Questions about bolt-on necks
Question:
Went looking at bass guitars today – haven’t bought one since 1978 or so. Spent some time with a Spector and couldn’t find anything about it I didn’t like. It had a 5-bolt neck, but I’m not familiar with bolted on necks. My last bass was an Alembic. Anyone want to throw some advantages/disadvantages at me?
Response:
> Went looking at bass guitars today – haven’t bought one since 1978 or so. > Spent some time with a Spector and couldn’t find anything about it I didn’t > like. It had a 5-bolt neck, but I’m not familiar with bolted on necks. My > last bass was an Alembic. > Anyone want to throw some advantages/disadvantages at me?
I own both neck through and bolt on basses and don’t honestly notice a huge difference. The neck through (Cirrus) feels more solid to me for some reason, but it’s also the most expensive bass in the lot. Best Regards, — /" ASCII Ribbon Campaign | Todd H / | http://www.toddh.net/ X Promoting good netiquette | http://triplethreatband.com/ / http://www.toddh.net/netiquette/ | "4 lines suffice."
Response:
Neck-through basses tend to be more expensive, since there’s more labor involved in fabricating the whole thing as a single unit. I tend to price them $200 or so more than an equivalent bolt-on. As far as advantages are concerned, some people believe the neckthroughs have more sustain and are less prone to having live or dead notes. With a bolt-on, you can always get a new neck if the existing one has problems. Can’t to that with a neck-thru. BTW, I use 6 bolts (they’re wood screw, actually) with ferrules rather than a neck plate on all my basses, and I haven’t observed hot or dead notes on any of the basses I’ve built this way. –Steve – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – > Went looking at bass guitars today – haven’t bought one since 1978 or so. > Spent some time with a Spector and couldn’t find anything about it I didn’t > like. It had a 5-bolt neck, but I’m not familiar with bolted on necks. My > last bass was an Alembic. > Anyone want to throw some advantages/disadvantages at me?
Response:
It’s more work as has been mentioned before and you’re stuffed if the neck breaks as it’s not as easy to just swap or make a neck to fit. Otherwise, my experience is that you can have great instruments using both methods – it’s still a matter of the individual instrument but… on the whole I prefer the neck thru. cb — Some people have something to say… others have to say something!
Response:
I would generally not let neck-thru vs. bolt-on be an issue if you otherwise like an instrument. There are some differences, however. Sonically, the neck-thru will more likely have increased sustain and the fundamentals will be stronger whereas on a similar bolt-on, there will be a shift towards more emphasis on the harmonics. Personally, given the choice, I opt for the bolt-on. While a neck-thru certainly has a sleeker, sexier feel, I still prefer the sound of a bolt-on. Neck-thrus, high-mass bridges, etc. tend to isolate the energy in the string which is fine if you’re after increased sustain, which I’m not. I think the sound of different woods becomes more apparent with a bolt-on, bent-plate bridge, etc. Now, if you’re talking Spectors, I prefer their neck-thru because it’s actually a much more comfortable profile (narrower with less taper) than their bolt-on. Carvin makes a great neck-thru but I went with their bolt-ons. There’s also somewhat of a comfort factor with a bolt-on in that you know if you damage the neck or goes bad, you can bolt on another. If a neck-thru goes bad, you’re looking at more $$$.
Response:
> Went looking at bass guitars today – haven’t bought one since 1978 or so. > Spent some time with a Spector and couldn’t find anything about it I didn’t > like. It had a 5-bolt neck, but I’m not familiar with bolted on necks. My > last bass was an Alembic. > Anyone want to throw some advantages/disadvantages at me?
I greatly prefer bolt-on necks, because I feel the bolt-on neck gives the bass a percussive punch lacking in the neck-throughs I have played, which sound sterile to me. – Gary Rosen
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> I greatly prefer bolt-on necks, because I feel the bolt-on neck > gives the bass a percussive punch lacking in the neck-throughs > I have played, which sound sterile to me.
I think George F of F-Bass says neck through begets some compression, not found in bolt-ons. Neck through seems like it should be the ultimate design, but imo, it’s only another flavor.
Response:
> Went looking at bass guitars today – haven’t bought one since 1978 or so. > Spent some time with a Spector and couldn’t find anything about it I > didn’t like. It had a 5-bolt neck, but I’m not familiar with bolted on > necks. My last bass was an Alembic. > Anyone want to throw some advantages/disadvantages at me?
I love my Spector USA bolt on. But then I’m not after sustain much. I’d buy another one.
