bolt on vs. neck thru

[3 cent hero]

whats the difference between these two neck types? IE tone/sustain etc.


thanks,
$0.03-H

 

[kaknight]

There is a lot of controversy about this topic. I have heard some bolt ons that have great sustain, and some thru-necks that sound so muddy and flat i cant believe it.

In theory, a neck thru is going to have better sustain. Often they are a bit brighter too. Since there is no neck joint upper register access is often improved.

Personally, I don't have a problem neck thru's other than there really aren't any guitars having that feature that I really like. I guess I am more of a vintage syle player, and I haven't ever seen a neck thru Les Paul or Telecaster (sure they are out they, but I haven't played one).

 

[Spoonman]

Its kinda like a Les Paul vs Strat kinda thing, some people like one, some like the other. Myself I prefer a neck-through unless it be a strat.

 

[jeremy]

in theory, a neck thru will have better sustain and a warmer tone than a bolt on which will have a stronger, more percussive attack but it also depends on the way the instrument is built. when i build a bolt on, i build the neck pocket tight enough to push the neck in and pick up the body and they sustain very well

 

[Surgeon]

IMO, bolt-ons always sound more articulate than set necks... just my 0.02

 

[FenderBender03]

I guess they each have their pro's and cons but personally i'd definately take a bolt-on neck anytime over a neck-thru.... mostly for customization and repair reasons.

Neck gets broken on an LP? new guitar

Neck gets broken on a Fender? New neck, same great guitar

Just my opinion


FenderBender

 

[Byakhee00]

I'd say play whatever your personal preference is.

 

[kaknight]

wait a minute here. I was talking about thru necks and not glued in necks. I find there is a big difference between the two.

 

[Orbiter_500]

in theory, a neck thru will have better sustain and a warmer tone than a bolt on.

Warmer?

I guess it depends on the woodtype used for the "wings".

I've always found thru-necks to be brighter due to the added maple.. plus it is usually capped w/ an ebony board..

thats what I dont like about the majority of neck-thru's .. too much maple .. too bright for me.

I love the smooth heel's though.

 

[JOLLY]

I like neck thru basses. Does that count?

 

[mrfjones]

i just like the feel of a bolt on much better.

 

[Alex_In_Chains]

My neck through guitar is definitely warmer than my bolt on guitars, it is all mahogany though. It's also got bags of sustain, although I'm not sure to what degree that's down to the fact I'm running it with an active pickup. I tend to feel it's more important in terms of playability more than tone though, I can achieve tones and a degree of sustain which I'm perfectly happy with using either type. To add furthermore to the discussion, my basswood/maple necked RG is definitely thicker and meatier sounding than my mahogany/mahogany ESP, which is more articulate and percussive. This is almost certainly down to the pickups (EMG 707 in the ESP, Invader in the RG). Anotherwords, there's a lot more which contributes to the tone of a guitar than the neck joint.

 

[midnite_man]

I like my Schecter C-1 Classic neck-thru a lot, and it does have a warmer tone than my LP or Strat.

 

[Fatty]

Ditto,but I prefer bolt-on guitars.

+2. I love bolt on guitars, but most neck-thru basses just seem to have tone for days (especially the maple neck-thrus).

 

[DiminisheD-7th]

Neck thru is by far superior IMO

 

[Push to Shuv]

i like both, bolt-on for teles and strats, set-necks for gibsons, prs's and schecters

 

[blondie]

Re: bolt on vs. neck thru

ok ok SUPPOSEDLY through neck have more sustain and tone. therefore they are more expensive sometimes but jackson, fender have bolt on necks and are great guitars

my answer: depends on the guitar play em' foe u buy em'

 

[big_black]

Re: bolt on vs. neck thru

How 'bout a bolt-on neck-through? The best of both worlds.

 

[Zerberus]

Re: bolt on vs. neck thru

Actually, that´s what many today refer as a "set thru" or in this case "deep bolt" style design, and it differs tonally from both a standard bolt on and a neck thru already by the length of the neck and the resulting way that the sound waves will expand in the body. The use (or non use) of glue is of course another factor

 

[sufferinrewind]

Re: bolt on vs. neck thru

Damn, this thread is OLD