Yeah, but that was CBS.
It was George Fullerton's design.
I have original Danos and Silvertone (Danos) from the late 50's and early 60's with a very capable 3 screw microtilt setup that predates Fender implementation by at least a decade.
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3 bolts vs 4 vs 5.... etc.
- Thread starter Quickie
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It was George Fullerton's design.
I have original Danos and Silvertone (Danos) from the late 50's and early 60's with a very capable 3 screw microtilt setup that predates Fender implementation by at least a decade.
Ds1
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- Dec 3, 2008
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From the master luthiers mouth:
"The Neck Joint is a very special and mostly totally neglected sound influencing element. It is responsible for the dynamic and speed (Attack) of the bass and also for the string amplitude power consumption (Sustain).
After comparing different constructions (identical wood from the same tree), I developed my Multi screw Bolt on Neck Joint. I always use the maximum possible amount of screw per available area.
If you compare this connection physically, you will identify a much faster attack, longer Sustain and a different mid-frequency-range of the instrument.
If you compare this connection acoustically, you will recognize a better dynamic, a faster response and a greater presence within your band.
The reason is a lower absorption of the string amplitude energy, because the absorption area (vibrations-system) is divided into 2 "oscillation-arms" with different lengths, which hardly move with the string frequency."
Fender went from four screws to three on the Strat, modded Telecasters (Custom, Thinline, and Deluxe), the Telecaster Bass, and the Jazz Bass (I don't know if the Jaguar and Jazzmaster did because I've never seen a JM after 1968). The Precision and the Telecaster guitar kept the four screws. The 3-"bolt" included the Micro-Tilt and it's not an inherently bad design. However, in typical '70s Fender fashion, the execution was horribly inconsistent and bad execution of the design gave the 3-bolt a bad rap. Leo used the same design, though well executed for both the Music Man instruments and the early G&L.
Now does it make an instrument SOUND better? Hard to say, and none of the anecdotal posts here have any bearing on whether changing a well-made neck joint from 3-bolt (or more correctly, 3- wood screws) to four or six. That's because one example without reference to the quality of the original construction is too small a sample to say with any authority that it made a difference. Plus there are a host of other variables in these stories so we can't say that the change of mounting hardware IS the reason for whatever change you perceive.
Not like it really matters, there are people who still think that string-through-body makes a real difference too...
John
Now does it make an instrument SOUND better? Hard to say, and none of the anecdotal posts here have any bearing on whether changing a well-made neck joint from 3-bolt (or more correctly, 3- wood screws) to four or six. That's because one example without reference to the quality of the original construction is too small a sample to say with any authority that it made a difference. Plus there are a host of other variables in these stories so we can't say that the change of mounting hardware IS the reason for whatever change you perceive.
Not like it really matters, there are people who still think that string-through-body makes a real difference too...
John
From the master luthiers mouth:
"The Neck Joint is a very special and mostly totally neglected sound influencing element. It is responsible for the dynamic and speed (Attack) of the bass and also for the string amplitude power consumption (Sustain).
After comparing different constructions (identical wood from the same tree), I developed my Multi screw Bold on Neck Joint. I always use the maximum possible amount of screw per available area.
If you compare this connection physically, you will identify a much faster attack, longer Sustain and a different mid-frequency-range of the instrument.
If you compare this connection acoustically, you will recognize a better dynamic, a faster response and a greater presence within your band.
The reason is a lower absorption of the string amplitude energy, because the absorption area (vibrations-system) is divided into 2 "oscillation-arms" with different lengths, which hardly move with the string frequency."
I don't disagree that the tightness of the neck-joint has tonal significance but I don't buy that more screws would have much tonal impact. A tight neck joint is a tight neck joint. 4 screws seems like a good number to me and I can't say I've noticed much difference in the speed of attack or midrange content of various basses that couldn't be accounted for by the type and positioning of the pickups electronics or wood. Just my thoughts. Though I can't say I have any experience building basses or a degree in engineering
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Kwesi said:I don't disagree that the tightness of the neck-joint has tonal significance but I don't buy that more screws would have much tonal impact. A tight neck joint is a tight neck joint. 4 screws seems like a good number to me and I can't say I've noticed much difference in the speed of attack or midrange content of various basses that couldn't be accounted for by the type and positioning of the pickups electronics or wood. Just my thoughts. Though I can't say I have any experience building basses or a degree in engineering
I'd agree that a tight neck joint is going to have an effect but in Jen's quote he's actually saying he did the comparison work. I'd be willing to go with that. Now does it make a difference in the real world when you add all the other variants; who knows? What I do know is my Ritter basses continually get complemented on their tonal variation and not just when I'm playing them!
Sometimes though you can live with the tone of a four screw Jazz bass! Interesting that Jen's take on a Jazz bass, the Cora only has 5 bolts!
I don't know any luthiers that don't believe that wood choice impacts the tone of a solid-body instrument. I believe it myself. Not that I'm here to change your mind or anything.
Speaking only from my own experience here:
On an inexpensive Peavey Grind 4 string, I tried stringing through-the body and over the top. I ended up going over the top. There was a subtle but definite difference in tone, namely, that it was a little brighter. Whether there was more or less sustain (which through the body stringing is supposed to help), I don't know.
The neck on my Fender adjusts at the heel, and requires that I loosen the strings and raise it at least partly out of the neck pocket to adjust the truss rod. The body as well as the neck is threaded. Once or twice, I put the neck back on only to find I left a tiny gap on one side or the other, so I had to back the screws out, make sure the neck was flush, and try again. A year or so back, I read about a builder who clamps his necks before putting the screws in and I started doing the same with mine (making sure the bass and frets are well protected, of course). I am not positive, but my impression is that the bass feels/is more solid since I started doing this.
Back when fender was useing 3 bolt neck attachment and that adjust a tilt thing, allmost none thought about bass as something that long sustain would be nice for. Heck, lots used foam mutes to further kill any sustain the bass would have without the foam mutes. Solid and tight neck pocket does in my experience improve tone (sounds fuller) and sustains better. By better sustain I mean that note fade out is smoother and longer lasting. Felt vibration thru the body and neck from striking strings also improves with better neck joints in my experience. Ive taken two identical instruments and improved neck joint on one while leaving the other alone. No one that tried the two thought they sounded or sustained the same. I did this several times with constant same results every time. The ones with improved neck joint allways sounded fuller and sustained longer. I will not own any isntrument that has less then 4 bolts for neck and yes the deeper pocket ones do best in my experience. I am well aware that sustain also depends on useing pups with good sustain char rather then the jagged fast uneven or just plain lousy sustain char some pups have.
Some 3 bolt necks tend to move from side to side, that's why nobody makes those anymore (practicaly). from 4 and beyond it's all cool, but bigger basses require more bolts.
It probably enhances sustain.
It probably enhances sustain.
I say 3 bolts...final answer
And it only took 8 years to get that final answer.
More bolts gives more sustain in my opinion and having a bolt on neck is easier to fix than a neck through or set neck.
