There are three ways of attaching the neck to the body of an electric guitar: set necks where the neck is glued to the body with a tenon joint (most Gibson guitars), through necks where the neck & body are made from the same piece of wood and bolt-on necks (most Fender guitars). It is almost a given amongst guitar players, that through necks sustain better than set-necks and bolt-on necks have the worst sustain.
Luthier and scientist R.M. Mottola decided to test this received wisdom, and he published his surprising results in the American Lutherie journal. He made three instruments that differed only in their neck joint construction (through, set or bolt-on). He then carried out power analysis, spectrographic analysis, and listening evaluation on these instruments.The power analysis results suggest that the relationship between sustain and neck joint type was the oppositive of the received wisdom on neck joints. Bolt-on necks had the longest sustain and neck through designs had the shortest sustain. The study also included listening evaluations, where people listened to recordings of single notes and tried to pick out the longest sustaining note. They could not detect any difference in sustain between the different neck designs.
People may have played a set-neck Les Paul and found it to sustain better than a Fender strat and then jumped to the conclusion that set necks sustain better. What they should have done is compared a set neck Les Paul with a bolt-on Les Paul before reaching their conclusion.
Reference Mottola, R.M. “Sustain and Electric Guitar Neck Joint Type” American Lutherie #91, 2007, p. 52.
Neck Sustain
Interesting. I have always believed sustain was down to guitar technique, pickup choice and getting the right amp, guitar and effect pedal setup. Although your strings do also play a part too.
Here is a setup for lead and rythm guitar.
http://www.playingrockguitar.com/soundcheck-for-rock-guitar-playing
<a href="http://www.playingrockguitar.com/soundcheck-for-rock-guitar-playing">Rock guitar sound</a>Guitar comparison study is a joke
Guitar comparison study is a joke!
String attachment to the guitar body is solid and has little effect on tone. However the string nut is not truly solid and causes the neck to vibrate unpredictable. All wood is different and it is impossible to make any two guitars the same. Wood has voids, poor granular structure and dead spots. Tone is all in the neck since the neck vibrates and not the body. The study is a joke!
Another factor that greatly effects sustain of a bass is a quality bolt on neck, bolt on really is in reference to screws. Basses with bolt on necks have longer string sustain because the neck fits securely into the cavity. Normally the fit is so tight that the screws can be removed and the string less bass will stay firmly together when held up by just the neck. This is due to the neck to cavity contact area of the bolt on design. More wood contact area produces more friction creating a very solid joint. This is due to the craftsmanship involved to match the cavity dimensions to the neck heel. The bolt on design provides an excellent and unique tonal capability.
Some basses today use up to six screws for extremely superior performance such as Fender and G&L.
The outdated 1950’s glue on neck (referred to as a set neck) was never a good design. The neck fit is usually sloppy to make room for the isolative mortise or tenon glue which reduces string sustain and glue does not transfer tone well. The less expensive and common set necks also break frequently.
The direct wood to wood contact of the bolt on neck has proven superior to the glue on neck, but this fact has been debated for 60 years primarily due to the popularity of the Gibson, Hammer, Epiphone, Guild and several other guitars. If millions of guitars are built this way then it must be correct, right?
Also a bolt on necks can be removed and the heel shimmed if necessary for a player customized setup. Everyone plays the bass slightly different. More available neck adjustments (such as neck shimming) can help provide the desired action and comfort for the individual player. Another advantage is the ability to replace a neck or install an after market neck design.
Several modern neck to body designs have improved the neck attachment, but these designs were not available or to expensive to manufacture in the 1960’s. The technology of computer design and improved manufacturing processes can provide a high standard of neck joint, but just as yesterday the new process is expensive. Of course sloppy work will not compensate for any design no matter how technically correct the design is.
Guitar Comparison Is A Joke: Spot On, Brother!
The myth is indeed a fallacy. The neck pocket and the neck itself plays the most significant role in the guitar's sustain. I'd like to mention the Hahn T-style guitar as an example. The neck-to-pocket joint is extremely tight. And he works the pocket and neck until the two pieces mate absolutely flat against one another. As a result, the sustain is unbelievable. I'd never heard a telecaster sound like that before. Hahn said, "It just made sense." Yes, it does make good sense.... but it takes a bit of time to do and would be cost-prohibitive for mass production. Therein lies the problem.
Guitar sustain
Actually, sustain is more a function of string attachment to the body and to the neck.
Cheers
Guitar neck joint comparison
String attachment to the guitar body is solid and has little effect on tone. However the string nut is not truly solid and causes the neck to vibrate unpredictable. All wood is different and it is impossible to make any two guitars the same. Wood has voids, poor granular structure and dead spots. Tone is all in the neck since the neck vibrates and not the body. The study is a joke!
Another factor that greatly effects sustain of a bass is a quality bolt on neck, bolt on really is in reference to screws. Basses with bolt on necks have longer string sustain because the neck fits securely into the cavity. Normally the fit is so tight that the screws can be removed and the string less bass will stay firmly together when held up by just the neck. This is due to the neck to cavity contact area of the bolt on design. More wood contact area produces more friction creating a very solid joint. This is due to the craftsmanship involved to match the cavity dimensions to the neck heel. The bolt on design provides an excellent and unique tonal capability.
Some basses today use up to six screws for extremely superior performance such as Fender and G&L.
The outdated 1950’s glue on neck (referred to as a set neck) was never a good design. The neck fit is usually sloppy to make room for the isolative mortise or tenon glue which reduces string sustain and glue does not transfer tone well. The less expensive and common set necks also break frequently.
The direct wood to wood contact of the bolt on neck has proven superior to the glue on neck, but this fact has been debated for 60 years primarily due to the popularity of the Gibson, Hammer, Epiphone, Guild and several other guitars. If millions of guitars are built this way then it must be correct, right?
Also a bolt on necks can be removed and the heel shimmed if necessary for a player customized setup. Everyone plays the bass slightly different. More available neck adjustments (such as neck shimming) can help provide the desired action and comfort for the individual player. Another advantage is the ability to replace a neck or install an after market neck design.
Several modern neck to body designs have improved the neck attachment, but these designs were not available or to expensive to manufacture in the 1960’s. The technology of computer design and improved manufacturing processes can provide a high standard of neck joint, but just as yesterday the new process is expensive. Of course sloppy work will not compensate for any design no matter how technically correct the design is.