Which do you like? Bolt-on or Neck-through?

[Freaky Fender]

Now for neck which do you prefer? Bolt-On? Or Neck Through? And While were at it, as there ever been such a thing as a double neck with one neck Bolt-On and the other Neck Through?

[Blackbird]

Since it involves necks, I'm going to move it to "Setup", because people will be in that frame of mind. (Nobody goes to Setup to make Haikus).

[JMX]

I like both, and I tested good and bad ones in either category.

as for the double-neck, probably somebody had enough money for that (JT?)

Neck-thrus TEND to have longer sustain, bolt-ons TEND to cut through better (more pronounced mids).

[FunkSlapRumblefish]

I agree, bolt-on necks do seem to cut through better and that's why I like them best. Plus your able to change the neck if you desire.

[jasonbraatz]

my NT cuts thru great, but for the most part i think you're right. a cheaper NT will not cut through as well as a bolt on for the same price.


were i to have the EXACT bass i want, it'd be neck through. but i wouldn't mind having an older jazz bass or P bass around.




jason

[Angus]

Neck through, but I'm just fine with bolt on.

[Brendan]

Either. Different Tones work different ways. But, I'd say overall, I actually, like Bolt on a bit better. It's a little snappier to me.

[oo0o00o0oo]

I'm not sure, I've never played the same model of a bass with NT and bolt on. I've always attributed the sound of a bass as a whole, not the neck setting.

[Hambone]

I love 'em both for different reasons.

My NT has tons of sustain, piano-like tones, and is very elegant in construction. My BO's are all Jazzes and that pretty much says it all right there. Also, BO's are easier to build (a passion). When I finally own the bass that I have most wanted from the beginning of my affair with basses, it will be a NT Alembic but they are definitely in a class of their own.

[Mike]

I prefer bolts too. They just seem to have more "life" than NT's. My other issue is NT's are invariably built with 24 fret necks, something I dislike and really don't have any use for.

[JMX]

I once tested a Le Fay Pangton 6 with set-neck construction, this really is the best of both worlds IMO. You don't see it that often on basses, though.

[bassmonkeee]

I prefer bolt on necks, personally. In fact, I'm currently working with Curbow on a single cutaway bolt on--should be interesting.

[Bruce Lindfield]

Well, I think that the overall standard of construction is usually more important than this - so a bolt-on Sadowsky is going to sound better than a $300 neck-through bass.

But I have noticed in playing and trying loads of different basses, that to me, bolt-ons sound better for slap/pop - or at least the slap part. But I find that I can get a lower action and better playability all-round on a neck-through bass.

[RAM]

I don't know which is better, but I know my Spector NS-4 is neck through and is the absolute nicest bass I've played yet! It's got an attack that cuts through like nobody's business, perhaps because it's got a high-mass bridge, the bass is made entirely out of maple, and has 18-volt EMG's on it. It sings, it's got a very refined sound, and is comfortable all the way up and down the neck.

But, is this better than any bolt-on? Well...I haven't found that bass yet, but it may very well exist.

[Bassin']

I agree with Bruce that the bolt on/ neck through issue is only one of many factors in the making of a good bass. Body woods, neck woods, fretboard woods, electronics, hardware, strings, type of construction, body style, the type of player playing the bass, how the bass is amplified...These are all factors in what makes a bass sound great to a specific player.

Chances are, if someone came across a nicely made neck through bass, that they connect with, they are going to say neck through is the better option and vice versa. One really isn't better then the other. It really depends on the style of music you play, and what kind of sound and feel your looking for in a bass.

A neck through bass, generally speaking, is going to give you a larger sound spectrum then a bolt on. This can be good or bad depending on the overall construction of the bass. Some neck through basses can actually sound muddy because there isn't enough definition to the larger sound spectrum they provide.

A bolt on bass isn't going to give you as much of the sound spectrum, again generally speaking, but the human ear tends to fill in any missing tones anyway so a bolt on bass can actually give the impression of a full sound. Because the human ear is unconsciously filling in these tones, bolt on basses tend to sound more focused. That's why they're often preferred in funk and slap styles of music.

The bottom line is one isn't better then the other. It all depends on what your looking for.

[Josh Ryan]

Another vote for the cut through power of the bolt on here.

[Michael Jewels]

Bolt on. I like them because they almost always have more growl. (all other things being equal)

As Bruce L., and Bassin' said, there's no right or wrong; just what you prefer. Also, when checking out a bass, don't convince yourself of its tone because it IS or ISN'T a bolt on, just play it.

Now I'm definitely getting Deja Vu; I don't know if it was me or another member who asked this in the past, but, where would set necks fall?

Mike J.

[JMX]

Originally posted by JMX
I once tested a Le Fay Pangton 6 with set-neck construction, this really is the best of both worlds IMO. You don't see it that often on basses, though.

[jljohnson85]

Can someone explain to me what a set-neck is?

[rsautrey]

Set neck is where the neck is glued in place. I prefer bolt on.