MaxHart85231281734137 Posted February 25, 2009 Posted February 25, 2009 im coming acoss alot of older model LP solid bodies, and some wierd jap and old epi hollow bodies with bolt on necks, just wounder what yall think about the diff in bolt on or set necks, i even saw some old epi acoustic with a bolt on neck???!!
Lord Summerisle Posted February 25, 2009 Posted February 25, 2009 I think that bolt-on necks certainly have their place in this world. On Fenders (where they work excellently). I would not consider buying a 24 3/4" scale Gibson-type guitar which did not have a set-neck. It does not surprise me that it's mainly the low-end Epis that have bolt-ons. To be honest, if someone told me that they were looking at a G-310, my most likely response would be: 'spend the extra few bucks and buy a G-400, it's got a set neck.' I'm just not convinced that you can get the sustain you expect from a Gibson style guitar from a bolt-on neck. I've never encountered a bolt-on acoustic. Can't say I'm in a hurry to track one down either. I know that some early 1970s Epi semis had bolt-ons, and are not especially well regarded. Please don't think I'm being fiercely critical of bolt-on necks. Like I said, they are a vital part of some guitar designs....
sexygibson Posted February 25, 2009 Posted February 25, 2009 I think that bolt-on necks certainly have their place in this world. On Fenders (where they work excellently). I would not consider buying a 24 3/4" scale Gibson-type guitar which did not have a set-neck. It does not surprise me that it's mainly the low-end Epis that have bolt-ons. To be honest' date=' if someone told me that they were looking at a G-310, my most likely response would be: 'spend the extra few bucks and buy a G-400, it's got a set neck.' I'm just not convinced that you can get the sustain you expect from a Gibson style guitar from a bolt-on neck. I've never encountered a bolt-on acoustic. Can't say I'm in a hurry to track one down either. I know that some early 1970s Epi semis had bolt-ons, and are not especially well regarded. Please don't think I'm being fiercely critical of bolt-on necks. Like I said, they [i']are[/i] a vital part of some guitar designs.... +1
John Beef Posted February 25, 2009 Posted February 25, 2009 Several years ago I knew a guy who played a Japanese Ibanez lawsuit LP copy from the 70s - open book Gibson shaped headstock and all. It sounded great. I was thoroughly shocked when I saw the back of it - it was a bolt on! This was a very nice guitar and had every aspect of a LP going except the neck joint. He was happy, his tone was good - so who is to say his guitar is inferior in any way? Although, I totally agree with the G310 vs G400 comment - spend the extra few $$. In a year you won't miss the extra few bucks but you will very much miss having that set neck, at least on that model.
MaxHart85231281734137 Posted February 25, 2009 Author Posted February 25, 2009 thanks guys , but what about those crazy jap and china hollowbodys from the 60's-70's some are just so cheap on ebay and look pretty frickn insane, i would deff upgrade the electronics but whats yalls take on the bolt on hollowbody?
Lord Summerisle Posted February 25, 2009 Posted February 25, 2009 what's yalls take on the bolt on hollowbody? Leave it alone. A new Chinese Dot at $399 will make you a lot happier....
Parabar Posted February 25, 2009 Posted February 25, 2009 I'm not aware of ANY bolt-on neck hollow or semi-hollow guitars that were regarded as good instruments by musicians. Fender's Coronado was a bolt-on 335-style guitar that never caught on; none of the companies known for making quality hollow-bodied guitars (Gibson, Gretsch, Guild) --- much less the luthier artisans (D'Angelico, D'Acquisto, Benedetto, et al) --- ever offered a bolt-on model. Leo Fender's bolt-on designs were strictly pragmatic --- they made it easier to replace the neck than get a re-fret or repair a broken neck or headstock. With a good-fitting neck pocket, a bolt-on can sound perfectly good on a solid bodied guitar, and even provide sustain comparable to a glued-in neck, but the straight line neck angle of a bolt-on is more compatible with bright twangy tone than the fatter tones preferred by most GibbyEpiphiles.
fenrirlupus Posted February 25, 2009 Posted February 25, 2009 i have a bolt on neck on a gibson scale 335 style guitar... i guess it's good that you can get a replacement easy, but the fret access is terrible.
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