Thread: Funny how things work !

there was a discussion recently on here re the bolt vs thru vs set debate

gets down really to preference i guess in the end - bolt on can be changed if neck goes wrong - on a thru it means a new guitar

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Originally Posted by old_picker

there was a discussion recently on here re the bolt vs thru vs set debate

gets down really to preference i guess in the end - bolt on can be changed if neck goes wrong - on a thru it means a new guitar

Just out of curiosity, how many warped/stuffed/broken necks have you seen, that couldnt be fixed?

Originally Posted by rhoads56

Just out of curiosity, how many warped/stuffed/broken necks have you seen, that couldnt be fixed?

Only one. On a strat. It was so bad that the skunk stripe was cracked (I suspect the workmanship conspired with the owner on this one, it was pretty abused) and it ended up with a replacement neck. Most commin thing I have seen in my limited experience is a few cracked headstocks and an SG with a loose tenon. All of which were repariable and could be squarely blamed on the owner.

Originally Posted by mongrel

Only one. On a strat. It was so bad that the skunk stripe was cracked (I suspect the workmanship conspired with the owner on this one, it was pretty abused) and it ended up with a replacement neck. Most commin thing I have seen in my limited experience is a few cracked headstocks and an SG with a loose tenon. All of which were repariable and could be squarely blamed on the owner.

Exactly. We see 30-40 guitars a week, for servicing or repairs, and in five years i can think or six guitars with necks that couldnt be fixed, and all but one were very low end chinese made instruments.

Just on set vs bolt-on vs through necks. There was a write up by a guy who tested each method in a recent Guild of American lutherie journal. It is in the fall 2007 edition and is called "Sustain and electric guitar neck joint type".

This series of tests was carried out using the same pieces of wood for the neck and the same hardware, first through, next cut and bolted, then glued, in order to keep as much control as possible.

He found that the bolted neck performed the best, the set neck next and the through neck sustained the least.
Worth a read.
Dom

P.S., most people in the acoustic guitar building world are using bolt-on necks these days because it makes it easier to work on the instrument and change the action etc.
Dom

Originally Posted by rhoads56

Just out of curiosity, how many warped/stuffed/broken necks have you seen, that couldnt be fixed?

sure perry a lot of it can be fixed but you would know better than most that the skill and time to repair comes at a hgh price - bolt or screw on is replaced in minutes and even from a top maker you can land em here for <$200.00

how many top guitar craftsmen out there will:

• repair a smashed LP headstock
• broken neck body join on a SG
• defret, level and refret a warped neck

for under $200 - remembering the customer will not want to see the repairs

even a dunce like me could replace a warped/stuffed/broken neck on a tele in a few minutes for under $200.00 and thats a pretty good neck at that price

Most guitar repair guys will do these repairs. Not for less than $200 though.

Who in his right mind would put a $100 Mighty Mite neck on a $3000 American Fender? Nobody i'm sure, they'll get the neck repaired.

I'd also much rather pay $500 to fix a broken headstock on a LP than trash a $5000 guitar.

Originally Posted by Phil Mailloux

I'd also much rather pay $500 to fix a broken headstock on a LP than trash a $5000 guitar.

Originally Posted by zenobia

Just on set vs bolt-on vs through necks. There was a write up by a guy who tested each method in a recent Guild of American lutherie journal. It is in the fall 2007 edition and is called "Sustain and electric guitar neck joint type".

This series of tests was carried out using the same pieces of wood for the neck and the same hardware, first through, next cut and bolted, then glued, in order to keep as much control as possible.

He found that the bolted neck performed the best, the set neck next and the through neck sustained the least.
Worth a read.
Dom

here are some intresting set neck repair jobs by some very talented dudes
here
here
here

Often wondered about those dean headstocks.

If you go to the dean website they have a pretty good tour of their factory.
Smashed the crap outa it, didn't they?

Maybe if i get time, i'll post up a repair that came in not long ago. Set neck washburn. The guys neighbour complained about the music, they got into a fight, and he wouldnt explain past that point. Its a mess, but repairable. Should be starting it next week.