Bolt-on neck

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Neck joint with a four-screw plate on a Yamaha Pacifica 112 electric guitar Bolt on neck.jpg
Neck joint with a four-screw plate on a Yamaha Pacifica 112 electric guitar
Less-common three-screw assembly with plate, on a Hagstrom III guitar 3-screw bolt-on neck.jpg
Less-common three-screw assembly with plate, on a Hagström III guitar
Slim bolt-on neck join with chamfered heel and countersunk ferrules on a superstrat electric guitar allows for more comfortable access to top frets Bolt-on superstrat.jpg
Slim bolt-on neck join with chamfered heel and countersunk ferrules on a superstrat electric guitar allows for more comfortable access to top frets
Stephen's Extended Cutaway (on Washburn N4 electric guitar) is another version of bolt-on neck joint WashburnN4SEC2.jpg
Stephen's Extended Cutaway (on Washburn N4 electric guitar) is another version of bolt-on neck joint

A Bolt-on neck is a stringed musical instrument neck that attaches to the instrument body with either bolts or screws, [1] as opposed to glue and joinery as with set-in neck joints.

Contents

Methods

The "bolt-on" method is used frequently on solid body electric guitars and on acoustic flattop guitars. In the typical electric guitar neck joint, the body and neck cross in horizontal plane. The neck is inserted into a pre-routed opening in the body (which is commonly called a "pocket"), and then joined using three to four screws. Certain designs may use more than four screws.

As the pressure of screw heads damages the wood surfaces, and the undistributed stress could put the instrument body at structural risk, typically a rectangular metal plate (or a pair of smaller plates) is used to secure the joint and re-distribute the screw pressure more evenly. The plate can then be used to emboss a manufacturer's logos, stamp serial numbers, or include decorative artwork.

Some makers of electric guitars with bolt-on necks (Fender in particular) write a production date on the heel of the component neck, where it is hidden when the neck is attached to the body. The neck can then be removed to check the date, which is often cross-referenced with the serial number to accurately date and identify the guitar. [2]

Methods of attachment

The term "bolt-on" is often a misnomer, introduced mostly by Fender whose electric guitars and basses have largely had component necks held to the instrument's body with wood screws. Actual bolted joints (i.e., a bolt coupled with a nut) exist — particularly in acoustic guitars — but are less common in electric guitars. [3] One particular example of a bolt-on neck using an actual bolt is Brian May's homemade Red Special, which uses a single bolt held in place by the guitar's truss rod and secured with a nut on the rear of the body. [4]

An acoustic guitar bolt-on neck popularized by Taylor Guitars includes threaded inserts in the heel of the neck. Bolts inserted through the neck block of the body from inside the instrument attach the neck to the body.

Pros and cons

Advantages

Luthiers and guitar players cite both advantages and disadvantages of bolt-on neck construction. Many of these views are highly subjective and relative; instrument manufacture varies widely and, lacking parallel objective factors, any particular claim might not be applicable generally.

Cited advantages of bolt-on neck include:

Two headless .strandberg* Boden Plini model guitars with differing construction methods. On the left is neck-through construction with a Roasted Maple quartersawn neck and Swamp Ash wings. On the right is a chamfered bolt-on quartersawn Mahogany neck, with countersunk ferrules & screws, and Mahogany body. Both necks have visible carbon reinforcement strips. Strandberg Boden Plini neck-thru & bolt on versions.jpg
Two headless .strandberg* Boden Plini model guitars with differing construction methods. On the left is neck-through construction with a Roasted Maple quartersawn neck and Swamp Ash wings. On the right is a chamfered bolt-on quartersawn Mahogany neck, with countersunk ferrules & screws, and Mahogany body. Both necks have visible carbon reinforcement strips.

Disadvantages

Disadvantages of bolt-on construction include:

Manufacturers

Manufacturers of guitars with bolt-on necks include:

References

  1. Mottola, R.M. (2020). Mottola's Cyclopedic Dictionary of Lutherie Terms. USA: LiutaioMottola.com. p. 21. ISBN   978-1-7341256-0-3.
  2. Fender Serial Number Guide article at the Guitar Repair Bench Luthier Website
  3. 1 2 Burrluck, Dave (1998). "Types of neck". The player's guide to guitar maintenance: a practical manual to get the most from your electric guitar. London, England: Balafon Books. p. 25. ISBN   978-0-87930-549-9.
  4. "Red Special restoration 1998". January 30, 2014.
  5. 1 2 3 4 Lipman, Barry (2002). "What are the pros and cons of bolt-on necks". Guitar questions: the novice's guide to guitar repairs. New York, NY: Cherry Lane Music Co. p. 19. ISBN   978-1-57560-452-7.
  6. What we love about Fenders Archived 2009-04-05 at the Wayback Machine at Guitar DNA