Response:
I think you should buy another Alembic. You already know they make as good a bass as there is on this planet. I would be hard presses to get rid of my Essence, the wife would go first (but she would not let me sell it either, she encouraged me to buy it). K
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Went looking at bass guitars today – haven’t bought one since 1978 or so. > Spent some time with a Spector and couldn’t find anything about it I didn’t > like. It had a 5-bolt neck, but I’m not familiar with bolted on necks. My > last bass was an Alembic. > Anyone want to throw some advantages/disadvantages at me?
Response:
>I think you should buy another Alembic. You already know they make as good >a bass as there is on this planet. I would be hard presses to get rid of my >Essence, the wife would go first (but she would not let me sell it either, >she encouraged me to buy it).
LOL…only Donald Trump or Bill Gates can afford to buy two Alembics! BTW, all that talk about bolt-ons having more punch than neck-thrus…absolutely true. On the other hand, if you like a nice even response, then neck-thru is for you. Me, I’m a Fender man. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text ->K > Went looking at bass guitars today – haven’t bought one since 1978 or so. > Spent some time with a Spector and couldn’t find anything about it I >didn’t > like. It had a 5-bolt neck, but I’m not familiar with bolted on necks. My > last bass was an Alembic. > Anyone want to throw some advantages/disadvantages at me?
Response:
Not quite an arm and a leg. Just a few toes 
K http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=4713&item=3775… rd=1 This one is close to mine http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=4713&item=3776… rd=1 http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=4713&item=3778… rd=1
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text ->I think you should buy another Alembic. You already know they make as good >a bass as there is on this planet. I would be hard presses to get rid of my >Essence, the wife would go first (but she would not let me sell it either, >she encouraged me to buy it). > LOL…only Donald Trump or Bill Gates can afford to buy two Alembics! > BTW, all that talk about bolt-ons having more punch than > neck-thrus…absolutely true. On the other hand, if you like a nice > even response, then neck-thru is for you. Me, I’m a Fender man. >K >> Went looking at bass guitars today – haven’t bought one since 1978 or so. >> Spent some time with a Spector and couldn’t find anything about it I >didn’t >> like. It had a 5-bolt neck, but I’m not familiar with bolted on necks. My >> last bass was an Alembic. >> Anyone want to throw some advantages/disadvantages at me?
Response:
With bolt-on, if it breaks, you replace it. Simple as that. But you have the fact that there is a "dead spot" on EVERY bolt-neck bass. With neck thru, you have to be more careful, as if you snap the neck, you need a new bass. Set necks don’t have dead spots, and are like bolt necks, except for the fact that they are glued in place. If I were you, honestly, I would go with bolt-on.
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Went looking at bass guitars today – haven’t bought one since 1978 or so. > Spent some time with a Spector and couldn’t find anything about it I > didn’t like. It had a 5-bolt neck, but I’m not familiar with bolted on > necks. My last bass was an Alembic. > Anyone want to throw some advantages/disadvantages at me?
Response:
> With bolt-on, if it breaks, you replace it. Simple as that. But you have > the fact that there is a "dead spot" on EVERY bolt-neck bass. With neck > thru, you have to be more careful, as if you snap the neck, you need a new > bass. Set necks don’t have dead spots, and are like bolt necks, except for > the fact that they are glued in place. If I were you, honestly, I would go > with bolt-on.
I hear people talk all the time about being able to replace bolt-on necks, and not being able to do the same repair on a neck-thru bass. For how many people is this really an issue? Should you really be making your decision to buy an instrument based on what you’ll do if you break it in half? If you’re spinning the bass around like Victor Wooten every night, or play gigs in a Demolition Derby, maybe it would be factor, but for the average bass player, is replacing the neck really on your list of concerns when you buy a new bass? If you’re snapping the necks off your basses, maybe Bolt-on vs. Neck-thru isn’t the question you should be asking… Or am I just missing something? -Jonathan http://www.badspatula.com
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- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text ->With bolt-on, if it breaks, you replace it. Simple as that. But you have >the fact that there is a "dead spot" on EVERY bolt-neck bass. With neck >thru, you have to be more careful, as if you snap the neck, you need a new >bass. Set necks don’t have dead spots, and are like bolt necks, except for >the fact that they are glued in place. If I were you, honestly, I would go >with bolt-on. > I hear people talk all the time about being able to replace bolt-on > necks, and not being able to do the same repair on a neck-thru bass. For > how many people is this really an issue? Should you really be making your > decision to buy an instrument based on what you’ll do if you break it in > half? > If you’re spinning the bass around like Victor Wooten every night, or > play gigs in a Demolition Derby, maybe it would be factor, but for the > average bass player, is replacing the neck really on your list of concerns > when you buy a new bass? > If you’re snapping the necks off your basses, maybe Bolt-on vs. > Neck-thru isn’t the question you should be asking… > Or am I just missing something? > -Jonathan > http://www.badspatula.com
Well said, Jonathan. But hey, you got to find SOMETHING to split hairs about. Joe.
