If you glued a bolt on to make it a set...? SET vs BOLT-ON vs THRU

[Highlander]

This has bothered me for some time...

Has anyone here ever taken a P or a J type "unfinished" body, fitted a really tight "unfinished" neck and "set it" with glue (then locked with the screws for "functional" reasons)...?

I can understand that certain woods make a difference to overall playing qualities, with a through-neck, more-so... but can the "functional" constructional issues of "standard" set-necks make that much of a difference to the overall "tone" of an instrument...?

Anyone have any opinions or knowledge...?

Would the "P" still be a "P"...?

[jumbodbassman]

Great question ..   i have always wondered the same thing.  Why just screw in a fender neck if it is perfect f and a perfect  fit or that bass. Gluing would certainly take way the side to side movement some fenders have,  although i have found using a neck shim of course material IE sheetrock sanding mesh,  takes alot of that risk away.   i believe  the theory is bolt on necks are better for slapping but not sure i beleive that or understand why except slappers use fenders or stingrays.....OR REALLY CARE.......not many slap tunes in my arsenal anymore....

[Dave W]

Some people who know more than I believe that contact between the tongue and the bottom of the neck pocket is most important, regardless of side to side movement. I don't know how that would change with glue instead of screws, but I imagine it would make some difference.

Keep in mind that a neck is like a beam supported at one end only. Glued in necks can be moved. Ask Leslie West.

[Highlander]

... and that that beam is kept under tension at all times when in use (excluding sudden and drastic "cease-and-desist" circumstances)

I "slimmed" the neck on my SG some years back and that can give an interesting sound - not Vai "flexible" but flexible - I mostly use as a lap-slide...

[sniper]

this concept has intrigued me and i had to chase a dead link to get this example back. in researching opinions on the subject a couple of years ago, i come to the decision that the most i could gain was a thinner neck/body mount and maybe some better fret access to the upper registry as i have small hands and short fingers. i don't care for the guitar much but the joint technique is interesting:

http://www.yox.biz/guitars_hamer_slammer_take_two.htm

since the blue paint job, it has been redone in white:

http://www.yox.biz/guitars_yox_custom_hamer.htm

i still don't care for the guitar much but the blue orange peel was a disaster. he must have served some time in Cataldo's house of pain paint.

i couldn't help myself Carlo, you just make it look too easy (which i know its not!) but i am truly envious of your talent.

i'll bet "Dr. Clamp" could do a righteous job too!

[FlatEric]

Mornin'.

I have a couple of Magnums (no, not the "Six" Shooter - The Four stingers )

Odd for me, I don't have any pics of either - Must get round to that, Eric!!

I can never remember the Model #'s - One is a Magnum 1 and the other is,
I think, III?? More Precision looking.

And these have Glued and Screwed Necks!

See Here.http://www.ovationtribute.com/Catalogues/Magnum%20Bass%20Owner%20Manual/Magnum%20Bass%20Owner%20Manual.html

Go to the bit about "Necks", for anyone in doubt? 

And. . . . . While I'm here. . . . . .

Does anyone have one of these???
Ever seen one in the flesh, know someone who has one/had one??





Odyssey, by Atilla Balogh - Made in Vancouver in the 70's.

Any info would be great.

Cheers.

[dadagoboi]

I'd been wondering about modding a bolt on neck to make a set neck for a while.  My Brice TBird has a set neck.  On close inspection I can see that it was a bolt on that  had the heel built up another 3/4" and then set in.  properly done it has all the surface gluing area as any other set neck.

As far as screwing and gluing a standard bolt on into a standard pocket, I don't think I like it...  Ducati motorcycles use the motor as a stressed frame member.  You could probably stiffen the frame by welding the motor in addition to the 2 mounting bolts used.   But it might cause problems down the line.

Sniper, thanks for that link to the Hamer.  I thought it looked better white in the first link but most of us have complicated things only to come back to the simple solution.  On the orange peel, as soon as you realize it's gonna cause a lot of extra work and cost you money in a production situation you figure out a better way to do it. 

[uwe]

I was to mention the Ovation which has a glued bolt-on neck. Can't see the bolts doing much harm with a good set neck contact. 

Blackmore glued the necks of his Strats all through the seventies and eighties and so did/does (of course) Yngwie.

[Dave W]

Merle Haggard's Custom Shop Tele has a set neck, at Merle's request. It must not cost much to do it, that's a bargain price! 

If you use glue and it's a good fit in the pocket, you don't need the screws.

[uwe]

I didn't know Fender had it even in'em! Without screws I thought they were lost.

[dadagoboi]

I didn't know Fender had it even in'em! Without screws I thought they were lost.

As opposed to Gibson which at times appears to be totally screwed...up.

[sniper]

I didn't know Fender had it even in'em! Without screws I thought they were lost.

dito!

As opposed to Gibson which at times appears to be totally screwed...up.

i am having the good Doctor go about halfway between the two theories and put threaded inserts into the neck modification/rebuild for me so i can at least bolt into some metal.