Bolt on or neckthrough ? And why?

[nilorius]

What woud choose on any bass - bolt on or neckthrough ?

Edited June 6, 2022 by nilorius

[MacDaddy]

4 minutes ago, nilorius said:

What woud choose on any bass - bolt on or neckthrough ?

 

thinking about it, I'm not sure I've ever had a neckthrough 🤔

[nilorius]

1 minute ago, MacDaddy said:

 

thinking about it, I'm not sure I've ever had a neckthrough 🤔

Ever think of having it ?

[MacDaddy]

1 minute ago, nilorius said:

Ever think of having it ?

 

No, but I don't know why not. Confused now! 🤣

 

 

[Lozz196]

Bolt on, just makes me think  easier to sort in case of a breakage.

[nilorius]

1 minute ago, MacDaddy said:

 

No, but I don't know why not. Confused now! 🤣

 

 

I think that neckthrough got more sustain, but harder to tight up the neck in proper positision.

[BigRedX]

Ideally not bolt-on mainly because for me it restricts the upper fret access - although plenty of set-neck and neck through options aren't particularly good in this respect either.

 

The differences in sound in the context of a band mix are minimal and not with getting bothered about IMO, so go for what suits your playing style the best. Of course if you never venture above the 12th fret then it really doesn't matter at all.

 

BTW to the OP, why aren't you interested in set-neck as an option? And where do you place constructions like the Gus Guitars and basses, where the underlying construction is set-neck, but then the whole thing is covered in a carbon-fibre skin which makes it look like a neck through.

 

And IMO necks are wonderfully resilient, and unless the wood has been poorly chosen anything that causes the neck to break is likely to affect the body too.  

[nilorius]

1 hour ago, BigRedX said:

Ideally not bolt-on mainly because for me it restricts the upper fret access - although plenty of set-neck and neck through options aren't particularly good in this respect either.

 

The differences in sound in the context of a band mix are minimal and not with getting bothered about IMO, so go for what suits your playing style the best. Of course if you never venture above the 12th fret then it really doesn't matter at all.

 

BTW to the OP, why aren't you interested in set-neck as an option? And where do you place constructions like the Gus Guitars and basses, where the underlying construction is set-neck, but then the whole thing is covered in a carbon-fibre skin which makes it look like a neck through.

 

And IMO necks are wonderfully resilient, and unless the wood has been poorly chosen anything that causes the neck to break is likely to affect the body too.  

Sorry, but what are OP and IMO ?? Pics also would be nice.

Edited June 6, 2022 by nilorius

[Reggaebass]

I mainly play fenders so bolt on for me,  I also have a really low action so if the bass doesn’t go low enough a shim has to be added, which is not possible with a neck through 

[Cosmo Valdemar]

1 hour ago, nilorius said:

I think that neckthrough got more sustain, but harder to tight up the neck in proper positision.

I've never come across a through neck that's been harder to adjust.

 

Personally, I don't really mind... I do like a through neck as they are quite luxurious and the upper fret access is generally better, but the construction method is not a deal breaker when I'm buying an instrument.

[Reggaebass]

10 minutes ago, nilorius said:

what are OP and IMO

OP is original poster, that’s you

IMO is in my opinion 👍

 

[nilorius]

2 minutes ago, Reggaebass said:

OP is original poster, that’s you

IMO is in my opinion 👍

 

Understood, OP - I like bolt on better, for IMO - is Your opinion !:)

[Bassfinger]

Have you considered changing the thread title to "Which is the one true religion?"

[fretmeister]

Bolt on.

 

Simple reason - if the weather goes mental I cannot shim a set neck or a neck through.

[nilorius]

12 minutes ago, Bassfinger said:

Have you considered changing the thread title to "Which is the one true religion?"

Sorry - nope.

[BigRedX]

It strikes me that the "features" that are being toted as advantage of bolt-on neck construction are there to correct the deficiencies in the design and build of the instrument in the first place.

 

If the heel and/or the neck pocket have been cut properly in the first place your bass should never need a shim. Any bow of the neck due to climactic conditions should be adjusted with the truss rod. Shimming the neck is not the answer in these cases. 

[NancyJohnson]

Doesn't bother me any way.  I've always considered a neck-through construction to look a little classier from a build perspective, but having owned/played several of each derivative, neck-through/bolt-on/set-neck, I don't feel there's any benefit one way or another.

[Thump]

I have both , not fussed over either really. As long as the bass plays well, to me that's the main thing

[Frank Blank]

1 hour ago, nilorius said:

Sorry, but what are OP and IMO ?? Pics also would be nice.

OP - original post

IMO - in my opinion

[Doctor J]

Have bolt-on, neck-through and set neck. It doesn't make enough difference for me to care.

[Skybone]

Personally, I like through neck, but owned & played bolt-neck, set-neck as well as through neck.

[lownote]

By way of a dog leg, I actually like single cut basses, which have to be neck through. Gorgeous. I just don't like playing them much because they're awkward, IMO.  But obv not for this guy

 

 

[Bassfinger]

I got bolt ons, set neck snd through neck basses on the fleet, and the architecture of the neck structure would seem to have minimal, if any, real effect upon the sound or playability.

 

Of all the attributes that people claim for through necks I have bolt ons that are better in those areas, and despite being far from the most virtuoso player to walk the planet I have zero issue with high fret access with any of them.

 

It's a real non concern for me.  With all the death, disease snd anguish in the world the nature of neck fixing is way down there with which is the nicest bath plug.

[Quilly]

I can’t understand this obsession with sustain with some folks and neck throughs . Like how long are you going to let a note ring out in a typical song, realistically 

[Doctor J]

As long as it takes the guitarist to spot the only plectrum he brought to the gig on the dark stage floor, bend down and pick it up, then struggle to figure out which pedal he unplugged during that effort and get himself working again.

 

Sustain is serious business.