Response:
> Went looking at bass guitars today – haven’t bought one since 1978 or so. > Spent some time with a Spector and couldn’t find anything about it I didn’t > like. It had a 5-bolt neck, but I’m not familiar with bolted on necks. My > last bass was an Alembic. > Anyone want to throw some advantages/disadvantages at me?
I’ve given up searching for a neck-thru. Heck, I’ve given up searching for a bolt-on too. But I do prefer the tone of bolt-on neck basses and you *can* swap out the neck if you want to or have to. I’d be afraid of warpage on a neck-thru. Bud
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> Modulus necks are bolt-on and they do not have dead spots. Depends on the > materials, craftsmenship etc. I have an old Musicman Sting Ray that has no > dead spots either. One may have a preference but to make blanket statements > just isn’t a good idea. That old Sting Ray out sustains most neck throughs > I’ve played. Evaluate each bass on its own. > M
Truer words were never spoken. TAS
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> Should you really be making your decision to buy an >instrument based on what you’ll do if you break it in >half?
LOL jeffb "Take care of the luxuries and the necessities will take care of themselves" -Dorothy Parker
Response:
> Doug, > Advantage: bolt on necks are cheaper to manufacture and are replaceable should > they warp or break. > Disadvantage: bolt on necks don’t sustain as well. > Budman
This town ain’t big enough fer the both of us. Bud
Response:
Modulus necks are bolt-on and they do not have dead spots. Depends on the materials, craftsmenship etc. I have an old Musicman Sting Ray that has no dead spots either. One may have a preference but to make blanket statements just isn’t a good idea. That old Sting Ray out sustains most neck throughs I’ve played. Evaluate each bass on its own. M
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> With bolt-on, if it breaks, you replace it. Simple as that. But you have the > fact that there is a "dead spot" on EVERY bolt-neck bass. With neck thru, > you have to be more careful, as if you snap the neck, you need a new bass. > Set necks don’t have dead spots, and are like bolt necks, except for the > fact that they are glued in place. If I were you, honestly, I would go with > bolt-on. > Went looking at bass guitars today – haven’t bought one since 1978 or so. > Spent some time with a Spector and couldn’t find anything about it I > didn’t like. It had a 5-bolt neck, but I’m not familiar with bolted on > necks. My last bass was an Alembic. > Anyone want to throw some advantages/disadvantages at me?
Response:
- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text ->> With bolt-on, if it breaks, you replace it. Simple as that. But you >> have the fact that there is a "dead spot" on EVERY bolt-neck bass. >> With neck thru, you have to be more careful, as if you snap the neck, >> you need a new bass. Set necks don’t have dead spots, and are like >> bolt necks, except for the fact that they are glued in place. If I >> were you, honestly, I would go with bolt-on. > I hear people talk all the time about being able to replace > bolt-on necks, and not being able to do the same repair on a neck-thru > bass. For how many people is this really an issue? Should you really > be making your decision to buy an instrument based on what you’ll do > if you break it in half? > If you’re spinning the bass around like Victor Wooten every night, > or play gigs in a Demolition Derby, maybe it would be factor, but for > the average bass player, is replacing the neck really on your list of > concerns when you buy a new bass? > If you’re snapping the necks off your basses, maybe Bolt-on vs. > Neck-thru isn’t the question you should be asking… > Or am I just missing something? > -Jonathan > http://www.badspatula.com > Well said, Jonathan. > But hey, you got to find SOMETHING to split hairs about. > > Joe.
