the stable neck to rule them all

[nognow]

I wonder, what would make a neck almost supernaturally stable.
I can think of carbon reinforced, quartersawn, roasted ,laminated and hard wood.
anything else? does bolt on/glued construction make a difference? does a laminated headstock makes a difference?

thanks!

 

[Silver]

Re: the stable neck to rule them all

Vigier necks are so stable they don't have a truss rod. They have a piece of carbon running through the middle.

 

[Diego]

Re: the stable neck to rule them all

Guthrie Govan swears by the stability of the roasted maple necks on his Charvel guitars.
It is apparently as stable as it can get without getting into exotic materials, going by what he mentioned + the experience of others I've found around the net.

 

[Boogie Bill]

Re: the stable neck to rule them all

One of the best things you can do to keep a neck stable is to pay close attention to temperature and humidity.

Bill

 

[eclecticsynergy]

Re: the stable neck to rule them all

Multilayer laminated necks are very stable, but the downside is loss of liveliness and possibly tone too. Stiffness and hard sound is why I mostly haven't liked guitars made that way, especially neck-through axes using multiple layers of hardwoods.

 

[akio]

Re: the stable neck to rule them all

100% carbon fiber, as pioneered by Modulus Guitars back in the late 70s.

 

[dave74]

Re: the stable neck to rule them all

Many brands/builders are using carbon rods within the neck, but still utilizing a truss-rod for relief-calibration.

 

[treyhaislip]

Re: the stable neck to rule them all

Quartersawn Roasted Maple necks are what I use–no movement nor adjustments needed since my first one a couple of years ago.

I have heard of a couple of people having issues, but those are the exception.

 

[MkIII Renegade]

Re: the stable neck to rule them all

100% carbon fiber, as pioneered by Modulus Guitars back in the late 70s.

Effective and very attractive for bass guitars in a high tech sort of way. Seems rather strange for guitars however. But we are an old fashioned bunch I guess....roasted maple is MUCH more like it!

 

[MetalManiac]

Re: the stable neck to rule them all

Quartersawn Roasted Maple necks are what I use–no movement nor adjustments needed since my first one a couple of years ago.

I have heard of a couple of people having issues, but those are the exception.

You don't need quarterswan with Roasted Maple. Yes, Roasted Maple for best tone and stability. The gaphite sounds like ducksh*t ( for classic tone).

 

[daenius]

Re: the stable neck to rule them all

Ibanez puts a KTS Titanium truss rod in their 5 piece maple necks for the ultimate stability

If you really want to talk about a material that's immovable, you need a material that's indifferent to temperature and humidity changes. Carbon fiber comes to mind, but of course it also makes for a super brittle neck that will probably shatter if your strap broke and the guitar landed on the neck xD

 

[AlexR]

Re: the stable neck to rule them all

Often I have found the elements of construction that best satisfy engineering principals are the worst for the artistic side of the guitar. If your idea of playing has more in common with the precision of a Swiss watch, then plough on.

 

[Ascension]

Re: the stable neck to rule them all

I wonder, what would make a neck almost supernaturally stable.
I can think of carbon reinforced, quartersawn, roasted ,laminated and hard wood.
anything else? does bolt on/glued construction make a difference? does a laminated headstock makes a difference?

thanks!

Moses graphite necks. Had 2 on strat bodies never move EVER super even response across the neck LOVE the things!
2 nd place neck through CARVINS owned a BUNCH of them most never ever moved!!

 

[Ascension]

Re: the stable neck to rule them all

Often I have found the elements of construction that best satisfy engineering principals are the worst for the artistic side of the guitar. If your idea of playing has more in common with the precision of a Swiss watch, then plough on.

It doesn't but having a super even response everywhere across a neck and also super stability is not a bad thing. The absolute BEST sounding real Strat I have ever played was a Fender body with a Moses neck. Chime and the best of the real vintage Strat qualities with a better play-ability than any vintage Strat could ever deliver. Some of the super high teck stuff feels and sounds fake but this guitar DID NOT!

 

[Ascension]

Re: the stable neck to rule them all

The graphite sounds like ducksh*t ( for classic tone).

Agree with that on having a Graphite core in a wood neck sucks tone like crazy. Owned 2 Moses solid Graphite necks however and both had tone for DAYS!! Close your eyes and pick both up you would never know they were not real solid wood necks. Only thing you would notice is how well they played and how even the response across the neck was. You just have not played the right graphite neck!

 

[Johnny the Kid]

Re: the stable neck to rule them all

Guthrie Govan swears by the stability of the roasted maple necks on his Charvel guitars.
It is apparently as stable as it can get without getting into exotic materials, going by what he mentioned + the experience of others I've found around the net.

To be fair, cooking out the moisture and the resulting "finish" of them does make them, in his words, "hilariously stable".

 

[orpheo]

Re: the stable neck to rule them all

Multilayer laminated necks are very stable, but the downside is loss of liveliness and possibly tone too. Stiffness and hard sound is why I mostly haven't liked guitars made that way, especially neck-through axes using multiple layers of hardwoods.

no offence, but how many lam necks have you tried or actually built? I've made over 80 laminated necks and my guitars are never described as having a lack of tone. I've gone so far as installing a single piece neck on a guitar and later swapping it for a laminated neck. Same materials, just a 3 piece versus 1 piece. Just more stable. The reason for a 'flat' sounding guitar, lack of liveliness and so forth, is often the result of poor timber choice, poor pickup choice, poor hardware choice and a finish that's WAY too thick.

That being said: from experience, from building A LOT of necks: roasted maple is more stable than not roasted, but not MUCH more stable than a laminated one.

IMHO the best option for a superstable neck is roasted maple, 3 pieces, with carbon fiber stiffening rods, dual action truss rod as well as walnut pinstripes due to their longitudinal grain.

Oh, and for those who would scream my ears off saying 'YOU COULDN'T POSSIBLY ADJUST THE TRUSSROD ON A NECK LIKE THAT': sorry. no. I've recently made two 17 ply necks with carbon fiber rods and a dual action truss rod: stable as hell, but still really well adjustable.

Build a few, then judge.

 

[Sirion]

Re: the stable neck to rule them all

Surely the aluminium necks of 70s Kramers must be high on the list.

 

[Mincer]

Re: the stable neck to rule them all

Carbon fiber, certainly.
Really hard woods, like wenge.
Laminated woods
Metal necks, like in the 70's Kramers.

Machine screws in a bolt on neck, also- I think the Yngwie Strat has those. Are you having problems with a certain neck?

 

[LtKojak]

Re: the stable neck to rule them all

The reason for a 'flat' sounding guitar, lack of liveliness and so forth, is often the result of poor timber choice, poor pickup choice, poor hardware choice and a finish that's WAY too thick.

Word.

HTH,