Comparing a Neck Thru With a Bolt on

[patmac3]

I currently have a DK2S with a sustainic in the neck but was thinking about getting a SL2-MAH. Was wondering if anyone has actually heard both so I could make a comparison. Obviously, my DK is a bolt-on neck with different wood (alder). How much of an improvement would a mohagany thru neck make in my tone/sustain. Appreciate any feedback/recommendations.

[micha]

about 18,5%.



no.
what people are about to tell you is that you really can't speak of an "improvement" when discussing mahogany/different tone-woods, otherwise; there would be no guitar above 1,5k that is made of something else.

if you're after sustain; I doubt you can do any better than play a guitar with sustainiac.
compared to alder mahogany should sound a bit darker and warmer, but it's up to you, to decide wether you like it or not.

(and please; don't ask for another bolt on VS neck thru discussion!! get a weekend off and use the search button)

[charvel750]

Well, a DK2 compared to a USA Soloist is like night and day. You'll like the tone and playability of the Soloist way better, it's a much better instrument.

[Matt_B]

You'll like the tone and playability of the Soloist way better

There's no accounting for taste so one cannot say with complete certainty that the OP will like the sound of the Soloist better or worse than the DK2. This is completely subjective.

As far as playability goes, the Soloist has a different neck (slightly thicker front to back) than the DK2 so again this is completely subjective. The only perceived "advantage" for the Soloist is that is has a more "fluid" heel because it's a not a bolt-on.

BTW, I don't personally have a dog in this fight as own neither guitar.

[charvel750]

There's no accounting for taste so one cannot say with complete certainty that the OP will like the sound of the Soloist better or worse than the DK2. This is completely subjective.

As far as playability goes, the Soloist has a different neck (slightly thicker front to back) than the DK2 so again this is completely subjective. The only perceived "advantage" for the Soloist is that is has a more "fluid" heel because it's a not a bolt-on.

BTW, I don't personally have a dog in this fight as own neither guitar.

Matt, it's not an issue of "taste." It's an issue of FACT. A USA Soloist is leaps and bounds ahead of an import Dinky. Fact, not taste, bro, nothing subjective about it. It's got better hardware, it's put together better, it's built to last, it's a USA Jackson for crying out loud!

[Matt_B]

Matt, it's not an issue of "taste."

IMHO, when it comes to things like "tone" and "playability", those things are subjective.

I agree that the Soloist is overall a better quality guitar as far as its core parts and construction but whether or not it sounds better is a matter of opinion.

For example, I know I would not like how either of them sound because neither guitar has pickups I like.

As playability, out the box the Jackson might play better because more attention is paid to it during a factory set-up but that's no guarantee either. Even then, with a basic set-up (which some vendors/stores include with the purchase of a guitar) the DK-2 is capable of playing just as well as the Jackson, again IMHO.

[Spivonious]

Neck-throughs usually give a little softer attack; bolt-ons usually have more "bite".

Mahogany is a softer wood than Alder, so it will aborb more of the strings' vibrations, thus producing a "warmer" sound.

It's generally accepted that the U.S. Jacksons are built to a higher standard than the Japanese Jacksons, so the SL2 will most likely feel "better".

[patmac3]

about 18,5%.



no.
what people are about to tell you is that you really can't speak of an "improvement" when discussing mahogany/different tone-woods, otherwise; there would be no guitar above 1,5k that is made of something else.

if you're after sustain; I doubt you can do any better than play a guitar with sustainiac.
compared to alder mahogany should sound a bit darker and warmer, but it's up to you, to decide wether you like it or not.

(and please; don't ask for another bolt on VS neck thru discussion!! get a weekend off and use the search button)

On thing I need to clear up, when I am asking about the sustain, I am asking about the inherent sustain of the instrument, without the sustainiac. The sustainiac sounds more like an electronic reproduction of the note than the "true" sustain of the instrument IMHO. I don't really use the thing much unless I want some feedback or there is a long pause in between notes. To be honest, the sustain of my guitar without the sustainiac is pretty poor and that is more important to me when judging the quality of the instrument.

Another thing, I WILL ASK WHATEVER THE HELL I WANT TO, if you don't have anything to add or find it useful in any way, then don't respond, it's that simple.

[Spivonious]

Another thing, I WILL ASK WHATEVER THE HELL I WANT TO, if you don't have anything to add or find it useful in any way, then don't respond, it's that simple.

Hey noob, don't be a jerk.

There is no difference in instrument sustain between neck-through and bolt-on. It is much more dependent on the player, the woods used, and the quality of the build.

[Larz]

sustain is all in the fingers

[toejam]

Another thing, I WILL ASK WHATEVER THE HELL I WANT TO, if you don't have anything to add or find it useful in any way, then don't respond, it's that simple.

This topic has been covered plenty of times here, it's that simple. Maybe use the search fuction. Whether a guitar has a bolt-on, set or through-body neck doesn't matter... the sustain CAN be the same on all three.

[micha]

On thing I need to clear up, when I am asking about the sustain, I am asking about the inherent sustain of the instrument, without the sustainiac. The sustainiac sounds more like an electronic reproduction of the note than the "true" sustain of the instrument IMHO. I don't really use the thing much unless I want some feedback or there is a long pause in between notes. To be honest, the sustain of my guitar without the sustainiac is pretty poor and that is more important to me when judging the quality of the instrument.

Another thing, I WILL ASK WHATEVER THE HELL I WANT TO, if you don't have anything to add or find it useful in any way, then don't respond, it's that simple.

calm down dude.
I won't bug you any further.
I've always been curious anyway what a result in a neck thru VS bolt on discussion looks like.
maybe this thread is more lucky than the others.

[Matt_B]

sustain is all in the fingers

Then I need to trade in my fingers for some better ones so I can get more sustain!

[RacerX]

What's with all the newb attitude lately? For awhile there we were getting cool newbs.

[Mazz]

What's with all the newb attitude lately? For awhile there we were getting cool newbs.

Did I qualify into that section? All except the silly rant about the local guitar shop