Bolt-On versus Neck-Through

[David Houck]

Yes, there should be a significant difference in both tone and sustain between a neck through and bolt-on version of otherwise identical instruments.  A neck through instrument will do a better job of keeping the energy in the strings than will a bolt-on.  One of the most informative previous discussions here about instrument construction is this one, which is featured in our section.  A one-piece bolt-on Maple neck is not going to sustain like a neck-through multi-laminate neck with Ebony and/or Purpleheart lams.  There is another great previous discussion of this topic here.  And if you're still wanting to read more, run a search of the site and you'll find other previous threads on the topic.

[benson_murrensun]

Somebody correct me if I am wrong here, but isn't it true that once the string stops vibrating, the sustain is over? This has little to do with the intrument's electronics or the amplifier. What we get from the amplifier is feedback, which can make the string vibrate in it's own way, which usually sounds different than the original sound.
 
I have about 15 basses, and the one with the best sustain is a bolt-on design, made from raw lumber by my buddy J-Bone Waszak. It is a one-piece mahogany neck (rosewood fingerboard) and a one-piece mahogany body. The neck pocket is TIGHT TIGHT TIGHT! There are no gaps there. I realize this is empirical, and flies in the face of solidly-grounded theory and perhaps even scientific measuring. Perhaps what we can learn from this is that the construction of the instrument is as important as design and material choices.

[funkyjazzjunky]

Thank you Dave

[811952]

Another factor to keep in mind is that a low-mass instrument will allow more string vibration to be converted to vibration of the entire instrument than will a higher-mass instrument, regardless of rigidity.  It's especially relevant in the lower frequencies.  
 
Also, any acoustic sound made by the instrument is wasted energy, as far as the pickups are concerned..
 
John

[white_cloud]

Its an interesting thread for sure.
 
I still think, for me, that the single most important factor in all of this is the fingers that are attached to the musician - and the creative brain that is directing them!
 
I suppose im just not a tech minded kind of guy really. I just plug-em and play-em! If its good its good and if its not its not!
 
I have owned some great neck-thru's and some equally great bolt-on/set necks and have never seriously gave much thought to how long each instrument sustained for!
 
This may be out of slightly out of context, and perhaps not particularly relevant to electric bass construction, but acoustic guitars&basses, Violins, Cellos etc dont have neck thru construction - they seem to be okay in the sound quality area!
 
John.

[811952]

Completely agree that the fingers are the single most important factor, without a doubt.
 
John

[anarchyx]

well, like, if you crack the neck on a set- thru, you can only either get it repaired or get a new guitar. you can switch necks with bolt- ons, as long as their the same width and length or whatever.
 
if I'm wrong, i apologize. just a 13- year- old, so you'll have to excuse me.
 
 
what's the difference between a neck- thru and a set- thru?

[funkyjazzjunky]

Perhaps I should expand the question...  
 
Why do some of you play bolt-ons.  I think neck-thru basses and set-neck basses are superior instruments on average.  Compare a bolt-on model Warick to a neck-thru model Warick.  Compare a bolt-on MTD to a neck-thru MTD.  compare a bolt-on Ken Smich to a neck-thru Ken Smith.

[eligilam]

This discussion is getting a little cyclical.  
 
There are no bolt-on Alembics, bolt-on Rickenbackers or neck-through Fenders as far as I know.
 
The argument/question should be further refined to put things in perspective and make it all relative to specific companies, to wit:  
 
I proffer this as the relevant question:   Why would you play the bolt-on variety of a model that also makes a neck-through variety?    
 
[In my case, with my Worker Bee 7 string bolt-on, there just simply wasn't a neck through Queen Bee 7 around when I was looking for a 7.  It was simply a matter of availability.]

[lbpesq]

Jared:
 
It's set-neck vs. neck through.  On a neck through (or neck thru) instrument, the same piece of wood (or pieces with a laminated neck) runs the entire length of the guitar.  Wings are then glued to the sides of the neck to form the body.  Examples are Alembic Series instruments and the Further, Spectrum, Little Darling, and California Special guitars.  On a set neck, the neck is a separate piece from the body and glued into a neck pocket (as opposed to bolting into a neck pocket, like a strat).  Examples are Alembic Orion, Skylark, and Tribute guitars, along with most Gibson guitars (Les Paul, SG, ES335).
 
Bill, tgo

[mike1762]

I agree with the argument that a neck-through instrument is inherently superior in CONSTRUCTION to a bolt-on.  I don't think that's even a question when you consider the tolerances that must be maintained through the length of the instrument.  However, does the build technique translate into a better sounding instrument?  I don't know, that's in the ears of the beholder.  Don't forget that the electronics are a HUGE part of the Alembic sound.  If I stuck passive JB PUPs in my Series I (don't worry, I wouldn't actually do something like that... anymore), I don't know what it would sound like... but I bet it wouldn't sound like an Alembic.  I love my Alembics: the variety of tones they can generate continues to astound me, but they can't do everything.  My Stingray has a sound that my Alembics are hard pressed to emulate; therefore, I still reach for it when I want a punchy exaggerated mid-range tone.

[funkyjazzjunky]

So tell me, would your Stingray be better bass if it were a neck-thru?

[mike1762]

It would be a better bass from a mechanical/construction perspective.  However, it would then have a markedly different tone (and I'm sure I would prefer the sound of a neck-through Alembic to a neck-through Stingray).  While I might like the tone of a neck-through Stingray, it just would not be what draws me to that particular bass.  Stingrays do a great frown tone.  Admittidly, lots of players don't like that type of tone. But it worked well for the music I was playing at the time.  I guess my point is that both construction methods have their place in that they result in unique sounding instruments.  If Alembic made a bolt-on, I'd probably try to acquire one.  Hey... I could buy yours after you decided you hated it!!! !LOL!

[anarchyx]

i also found out that neck- throughs are more durable than bolt- ons. this guy i know has a Schecter neck- thru model. he's had it for a long time, and regardless of how many times its fallen or been hit, it has one nick in it. a very small one, i might add.

[rushfan]

well, i think it depends on what your preferences are. for me, being 13, the only option i have are bolt-ons. i have played neck-through instruments, and i find them more comfortable and fuller sounding for the high solo stuff, added to just basic bass or guitar playing. like i said before, preferences.