Tuning the neck" ?

Tom Gorr · From: Three Hills, Alberta

I was thinking about the impact of the guitar neck (eg. six string/bass) on the guitar's tone.

We know that the guitar neck vibrates. In fact - in certain recording instances, I mic the back of the headstock and get a real rich and mellow tone.

So if the guitar neck vibrates and its "tension" can be adjusted with the truss rod - it must make some sense that the neck can be "tuned" to enhance certain desireable characteristics of the guitar's tone.

Thoughts ? (or more importantly - any 'guitar tech' processes to optimize the guitar's tone based on this observation....)

Bill C. Buntin · Posted 1 Jan 2005 5:04 am

Tom, I've been wondering about that also. I've played around with my Gibson 6 string trying to ultimately tune the neck and strobe of the harmonics etc for each string. I've got it nearly as perfect as I can. I'll be interested to hear other's techniques and ideas on this too.

Donny Hinson · From: Glen Burnie, Md. U.S.A.

While not a "tech", I do know that certain sound characteristics, notably sustain, are enhanced by both the mounting of the neck to the body (type/tightness thereof), and added weight (mass) on the headstock. One device called the "Fat-finger" is simpley a U-shaped piece of metal which clamps to the headstock. It's purported to produce sometimes dramatic increases in the sustain. I do know for a fact that different tuning keys will affect the sound/sustain of a regular guitar.

I imagine trial and error would be the only dictate for many mods, as the results may differ from one model/type to the other.

Tom Gorr · From: Three Hills, Alberta

So - I tried this theory on my electric bass. The first string (g) has always sounded dead compared to the others, and when I run a scale, the timbre changed when I get to that string. Could never figure what to do about that.

After about 45 minutes of trial and error - I "dialed-in" a truss rod setting that gave life to that string. In fact - all the strings sound more balanced.

Interesting to note that all kinds of things happended within about a half turn of the truss rod. Sometimes the low E went dead, too.

The neck relief is a shade greater, making the action a very slight bit higher. Not much of a sacrifice compared to the superior tonality I now have.

[This message was edited by Tom Gorr on 02 January 2005 at 12:30 PM.]

David L. Donald · From: Koh Samui Island, Thailand

The neck is one of the main reasons a tele and a strat don't sound like a gibson.

Same for basses, and the truss rod issue is real.

Fodera won't make necks too small or light, because the tone and sustain disappear with each shave of the wood chisel.

[This message was edited by David L. Donald on 02 January 2005 at 01:56 PM.]

Pete Burak · From: Portland, OR USA

I've been trying out a Carvin TL60 (Tele style body w/ Strat style electronics), that is on consignment at a local Mom & Pop.
It has the full neck-through-body neck. It is also a hardtail that strings through the back of the body (no tremelo).
I was concidering ordering a Carvin, so this is a good one to test drive.
I've been noticing how focused the sound is when playing a harmony run (sounds in-tune with itself) when playing through an amp, and that the neck of the guitar puts out a good amount of sound (playing unplugged).
A pretty good feeling and playing neck.
I liked the way the guitar sounds, too, but would probably order a different pickup config.
Anyone else done the homework on the neck-though-body, string-through-body, guitars, and what this method contributes to the big picture?
Thx,
`pb

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