Bolt-on neck
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Bolt-on neck is a method of guitar (or similar stringed instrument) construction that involves joining guitar neck and body using screws. The term is a misnomer, introduced mostly by Fender whose guitars traditionally had "bolt-on necks". Real bolted joints (i.e. using bolt coupled with a nut) are uncommon in guitar production.
This method is used frequently on solid body electric guitars and is considered the easiest neck joint method. Body and neck cross in horizontal plane, neck is inserted in a pre-routed "pocket" in the body, and they are joined using 4 (rarely 6) screws. As screws damage the wood and could put extra stress on it, typically a rectangular metal plate or a pair of metal plates are used to secure the joint and re-distribute the screw pressure evenly. Such a plate is usually criticized for making playing on top frets uncomfortable, so, manufacturers sometimes employ some kind of more intricate method to hide a metal plate, smooth the angles and make access to top frets easier. However, a visible metal plate is usually considered as a part of "vintage" style and they are a popular place to emboss manufacturer's logos, stamp out serial numbers and put other artwork.
Luthiers and guitar players cite both advantages and disadvantages of bolt-on neck construction. Note that most of these views are highly subjective and relative. It's impossible to measure most of the claims objectively or even compare objective factors, as guitars differ considerably.
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[edit] Bolt-in neck
Some sources[1][2] differentiate bolt-on and bolt-in neck construction.
The difference is that bolt-on neck involves constructing a protruding flange that fits inside a routed pocket in guitar body. Then neck is secured inside this pocket using screws that run orthogonal to the surface of guitar. A bolt-in neck doesn't need to have such a flange inside guitar body, and screws or bolts run parallel to the surface of guitar, entering the back of the heel.[3]
Usually (but not always), in bolt-in variant, a neck pickup is mounted directly on the extended neck wood underneath it, not on the guitar body. It is usually called a direct coupling and is considered superior in terms of tone.[4]
Bolt-in neck is used in acoustic guitars on regular basis, but on electrics it's somewhat rare, harder to produce, but it is usually considered superior in terms of sound and playability.[5] However, given a relative uncommonness of bolt-in necks in electric guitars, some luthiers call both neck joints a "bolt-on", referring to real "bolt-on" when speaking of electrics, and "bolt-in" when speaking of acoustics.
[edit] Advantages
Typically cited advantages of bolt-on neck include:
- Easier and cheaper to mass produce and repair if damaged. All necks that allow Fender "standard" 4-screw joint are interchangeable: for example, one can order custom neck (with personal profile or radius) and change one by just removing one neck and attaching the other.
- Easy to control: sometimes bolt-on neck includes some sort of adjustment screw that can control neck-to-body angle.
- More resonance due to wood-to-wood contact in high quality bolt-ons, no glue allows better coupling .
- More attack and "snap".
- Slightly brighter tone.
[edit] Disadvantages
Typically cited disadvantages of bolt-on neck include:
- Harder access to top frets, especially if screw plate is used and visible. Slick heel with hidden plate (such as depicted one) makes playing the top frets more comfortable and special neck joint techniques, such as the Ibanez AANJ and Stephen's Extended Cutaway leverage this problem.
[edit] Manufacturers
Notable manufacturers of guitars with bolt-on necks include:
- Fender, a company known for its dedication to bolt-on neck construction.
- Music Man.
- Taylor Guitars is known as a manufacuter of acoustic guitars, though they use special patented bolt-on construction process with 3 bolts. Two steel bolts pass horizontally through the body and into the neck, and a third bolt passes vertically into the heel of the guitar neck.
- PRS offers guitars with both bolt-in necks and set-in necks.
[edit] References
- ^ Bolt-in neck at Sweetwater.com music technology glossary
- ^ Neck construction article at Ed Roman Guitars
- ^ William Cumpiano's hardware-based neck joint, featuring drawings that illustrate basics of bolt-in method.
- ^ Direct Coupling article at Ed Roman Guitars
- ^ Neck Mounting Myths article at Ed Roman Guitars
- Bolt-on neck at Sweetwater.com music technology glossary
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