Scarf Joint

[Razor X]

Re: Scarf Joint

Aha thanks again I'll go for the three piece neck.

[LarryL]

Scarf Joint - I\'d rather not

A scarf joint is a cost-cutting measure plain and simple. You can use smaller pieces of wood and have less waste. I'd rather not have one if given the choice. Jackson didn't use it early on and if you go buy a Historic LP they don't either.

[Greg Crowe]

Re: Scarf Joint - I\'d rather not

All early neck-thru Jackson's(approx 1983-1985) had three piece necks, no scarf joints. If you take a close look at one, you can even see how the headstocks are like 5 different pieces of wood.

[charvel750]

Re: Scarf Joint - I\'d rather not

Now this is a thread resurrection! [img]/images/graemlins/headbang.gif[/img]

[xenophobe]

Re: Scarf Joint - I\'d rather not

[ QUOTE ]
A scarf joint is a cost-cutting measure plain and simple.

[/ QUOTE ]

It's not just a cost cutting measure. Some early bolt on pointies did have one piece necks, and they had issues with warping the headstock, which this eliminated. I'm not aware of any bolt-on three piece laminate necks, but I wouldn't doubt they made a couple. It does make sense for them to use this on their neck-thrus, it keeps the quality high, and the prices down. I can say, after having dozens of Jacksons with a scarf joint, and at least one with a three piece neck, that the Custom Shop makes great guitars, regardless of what build methods they've used.

[Jim Shine]

Re: Scarf Joint - I\'d rather not

Greg, you are right on, the heads tend to have one or two extra laminates. Usually one on the bass and one on the treble side. I see the three piece start its transition out in November 1984 and just about fully gone by February 1985.

[LarryL]

Re: Scarf Joint - I\'d rather not

[ QUOTE ]

It's not just a cost cutting measure. Some early bolt on pointies did have one piece necks, and they had issues with warping the headstock, which this eliminated.

[/ QUOTE ]

One of the problems with bolt-on pointies is that the oiled finish we all love does a lousy job stabilizing the neck. I've had many C/J's that had neck issues because of this. A scarf joint isn't necessary to stabilize the neck if decent wood is used and it's aged and finished properly. The luthier I use views the scarf joint as cutting corners to save a bit of money. The several C/J's he's refretted for me (mostly due to warped necks that needed to have the board planed) usually end up with him commenting about the problem with the oiled necks on C/J's. That's usually followed up by a comment on the "shitty scarf joint" and a mini-lecture on how that's a cheap way to build a neck. This has just been my experience. Maybe other luthiers think scarf joints are great. I've got a SD Jackson bolt-on that needs to go to him at the moment for the same problem.

Many companies build one piece necks without a scarf joint. It's the standard method of construction on most high-end guitars and has been for years. When I say 1-piece, I'm referring to the neck and main portion of the headstock, not the little wings that are sometimes added to the headstock. It's a structurally sound method of building a guitar. I've got acoustics built like this and LP's built like this and have never had a problem. All the neck problems I've had have been with scarf joint guitars. I would guess it's due to the wood, aging, or finish, not the joint.

[xenophobe]

Re: Scarf Joint - I\'d rather not

Yeah, lots of people love oiled necks, and most people never have problems with them. Most of the neck issues I've seen were on oiled necks, not painted ones. I've only owned a couple dozen USA Jacksons, not many compared to quite a lot of people here, but I've never had any with any neck issues. I guess I'm lucky there, and I would be lying if I said that didn't bias my views on C/J construction techniques.

BTW, I have seen a number of guitars develop neck issues, mostly with Ibanez though.

[shredmonster]

Re: Scarf Joint - I\'d rather not

[ QUOTE ]
A scarf joint is a cost-cutting measure plain and simple. You can use smaller pieces of wood and have less waste. I'd rather not have one if given the choice. Jackson didn't use it early on and if you go buy a Historic LP they don't either.

[/ QUOTE ]

I just recently ordered a custom Jackson and specifically requested no scarf joint.
They can make the necks without one and there was no extra charge.

[Shawn Lutz]

Re: Scarf Joint - I\'d rather not

I thought a scarf joint was when there is stem or seed in there that makes the joint burn unevenly [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img] [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

[Budman68]

Re: Scarf Joint - I\'d rather not

[ QUOTE ]
I thought a scarf joint was when there is stem or seed in there that makes the joint burn unevenly [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img] [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

[/ QUOTE ]

<font color="aqua"> [img]/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img] we always called that "canoeing" as it would burn into the shape of a "conoe" [img]/images/graemlins/wink.gif[/img] </font>

[StukaJU87]

Re: Scarf Joint - I\'d rather not

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
I thought a scarf joint was when there is stem or seed in there that makes the joint burn unevenly [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img] [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

[/ QUOTE ]

<font color="aqua"> [img]/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img] we always called that "canoeing" as it would burn into the shape of a "conoe" [img]/images/graemlins/wink.gif[/img] </font>

[/ QUOTE ]

Stoners! [img]/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img]

[Shawn Lutz]

Re: Scarf Joint - I\'d rather not

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
I thought a scarf joint was when there is stem or seed in there that makes the joint burn unevenly [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img] [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

[/ QUOTE ]

<font color="aqua"> [img]/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img] we always called that "canoeing" as it would burn into the shape of a "conoe" [img]/images/graemlins/wink.gif[/img] </font>

[/ QUOTE ]

yep we called it that too, also called it running [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

[zeegler]

Re: Scarf Joint

[ QUOTE ]
My '84 Soloist has no scarf joint. It is the three piece neck style. I can see the three seams start at the end of the body and travel straight through the headstock. My '84 Rhoads was stripped down on the neck and there was no scarf joint on that 3 piece neck either. Perhaps the scarf joint was started when the neck blanks were changed to one piece maple.

[/ QUOTE ]

Hey Jim, a 3 pc neck would have 2 seams. [img]/images/graemlins/wink.gif[/img] [img]/images/graemlins/cool.gif[/img]

[Budman68]

Re: Scarf Joint - I\'d rather not

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
I thought a scarf joint was when there is stem or seed in there that makes the joint burn unevenly [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img] [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

[/ QUOTE ]

<font color="aqua"> [img]/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img] we always called that "canoeing" as it would burn into the shape of a "conoe" [img]/images/graemlins/wink.gif[/img] </font>

[/ QUOTE ]

Stoners! [img]/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img]

[/ QUOTE ]

[img]/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img]