I'm Afraid of Set Necks

[40Hz]

And a fair number of us still strongly believe that. View attachment 3053042

I did until I got a Spector which actually does bolt on. That thing is as stable as Gibralter.

Like you, I always preferred set necks. Still do. But some serious studies have shown that if the neck pocket is cut accurately and attached properly (even with wood screws) there’s no appreciable difference in stabilty or sustain between screw/bolt attachment and the other two methods. Neck-through, set neck, and bolt-ons came out even. So the conclusion was, done correctly (big emphasis on correctly) the attachment method was not a significant factor.

To which I thought “Cool!”

But I still prefer a set neck just the same.

 

[heatheroo1]

bolt ons are appliances, set necks are furniture..........and thru necks are heirlooms

 

[Gravedigger Dav]

I get that, but if you were to grab a bass by his neck and moving around a little bit or swing it or grab it are you telling me that would not lose its Integrity the same way as a bolt on?

If so, why are so few basses made this way?

Production cost, plain and simple.

 

[Skybone]

To be fair, how many bolt-on neck instruments have you broken previously to be worried about not being able to replace the neck?

A skilled luthier should be able to not only be able to repair any headstock breakages, but should also be able to reset a set neck instrument. Yes, it is more labour intensive than replacing a bolt-on neck, but it can be done.

 

[mesaplayer83]

That said, I think I want to look into better bolt on methods than wood screws. Like thread inserts or something...

Not necessary, IME - after all, screws directly into the wood can draw the joint up hard enough to suck into the body at the neckplate...

 

[madbass6]

As far as I understand them, set necks are a dovetail joint attaching the body and neck together along with some sort of adhesive. I have read that this is supposedly just as strong as a bolt on but I'm not so sure. Even with glue I feel like the wood could move or bend or compress even just a little bit and compromise the joint. I'm definitely more comfortable with bolt on at this point.

I guess I'm asking for my mind to be set at ease. There is a bass I really think I want except for its set neck.

and I thought I was alone on that fear!
I agree 100%

 

[Aloe]

I’m kinda afraid of set necks as well, as bolt-on neck is easily replaced.

I have one set-neck bass though, in 3 years it saw a lot of abuse. Like 115-60 strings, beaten up with doorways headstock, playing in the rain, shipping in a soft gig bag by mail at cold winter. Everything’s okay yet.

 

[40Hz]

bolt ons are appliances, set necks are furniture..........and thru necks are heirlooms

Maybe. However, many heirlooms sit in cases untouched and are kept mainly for sentimental reasons.

I’ll think I’ll just stick to appliances and funiture even though I own a neck-through which (knock wood) has yet to develop age related problems.

 

[Mantis Tobaggan]

My uncle has a Hofner President bass. I think it is from the sixties. The only reason I bring it up is because it has a set neck. I was playing on it about 20 years ago and you could fit a credit card under the joint. I took it to Willie's in Minneapolis and they wanted to re-attach the neck. I think they wanted $150 and I didn't have it. So, set necks will work, but they can lift, and getting them reattached is pricey.

 

[Passinwind]

I did until I got a Spector which actually does bolt on. That thing is as stable as Gibralter.

Like you, I always preferred set necks. Still do. But some serious studies have shown that if the neck pocket is cut accurately and attached properly (even with wood screws) there’s no appreciable difference in stabilty or sustain between screw/bolt attachment and the other two methods. Neck-through, set neck, and bolt-ons came out even. So the conclusion was, done correctly (big emphasis on correctly) the attachment method was not a significant factor.

To which I thought “Cool!”

But I still prefer a set neck just the same.

I actually prefer neck-through. But I currently have one of each, with my EUB having the bolt-on neck, oddly enough.

To me sustain is a red herring -- that's what a bow is for. But pretty much anything works if done well and I've been playing a lot of sweet bolt-ons over the last year or two in the course of my electronics work.

 

[gt96g]

I have actually seen a few set neck instruments constructed and the thing that stuck with me is how tightly fit most of the joints are. One topic on this forum that comes up a lot is the tightness of the neck pocket. I would argue the tightness of dovetail joints will often exceed that of any bolt-on neck pocket, probably to the point where the guitar or bass would stay together based on that alone, with the glue being a mere redundancy in most situations. So, moral of the story, worry not. I worry more about severely angled head stocks on set neck instruments more than neck joint itself.

 

[40Hz]

I actually prefer neck-through. But I currently have one of each, with my EUB having the bolt-on neck, oddly enough.

To me sustain is a red herring -- that's what a bow is for. But pretty much anything works if done well and I've been playing a lot of sweet bolt-ons over the last year or two.

Agree. Especially about the sustain. It is a red herring. I’ve yet to play a bass that didn’t have more sustain than I’d ever need. Even a Höfner 500/1 will hold a note forever if it’s plugged into a decent amp. I spend a lot of time muting. I don’t think I ever once needed to struggle to get more sustain. And if I did, a compressor would fix that problem very quickly.

I’ve got all three neck types, although I’m currently down to one neck-through myself. An early 80s Matsumoku hippie sandwich build (Memphis “brand”) that’s light in weight, sounds amazing and is pretty easy on the eyes. Hopefully it’ll continue to hold up. I really like this bass despite its neckdive. Fortunately it’s light enough that a suede backed strap keeps it put.

 

[M Attacker]

I’m not a luthier. But I’m in construction...and glue stuff. I’m sure they use use good glue and clamp it, it’ll break at the wood just beyond the glue, before the joint will loose by itself. Good glue now expands when curing out...so sinks into fibers.

Still, if the neck did even have to be replaced for any reason....

 

[Hevy T]

Thousands of Gibson’s have come off the production line for years without issue! Now if they could design the other end of the neck to keep the headstocks from breaking!

 

[ofajen]

My first, and still main, electric bass is a Gibson Ripper from 1976. I’ve had it about 35 years. No issues with the glued neck joint.

My first, and still main, electric is a very nice LP copy from Japan, also with a glued neck.

It’s a feature I look for and prefer. The avatar Wishbass is a neck through and that’s ok, too.

I have electrics and basses with bolt on necks, too, but for other reasons, not because of that.

Otto

 

[grinx]

Frankenstein never scared me........marsupials do

 

[clickclack]

Don't be. It isn't a two handed war axe.
You'd be rightfully more afraid of how they do wheel joints and suspension parts on cheaper car models looking under a lift.

 

[bassbrad]

Be afraid, very afraid. Lions and tigers and bears oh my.

I have 2 basses that traveled the world with me one was a late 60's Fender P that sadly did not survive the ordeal* and a 1982 Carvin LB50 KOA set neck that did. Go figure.

*Neck twisted and body cupped it is in the Hard Rock collection somewhere, made for a nice house down payment.

 

[John Cribbin]

All insruments are suseptable to damage under certain circumstances.
Fortunately, there is a sure fire, three stage method to avoid damage:

1: Place instrument in hard case.
2: Secure case and place in safe location.
3: Avoid moving or opening case.

Et voila, you never need to worry about damage again!

 

[NecroticImbecil]

I was not aware of this. I thought they were all neck through basses. If I may ask, what model?

Epic. No longer a standard model, it was their lowest priced bass but still exceptional quality. Should not have sold mine.

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