Advantages of a Neck Thru guitar?

[Metaled1020]

What would you say are the advantages if any of a Neck Thru guitar?

[Hellbat]

The biggest advantage is the upper fret ease of access. Some people will say it increases sustain. Some will say it sounds warmer. For that stuff I will throw on my fire retardant underwear and sit back...

[Bengal]

Oh god, here we go.

I don't see an advantage between bolt-on and neckthrough except the upper fret access like Hellbat mentioned.

[thetroy]

The only objective differences are upper fret access and possibly neck stability.

The latter only really applies to crappy bolt-ons where the neck can move in the pocket.

[GinSonic]

Yes. Agreed. The most obvious advantage that one would be able to see, experience and feel would definitely be the easier access to higher frets.

I'm not an expert and I certainly don't want to come off like some pretentious egghead; Well....a blockhead perhaps!

Obviously the strength and integrity of utilizing one piece of wood through the whole length of the guitar allows neck through designs to cut things a little closer for that feature. Bolt on's require that there be extra wood where they mate up to have the same strength and integrity. Hence, access is not as good.

You wouldn't experience neck shift either with neck through designs. Mind you, that's not an issue that I've experienced, but I've heard some that have.

Better sustain? Well the laws of physics would dictate a neck through would have better sustain qualities then a bolt on, but I'm sure to most axe wielders, they won't be able to discern a difference.

It's like the whammy versus the stop tailpiece debate. Does one lose sustain utilizing a whammy? With the thousands of whammy users out there that I've heard? I think not. However, the laws of physics rears its mighty head again!

Given that all things being equal, sustain would be at its best with a neck through/string through design. However, that's a whole new topic.

I don't know too much about the types of woods used and the kinds of cuts utilized in electric guitars, but that's definitely a factor that's heavily involved regarding neck through and bolt ons.
G.

[Frigo89]

one downside to neck-through? break the neck, and you've basically have fudged the bucket amigo.

[sevser]

With some shapes the guitar needs to be neckthru for good balance...Like the RR or most other V shapes...The Warrior is another...Explorer...actually...any gibson shape...I know Gibson is set neck, but the shapes make better neckthru or set neck guitars than they do bolt on...IMO...

Les Paul shaps just never feel right as a bolt on either...

My neckthru guitars seem to have a better sustain BUT...My Fusion (All EMG PUPS) has a great strong sustain..it droppes off faster but is stronger whil it lasts...If that makes sense...A good fit makes all the diff too...

[Norton]

It looks better. End of discussion


And it feels more solid to my hands, which is important to me.

[GinSonic]

Another thing with set necks and neck through's are that they're usually painted or finished, not satin or oiled like bolt ons. However, that's easily remedied.
G.

[CharvelRocker]

It looks better. End of discussion

And it makes what you have sound expensive The access is better. Some could also argue because a lot more of the neck wood is in contact with the body, it leads to "better" tone. I don't notice any huge differences in that respect between my Epi and my Jackson, but the guitars are like apples and oranges, so the jury is still out on that.

[Axewielder]

Other advantages of neck thrus:

- The guitars hold their used value better (with all else being equal) because there is no concern about an aftermarket neck and/or bogus neck plate and S/N, and because they are usually easier to date.

- They are less susceptible to "rising tongue" at the end of the fretboard because the wood is not hacked off there.

- They are less susceptible to neck pocket cracks

- They never have neck pocket gaps or stripped neck screws

- They never have truss rod adjustments at the heel

[j2379]

there is no difference in sustain between a high quality bolton & a neck thru. tonally i do think neckthrus are a bit warmer & dont have the snappy attack of boltons. other than thats its all feel & personal preference.

[VitaminG]

And it makes what you have sound expensive

my RGX1203S cost $100 and is made in Taiwan - it sounds like at LEAST a $150 guitar

[Metaled1020]

Thanks for all the replies!

[axetogrind]

Well, since you guys have covered it from the "Neck-Thru" perspectice.. what would be an advantage to a Bolt-On if there are any.