What are the differences?

I like to play on heavy gauge strings... like on a baritone or what Zakk Wylde uses or something... but I was told that it could really foul up a bolt-on neck quite easily.

I don't know what a "set neck" is, but I'm guessing it's some middle-ground between bolt-on and neck-through.

As for neck-through, I get the impression that it's the most desireable... but the strange thing is, for bass it's considered better to have a bolt-on than a neck-through. So it's all flipped around with guitar? :confused:

I am confuzzled. :confused:

I could be wrong, but I was told it's like this:

Bolt-on neck- The neck is bolted on to the body. It's the most common because it's cheap to make. There's less sustain than the other two kinds, but the neck is a lot easier to adjust.

Set-in neck- The neck is glued on to the body. It's a little more expensive than a bolt-on, but it has far better sustain. Also, there's better access to the higher frets. Another disadvantage is that if you need the neck adjusted, you pretty much need a luthier to do it.

Neck-through- The neck and body are carved from a single piece of wood. It's very expensive, but has great sustain and tone. Pretty uncommon to see, because it's so expensive to make, but easily the best sound of all.

That said, I don't see how heavy gauge strings could screw up a bolt-on neck. A set neck I could see being screwed up, but not a bolt-on. Even if it does go out of whack, all you gotta do is adjust it with the bolts, right?
As for the bass thing, bolt-ons are probably more desirable because the heavy bass strings could warp a neck-through or set-in neck. They probably do something to bolt-ons too, but bolt ons are just so much easier to adjust.

That's just a guess, really. I'd wait until one of the more technically-knowledgeable fellas gives you a response before doing anything drastic. I hope some of that helped.

Ah... I see. :cool: Next time I'm at the music store I'll get some heavy gauges like SRV has and then pick away with my heavy pick. :D Well, these Allen wrenches came with my Strat... might I have to tweak anything? :confused:

I also really want to get a baritone next. I was looking at this Gretsch with a Bigsby trem (I like those way better than Floyd Rose) that retails between 400-something and 800-something depending on where you shop. Am I correct in thinking that a 7 string is basically a baritone with the high E-string added... or is there more to it?

Bolt-on necks although extremely popular with cheap guitars, are also found on some expensive guitars and some famous artist use bolt-on necks for the percussiveness you can get out of a guitar with that type of neck. Set neck is as you said glued on with the addition of the wood joint. The only way you may foul up a neck is if you tightened your strings beyond the recommended limits. Bolt on necks are replaceable though. Set necks, ehhh I've heard people say you bust a set neck and your screwed, I'm not really sure. Now if you bust the neck on a neck-through guitar, you are definately screwed. So a bolt-on neck would be the safest type to experiment with different tunnings on. There used to be a whole bunch of post on here about the differences. I'm not sure if they are still around though.

So just out of my own curiosity, was I right in what I said earlier?

Bolt-on's are my favorite cause they are usually the only necks that are satinized making the neck really fast. I prefer it more than a set neck or neck through because the gloss seems mix bad with sweat from my hands.

In a way, you really cant tell the tonal difference unless you really knit pick every aspect of your tone. When playing in concert or performing, the yards of cables already butcher the tone dramatically and a neck joint will the un-noticible.

...but I thats just my penny

can anyone please pst picures of these necks? i sill cant seem to be able to tell the difference.. wats a GAX neck then?

Originally Posted by: jeffhxcan anyone please pst picures of these necks? i sill cant seem to be able to tell the difference.. wats a GAX neck then?

bolt on necks use bolts to hold it on

On a neck-through, if the neck is (for instance) mahogany, does 100% of the guitar have to be mahogany? Or 100% maple if the neck's maple?

Could you have... for instance... maple from peghead to bridge but with... uhhhh.. "wings of ash"?

"Wings of Ash"... hmmmm... could be a screamo band.

Originally Posted by: Vegas WierdoOn a neck-through, if the neck is (for instance) mahogany, does 100% of the guitar have to be mahogany? Or 100% maple if the neck's maple?

Could you have... for instance... maple from peghead to bridge but with... uhhhh.. "wings of ash"?

"Wings of Ash"... hmmmm... could be a screamo band.

well, if you see the third picture I posted, you see that a neck through is not really all one piece of wood, but the piece of wood that the neck is made from runs all the way through the body, and then it has the two "wings" glued onto either side. so yeah, you could have a maple neck that runs from the tip of the headstock all the way through the guitar, and then have the wings be made of ash.

Originally Posted by: 6strngs_2hmbkrswell, if you see the third picture I posted, you see that a neck through is not really all one piece of wood, but the piece of wood that the neck is made from runs all the way through the body, and then it has the two "wings" glued onto either side. so yeah, you could have a maple neck that runs from the tip of the headstock all the way through the guitar, and then have the wings be made of ash.

Kinda makes me wonder how it would sound if you got a through-neck without the wings on it. Y'know, all the electronics and everything built right into one big wooden stick. Has anyone done that already?

Originally Posted by: Cryptic ExcretionsKinda makes me wonder how it would sound if you got a through-neck without the wings on it. Y'know, all the electronics and everything built right into one big wooden stick. Has anyone done that already?

Almost definitely. I know I've seen guitars that just had like a section of 2 x 4 for the body, but that could've been a bolt-on.

Originally Posted by: Cryptic ExcretionsKinda makes me wonder how it would sound if you got a through-neck without the wings on it. Y'know, all the electronics and everything built right into one big wooden stick. Has anyone done that already?

probably not near as resonant, or with as much sustain. but it would probably sound close to the same as if it did have wings.

I've seen these things called "Chapman Sticks" that are one big 'pole' of ironwood, which is a super-hard wood. The fretboard runs all the way down to the bridge because you basically fingertap with both hands; it has like 10 strings and can do bass/treble parts simultaneously. Trey Gunn, who played with King Crimson for a time, was known for using one... and I think Sting and a few others have noodled around with one before. But... as you can imagine... it's very staccato.

ive played the spirit basses that look like that. they sound pretty sweet.

Originally Posted by: PonyOne
the current musicyo non-graphite necked Steinberger Spirit GT's are neck through, and though they do have a body, it isn't much of one...
so I guess that counts :)

so.. those things get used in the same way as an actual guitar?

I wonder what the tone of one of those would be like..

Originally Posted by: PonyOnethey play pretty nice... had a chance to try one once. They are popular as metal guitars, but also are pretty popular with jazz players who are willing to try something a bit more different.

hmm, metal guitars you say? I'm definately going to look into these.

I associate those Steinbrenner things with some guy who has a manicured geometric mullet and a white trench coat who wears his sunglasses at night. Goes good with one of those keyboard thingies you strap on like a guitar.

Wham

Thompson Twins

Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure

Originally Posted by: Vegas WierdoI associate those Steinbrenner things with some guy who has a manicured geometric mullet and a white trench coat who wears his sunglasses at night.

is there something wrong with that?

Originally Posted by: Vegas Wierdo who wears his sunglasses at night.

and i wear my sunglasses at night... so i can, so i can... keep track of visions in my eyessss!!!!!!!!!!


hahhaa. yay for 90's!