Neck volute

[bigideas]

i was looking at ke(vi)n's orion and suddenly realized the thing has a neck volute. then i realized that seems to be the standard for the set-neck alembics without back headplates. i've always loved volutes as i've played violin since i was 4. can that be done on a neck thru bass. to me it just adds a touch of class.

[effclef]

Volute = scroll?
 
Back headplate?
 
I don't see it. What do you mean?
Not trying to be smart - I just am not familiar with the terminology.
 
EffClef

[adriaan]

The volute sticks out backwards where the head meets the neck; it's an integral part of the neck. They do only seem to include one on basses that do not have multiple headstock laminates - could be the same as saying: only on set-necks, but not sure what happens if you order your set-neck with headstock laminates. Or perhaps they dropped it after they added the pinstripe laminates as a standard to the necks?
 
It's a good feature, I think, as it adds strength in a critical area.

[effclef]

Adriaan, maybe my mind is playing tricks with me but I thought all Alembics had that curve, set neck or neck through. Seven (or so) laminates on the front and back and at the back, you have that curve.  
 
Of course, now that I look for a picture of the back of a neck-thru headstock, I can't find one!
 
Aha!
 
 
 
And you could be correct...it looks like the neck to headstock joint is smooth there. Wow. I never noticed the set-necks had that extra curve!
 
EffClef

[David Houck]

My Orion has a set neck, cone headstock with the Volute and no back laminates.  I like the way it looks; and I've thought the same thing, that a neck through with cone headstock, Volute and no back headstock laminates would look nice.  I also think a single thick front laminate with a good size roundover would also look nice.
 
EffClef; here's an example of what we are talking about:

[bob]

Some extra strength is needed in this area, and it is provided by either the volute (set necks) or the laminates (through necks). The laminates are a bit more work, of course, so if you preferred a volute on a neck through you might even save a little money - not sure about that, but it is definitely an option.

[effclef]

Dave/Bob - I never noticed that difference before. From the front, a set-neck Alembic doesn't look any different, at the headstock.  
 
Now I wonder why they did that? Style only? Or a combination of style and cost-cutting for the set-necks to be lower priced yet strong at the headstock?
 
Does a set neck have multiple laminates on the front of the headstock?
 
I agree, though, it is a nice stylistic touch and proves Alembics are a breed apart.  
 
EffClef

[adriaan]

By the way, we could nickname it ski ramp.

[jalevinemd]

Hello,
 
Bob's right about the added strength the volute gives. The custom Lightning Bolt that Resurrection Guitars is building for me has a nine piece laminated neck and a volute. That was standard on all of Stephen Cripe's guitars, including Lightning Bolt and Top Hat.  
 
Tim at Resurrection said they will warranty a guitar against the headstock breaking off with the volute, but not without. It also adds some sustain by increasing the thickness at the level of the headstock.
 
Take care,  
 
Jonathan

[jagerphan84]

Here is a pic of the back of the headstock on a 1982 neck-thru model.  
 
...I just like showing off my Distillate.  :-)  

 
Perhaps one of our fellow Alembicians with a set-neck model would like to post an example of the volute as a reference for those unfamiliar with such.
 
Adam
 
(Message edited by jagerphan84 on May 14, 2004)

[jalevinemd]

Here's the volute on my Orion.  Jonathan

[hollis]

I'm pretty sure that my Skylark's neck doesn't do that, leave it to me to have left it at home for the first time this week........I'm sure that my left thumb would have noticed.....
 
(Message edited by hollis on May 14, 2004)

[mica]

We've always used the layers of veneer to build up the strength in this, the weakest place on a bass or guitar. Our traditional methods for building the peghead use 17 pieces of wood to reinforce this joint.  
 
If the peghead breaks, it does so in a very predicatable manner. This style is borrowed from violin makers. Every Strad has a new peghead. If the instrument is good enough to be around a long time, the peghead will likely get damaged.  
 
When we decided to make the Epic (our first set-neck instrument), to save some labor, we decided to use a volute instead of the sandwich for strength. Of course like everything we really overbuilt it, including the volute. We've made them a little less pronounced these days.  
 
Until this year, I hadn't see a broken peghead with a volute. And it didn't break at the volute, one of the ears on the side was whacked right off! It was a simple enough repair, but to fix nicely requires the front to be reveneered. With the veneer pack, many breaks are fixed with wood glue, then a drops of good ol' super glue to seal the seam.  
 
The Skylark and Tribute are set neck guitars with our traditional veneer pack. All the other set necks use a volute.  
 
Is a volute cheaper to produce? It depends. When we're making a run of Epic necks, and they are largely the same, then yes. If we're making a one-off Series II with a volute, it might take more time than our traditional way.

[David Houck]

Thanks Mica; so it seems a custom Volute might be an extra cost option.

[bigideas]

ok, so it be possible then to say, get a series II with a volute and back headplates.