Take a look at the blue model of that guitar. There is a 360 degree zoom image available where you can see how it's done.

Regards,

Tommy

Ian B · Post by **Ian B** » Fri Dec 30, 2005 12:36 pm

Thanks j_T, don't know why, but I never thought about checking that, the 360 degree zoom image is what persuaded me to buy my HBT2000 from Thomann. If the Duke is as good as my HBT2000

it's one good guitar

Amberience · Post by **Amberience** » Fri Dec 30, 2005 12:42 pm

I'm bidding on a Wesley guitar on Ebay. Got some cash for xmas, fancied a new guitar. I'm willing to throw caution to the wind and buy it without trying it, but i'm not paying over 100 quid for it. It retails at 139 though.

Ian B · Post by **Ian B** » Fri Dec 30, 2005 1:00 pm

Hi Chibs' Bath Toy,
I did much the same thing with my Harley Benton HBT2000. I'd never heard of them, nor had anyone I know, but I found a few reviews of this model (almost 100% positive) and thought, what the hell, at that price (£130) it's worth the risk. I am glad I did

Hope yours is as good as mine.

I'd never heard of Welsey guitars before you posted, but early in the new year I'm gonna treat myself to a Welsey Connaught roundback electro-acoustic with the bookmarked curly ash top. At £99 it's not taking that much of a risk for home use only.

Amberience · Post by **Amberience** » Fri Dec 30, 2005 1:08 pm

Yeah, totally agree man. Might as well just give it a shot. They don't have any left hand basses though, which is a shame, because they could have provided me with a way to learn bass on the cheap.

advaya · Post by **advaya** » Fri Dec 30, 2005 1:14 pm

Not sure if I am jumping in too late here, but a neck-through design is 'supposed' to give a warmer tone, and better sustain... Not sure about that though.

Both of my electrics are neck-through, but mostly due to never having to struggle with thumb positioning when soloing around the top frets... I always get a little distracted when I have a neck bolt to contend with...

Ian B · Post by **Ian B** » Fri Dec 30, 2005 1:20 pm

advaya wrote:Not sure if I am jumping in too late here, but a neck-through design is 'supposed' to give a warmer tone, and better sustain... Not sure about that though.

Both of my electrics are neck-through, but mostly due to never having to struggle with thumb positioning when soloing around the top frets... I always get a little distracted when I have a neck bolt to contend with...

Yeah neck-through-body is supposed to help with increased sustain. I've had two neck-through-body guitars now, and can't say one way or the other as I've not played the same make/model guitars with bolt-on/set necks. The big drawback to neck-through, is once the neck is warped/damaged, the guitar is basically f#cked.

Stupid American Pig · Post by **Stupid American Pig** » Fri Dec 30, 2005 1:31 pm

My next guitar is gonna be neck through, I was considering one of these. I like the plain styling, and the fact that there is no finish on it.. Havent played one yet to know if I like that aspect...

To answer the question, I prefer set necks, but as has been said, there are good and bad examples of each. One advantage of bolt on necks is the ability to shim them in an effort to improve the action. U are probably looking at a bad bolt on neck if you have to resort to such measures tho...

guitar necks - differences between bolted and set-neck