Advantages/ Disadvantages of a Neck-thru

Obsessive Compulsive

Obsessive Compulsive

New member
There is an ESP E-II on sale in my area for a pretty good deal. It's a 2013 Horizon, hard-tailed, neck-thru but I am not familiar with this kinda construction.

What are the pluses and minuses? I don't care about anything related to 'tone' let alone 'sustain' cause I think it's nonsense. I am concerned about the practicality of it: truss rod adjustment, susceptibility to warp, crack, etc. Is it similar to set-in?

Any info would be appreciated. Thanks.
 
Re: Advantages/ Disadvantages of a Neck-thru

Yeah it's pretty much like a set neck. Weakness wise, not particularly known for any, and an ESP Japan product is about the least likely guitar have major problems with

How much do they want? Which horizon, the assymetrical longhorn horizon 3 or the cockhead archtop superstrat horizon 2?
 
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Re: Advantages/ Disadvantages of a Neck-thru

Thanks. Here's the photo of the actual guitar. It's a E-II Horizon NTII in black aqua:

esp_e_ii_horizon_nt_ii_black_aqua_made_in_japan_with_hardcase_ori_not_ibanez_jackson_prs_1467110_1539142716.jpg
 
Re: Advantages/ Disadvantages of a Neck-thru

One huge weakness of net thru is that if the neck breaks the guitar is shot. You can switch bolt on necks really easy, set neck are harder, but can be done. As for a neck thru, if the neck breaks, the whole guitar is broke. Set necks also have better sustain and are way more comfortable one the left hand.
 
Re: Advantages/ Disadvantages of a Neck-thru

Has ANYONE seen a broken headstock ESP outside of intentional guitar destruction rampage? Actually....has anyone even seen one of those, either??

As to replacement necks from ESP, they're supposedly orderable from em but like 40-50% of MSRP = costs more than an intact used ESP. Probably $1000+ shipped.

And an ESP with a knockoff neck....is no longer an ESP.

So, for all intents and purposes, it really doesnt matter lol
 
Re: Advantages/ Disadvantages of a Neck-thru

PS used value of an E-II headstock horizon is a couple hundred dollars lower than an ESP headstock horizon... so $800-900 in USA & Japan, ~$150ish more (=cost of ordering from USA or Japan) everywhere else


Btw, 2013 E-II???? That's kinda weird, should be a transition logo ESP Standard Series or LTD Elite (probably not LTD Elite, that seemed to be on Horizon III's)....could be one of the earliest made I guess, but beware of fakes
 
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Re: Advantages/ Disadvantages of a Neck-thru

Adieu said:
Has ANYONE seen a broken headstock ESP outside of intentional guitar destruction rampage? Actually....has anyone even seen one of those, either??

As to replacement necks from ESP, they're supposedly orderable from em but like 40-50% of MSRP = costs more than an intact used ESP. Probably $1000+ shipped.

And an ESP with a knockoff neck....is no longer an ESP.

So, for all intents and purposes, it really doesnt matter lol
Click to expand...

He asked for the downsides of a neck thru. That is the downside. Bolt ons were invented to solve the neck replacement project. Any yes I have broken a neck. Dropped it and the angled headstock snapped. It was cheaper to slap a new neck on than get the original repaired.
 
Re: Advantages/ Disadvantages of a Neck-thru

Curious how set necks are more comfortable? Tough to imagine a guitar more ergonomic as far as left-hand access than my totally heel-less Soloist.
 
Re: Advantages/ Disadvantages of a Neck-thru

PierceOkken said:
He asked for the downsides of a neck thru. That is the downside. Bolt ons were invented to solve the neck replacement project. Any yes I have broken a neck. Dropped it and the angled headstock snapped. It was cheaper to slap a new neck on than get the original repaired.
Click to expand...

Broken a neck on a japanese esp? Or just in general?
 
Re: Advantages/ Disadvantages of a Neck-thru

Adieu said:
Btw, 2013 E-II???? That's kinda weird, should be a transition logo ESP Standard Series or LTD Elite (probably not LTD Elite, that seemed to be on Horizon III's)....could be one of the earliest made I guess, but beware of fakes
Click to expand...

