the stable neck to rule them all

[daenius]

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.

Didn't quite seem that way for me. I own guitars with 1 piece, 3 piece, and 5 piece necks. To be honest they sound pretty much exactly the same. I've experienced lack of liveliness in all of those guitars and they were all fixed by installing the right pickup that works for the guitar (that's why we hang out here, am I right?)

Overall there isn't a difference in tone nor resonance, none that's audible to the human ear anyways. In that case, if I'm getting all the same sounds but one is more stable, then it's certainly a huge improvement. Now that said, it's never been something I consider when I buy guitars. I never go "eww no 5 piece neck" or "what? no 1 piece neck?" and refuse to purchase something that's clearly playing and sounding great in my hands.

 

[daan]

Re: the stable neck to rule them all

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

Actually, those were pretty temperature sensitive- once they settled down they were great though.

 

[Jacew]

Re: the stable neck to rule them all

Actually, those were pretty temperature sensitive- once they settled down they were great though.

Surely. Temperature affects metal much more than wood.

My input for this thread: If there was such thing as a stable neck to rule them all, I'd say we all would know it, and there wouldn't be much discussion about it.

Hardwood neck with working truss rod is such a proved concept. I don't think there's much to be improved.

 

[EDX]

Re: the stable neck to rule them all

lignum vitae (iron wood) neck with double action titanium trussrod with a soft v contour

heck now that i think it that neck may weight as much as some strats

 

[ChAoZ]

Re: the stable neck to rule them all

I almost always use a U channel truss rod epoxied in place as I believe this also aids in neck stability,

 

[Johnny the Kid]

Re: the stable neck to rule them all

Surely. Temperature affects metal much more than wood.

My input for this thread: If there was such thing as a stable neck to rule them all, I'd say we all would know it, and there wouldn't be much discussion about it.

Hardwood neck with working truss rod is such a proved concept. I don't think there's much to be improved.

Some woods are much more stable than others though. Maple is a dense hardwood and has a bright attack, but it's also extremely prone to warping. Walnut is a dense hardwood and has a bright attack but doesn't have the tendency to warp though. That said, those two also have slightly different sounds.

 

[BloodRose]

Re: the stable neck to rule them all

have to ask out of curiousity. If a neck has carbon fiber strengthening rods in it, and a truss rod, how can the truss rod work? Id think the rods would make the neck unflexable..??

 

[daan]

Re: the stable neck to rule them all

I almost always use a U channel truss rod epoxied in place as I believe this also aids in neck stability,

View attachment 80295

What kind of wood is that? And are there pix of the finished neck? That looks cool.

 

[ChAoZ]

Re: the stable neck to rule them all

What kind of wood is that? And are there pix of the finished neck? That looks cool.

Thanks mate, Wenge and Bubinga

 

[daan]

Re: the stable neck to rule them all

Awesome, I love multipiece necks, and that one looks great