I guess you have never heard the horror stories of certain basses having headstocks that part from their neck at merely sliding off of what ever they are leaning against? It happens. Besides, there is no theoretical reason for a well built bolt-on neck to have a dead spot any more than a neck through not having a dead spot. More BS, in my opinion. If the mating surfaces are milled properly, there will be little to no difference in sound transferance. Stick one compensating wedge in the joint and chances are you will have a dead spot. If the joint is not perfect in its plane, it needs to be remilled, not wedged. But, every once in a while, you’ll get lucky with a wedge. Wedges are cheap, remilling is not. I used to play in very rough venues. Having an instrument that could also double as a battle axe was most convenient. Times have changed, I suppose, but old habits die hard. Were I to play in such venues today, assuming that they still exist, I would most likely take one of my SX Fender bass clones to the gigs. They too serve well as battle axes, sound and play good and they are also very inexpensive. I’d keep the good stuff at home, nice and safe. Bass players used to be stocky, larger fellows. I suppose that came from the type of people that could handle moving around a large acoustic bass from gig to gig. It seemed to stick for a while in electric bass playing also. It makes me chuckle when I think of some of these modern, frail, artsy-fartsy, bass weenies with their $3,000 bazillion string basses and their single 10" speaker amps playing the venues I once played in. It would be like Pee Wee Herman in the biker bar, but without the white jumbo shoes to save his butt. <G> TAS (The last paragraph is in jest, my friends)
Response:
Holy smokes….woke up this morning to find more responses than I expected. Thank you! Please stay tuned – I’ll digest it all later today and I’m sure I’ll have more questions. -D
Response:
>>> I hear people talk all the time about being able to replace >> bolt-on necks, and not being able to do the same repair on a neck-thru >> bass. For how many people is this really an issue? Should you really >> be making your decision to buy an instrument based on what you’ll do >> if you break it in half? > Well said, Jonathan. > But hey, you got to find SOMETHING to split hairs about. >I guess you have never heard the horror stories of certain >basses having headstocks that part from their neck at merely >sliding off of what ever they are leaning against? It happens.
Sure, we all have, but 999 times out of 1000, it’s a set neck or neck thru body neck it happens to. And headstocks with the name Gibson or Epiphone are good for about 975 of those accidents. I can honestly say I’ve never heard about it happening to a bolt-on. >Besides, there is no theoretical reason for a well built >bolt-on neck to have a dead spot any more than a neck >through not having a dead spot. More BS, in my opinion. If >the mating surfaces are milled properly, there will be >little to no difference in sound transferance. Stick one >compensating wedge in the joint and chances are you will >have a dead spot. If the joint is not perfect in its plane, >it needs to be remilled, not wedged. But, every once in a >while, you’ll get lucky with a wedge. Wedges are cheap, >remilling is not. >I used to play in very rough venues. Having an instrument >that could also double as a battle axe was most convenient. >Times have changed, I suppose, but old habits die hard.
No, it’s still a good idea in punk or country bars. >It makes me chuckle when I think of some of these modern, >frail, artsy-fartsy, bass weenies with their $3,000 >bazillion string basses and their single 10" speaker amps >playing the venues I once played in. It would be like Pee >Wee Herman in the biker bar, but without the white jumbo >shoes to save his butt. <G>
No shit…damn pussies!!!
Response:
See… I was wonderin’ why you changed your set-up. know eye no. — -rob Slidell, LA O> /() ^^
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Doug, > Advantage: bolt on necks are cheaper to manufacture and are replaceable > should > they warp or break. > Disadvantage: bolt on necks don’t sustain as well. > Budman > This town ain’t big enough fer the both of us. > Bud
Response:
> With bolt-on, if it breaks, you replace it. Simple as that. But you have the > fact that there is a "dead spot" on EVERY bolt-neck bass. With neck thru, > you have to be more careful, as if you snap the neck, you need a new bass. > Set necks don’t have dead spots, and are like bolt necks, except for the > fact that they are glued in place. If I were you, honestly, I would go with > bolt-on.
There are usually dead spots on Rickenbackers, in my experience, and they’re neck-through. Maybe a nice s/h Aria SB would suit you, if you can’t stretch to another Alembic. I try to steer clear of bolt-ons, hate Fenders, but find a well-designed bolt-on neck joint like on an Ibanez Ergodyne acceptable. db
Response:
> Went looking at bass guitars today – haven’t bought one since 1978 or so. > Spent some time with a Spector and couldn’t find anything about it I didn’t > like. It had a 5-bolt neck, but I’m not familiar with bolted on necks. My > last bass was an Alembic.
WIth a bolt on neck it’s possible to swap the neck if the neck breaks, or you want to try a fretless neck and you can also shim/reset the neck as part of the setup if you so wish. For neck throughs access to the dusty end of the neck is usually better, and sustain is increased with respect to an otherwise identical bass with a bolt on neck. In practise though, most people never remove the necks of their basses, a bolt on from one manufacturer could have greater sustain than a neck through from another manufacturer and access to the dusty end is good on many modern bolt on designs. So really, it is a non-issue. If the bass sounds great buy if regardless of the method of neck attachment. — Derek — Many Hands – Trans Cultural Music from Aotearoa/New Zealand http://www.manyhands.co.nz/
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