What transition logo are you talking about? I reckon a few years ago ESP expanded its product range, offering ESP USA (MIA) ESP Japan (the highest end of the spectrum) and EII (mid range Japanese made). I can't see any difference besides the brand/ logo. Here's the headstock if it helps:

_7567321_1529431483.jpg


And the body/ wing joint:

_7567321_1529431617.jpg
 
Re: Advantages/ Disadvantages of a Neck-thru

Carvin/keisel have neck thru necks but they may be way different than an esp

If the neck warps or breaks it could be bad
If the fretboard delaminates

If you want to pack it in a suitcase

If you want to smash it on stage

There are several what if scenarios
But the lack of a heel is gonna be the biggest upside
 
Re: Advantages/ Disadvantages of a Neck-thru

PierceOkken said:
One huge weakness of net thru is that if the neck breaks the guitar is shot. You can switch bolt on necks really easy, set neck are harder, but can be done. As for a neck thru, if the neck breaks, the whole guitar is broke. Set necks also have better sustain and are way more comfortable one the left hand.
Click to expand...

Set necks have better sustain? I don't know about that...I think neck-thru guitars have better sustain IMHO.



;>)/
 
Re: Advantages/ Disadvantages of a Neck-thru

Adieu said:
As to replacement necks from ESP, they're supposedly orderable from em but like 40-50% of MSRP = costs more than an intact used ESP. Probably $1000+ shipped.
Click to expand...

We're talking about a neck thru guitar here, so there is no such thing as a replacement neck for a neck thru guitar.
 
Re: Advantages/ Disadvantages of a Neck-thru

Obsessive Compulsive said:
What transition logo are you talking about? I reckon a few years ago ESP expanded its product range, offering ESP USA (MIA) ESP Japan (the highest end of the spectrum) and EII (mid range Japanese made). I can't see any difference besides the brand/ logo. Here's the headstock if it helps:

_7567321_1529431483.jpg


And the body/ wing joint:

_7567321_1529431617.jpg
Click to expand...

E-II horizon 2's shouldnt have existed in 2013, unless it's verrrry late in the year and one of the first thus branded

Horizon 2's should still be ESP Standard Series, possibly with the weird blocky as hell ESP logo that popped up briefly and replaced old script logos (I've only seen it on an Eclipse 2 though), possibly not

Horizon 3's, meanwhile, would still be LTD Elite....


Unless they piloted the branding for a few markets earlier?
 
Re: Advantages/ Disadvantages of a Neck-thru

Jeff_H said:
We're talking about a neck thru guitar here, so there is no such thing as a replacement neck for a neck thru guitar.
Click to expand...

What I meant to illustrate was that the point was moot.

Since ordering a new neck for an japanese ESP/E-II would be pointless, as it would cost the same or more than simply replacing the guitar with the same model from the used market... I know they DID at least at some point let bolton owners order new necks, but pricing isn't published, so I simply went with Fender USA's new neck = $650 - 700 ~= 40-50% MSRP for whole guitar formula and shifted it up to match ESP pricing (MSRP $2 - 2.5k)
 
Re: Advantages/ Disadvantages of a Neck-thru

If you replace a neck on ESP, it won't be a ESP anymore. You deliver it to a professional tech to glue it together.

I own ESP and Gibsons with set necks, Ibanez with bolt on and a Schecter Blackjack ATX with neck through. There are absolutely no downsides in a neck through. The Schecter plays well, it's easy to adjust truss rod and it sounds amazing and resonant.

I've owned about 20 guitars, never had a problem with a broken neck..
 
Re: Advantages/ Disadvantages of a Neck-thru

Don't factor in neck replacement with a MIJ 2013 ESP neck-thru. No need to even think about that.

It's more of a feel difference than anything else.
 
Re: Advantages/ Disadvantages of a Neck-thru

Plenty of people have repaired guitars with broken necks and or headstocks. From the sounds of some people in this thread, they are woefully ignorant about what scope of repairs that can be done.

And the way people talk about things like bolt-on Fenders, you will have a partscaster the minute any original wood is swapped out too (even with another Fender neck).....with all the resale value drop associated with it. So no glorious upside other than immediate replaceability.
 
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