Neck Through vs. Bolt-on

[PlanetEarth]

Who, what, when, where, how, why..??

So, it seems the generally accepted methodology is that boutique/high-end and neck-through go hand-in-hand. Yet Roscoe appears to break that barrier with seemingly no compromise in craftsmanship and/or tone. So, just curious, what's the *real* 411, just preference or is there really +/- 's to each, beside the obvious of being able to swap with a bolt-on.

[Gard]

Actually, for a few years, a neck-through Roscoe was available, the SKB 500- series basses.

The fact is that so few were ordered, that Keith decided to discontinue the line completely.

Frankly, having played both neck-through and bolt-on versions of many basses, including Roscoes, I much prefer the tone of a bolt-on.

Also, many "boutique" builders do not typically do neck-through, or at least offer a bolt-on. An excellent example is the MTD USA basses, Mike will make a special order neck-through, but 99% of the MTD USA basses out there are bolt-on!

[Joel B]

Having played many luthiers offerings of neck through basses, I quickly came to the conclusion that I also much prefer a bolt on neck.

Here are a few reasons:

1. The weight of a neck through has, in my experience, been substantially more than it's bolt on counterpart.

2. It is usually much more expensive than a bolt on. Even if money is not an object, seeing those large numbers in front of all of those zeros is a little off putting if you plan on using the bass as a work horse.

3. The tone of most neck through basses that I have played just has'nt been what I hear in my head. The sympathetic resonance of the sustained note seems to sometimes interfere with the new note being played, making it muddied.

4. Adjustments on the set up and up keep of the bass are more difficult on a neck through, especially if you are in different climates frequently.


These are of course, my opinions and subject to ridicule and haurangment from the peanut gallery.


But this is why I preffer a bolt on neck. And also like them on my basses.

[CliffD]

I'm not a fan of neck through basses at all, regardless of price and quality. All of my instruments that I would consider "really nice" are bolt ons, including my soon to be Roscoe. IMO bolt on basses have more punch and enough sustain to keep me from wanting a neck through.

[VroomVroom]

The notion of linking "neck-through" and "high end" was a mistake I made early on as well. From an aesthetic standpoint, neck-through and set-neck basses certainly speak to the eyes. From a sonic standpoint, they also obviously speak to the ears. Personally, I don't like what they say. Punch...quick attack...emphasis on upper mids...however you want to put it, or however it applies to the instrument at hand, I greatly prefer instruments with bolt-on necks.