Bare Knuckle Pickups Forum

Forum Ringside => Tech => Topic started by: MrBump on May 28, 2010, 02:26:02 PM

Title: Anyone Every Tried Gluing In A Strat Neck?
Post by: MrBump on May 28, 2010, 02:26:02 PM
If so, how did it sound?

Mark.
Title: Re: Anyone Every Tried Gluing In A Strat Neck?
Post by: Philly Q on May 28, 2010, 03:21:25 PM
Not tried it, but I've always assumed it would affect the sound, because in a bolt-on joint the neck and body are actively being pulled together, whereas in a glued joint they're just kind of sitting there.

But... there was an interview with Paul Reed Smith in Guitarist a month or two ago, and I think he said in his opinion the type of joint doesn't make much difference.
Title: Re: Anyone Every Tried Gluing In A Strat Neck?
Post by: FELINEGUITARS on May 28, 2010, 04:19:33 PM
Ritchie Blackmore glued his in - mainly to stop the 3 bolt neck from shifting around in the neck pocket
But his was glued AND screwed
I dont think it will make a HUGE difference to a well fitted neck but I thinkit may add a touch to the coupling of the two parts and add to the resonance a bit
Title: Re: Anyone Every Tried Gluing In A Strat Neck?
Post by: Antag on June 01, 2010, 01:39:37 PM
Surely glueing it without also screwing it would be inherently unstable as there's no tenon & far less contact area than even a short tenon Gibson joint?

Fender did offer a set neck strat in the early 90s - it was a gorgeous guitar (I nearly bought one), but the heel/joint bore little resemblence to the bolt on strats...
Title: Re: Anyone Every Tried Gluing In A Strat Neck?
Post by: WezV on June 01, 2010, 02:49:00 PM
Surely glueing it without also screwing it would be inherently unstable as there's no tenon & far less contact area than even a short tenon Gibson joint?

not so sure

The fender pocket has a wide base and 2 sides - the end doesnt count as end grain glue joins are very weak. anyway.  Its relatively easy to get these 3 gluing faces to fit together really well and it provides more than enough surface area for a good join.  it works on PRS and les pauls juniors (the lip on LPJ on the treble side doesnt add much stability over a similar join without lip).   it actually ends up very similar to the surface area on a doublecut PRS - they have it extending into the neck pickup cavity, but they also have more of the neck free of the body.


With gibsons traditional tenon you have 5 seperate gluing surfaces that all need to be carefully fitted.  together those gluing surface amoung to a similar area as the fender pocket - but they have the problem that its much harder to get them all fitting perfectly - and we have pics proving gibson dont always get that right.  a full with tenon is much easier to fit accurately


having said all that, there are issues with gluing a fender neck in.

1.  Finish - any finish or sealer on body or neck will hamper attempts to glue them together.

2. Manufacturing - often they have a little wiggle room - fine for bolt on necks but not for gluing in, you need a nice tight join - preferably one where you could dry fit the body and neck and pick it up without the body falling off.

3. heel shape - it aint pretty as it is

a lot of these problems can be overcome if making from scratch. 
Title: Re: Anyone Every Tried Gluing In A Strat Neck?
Post by: MrBump on June 01, 2010, 02:55:37 PM
Cheers, guys - interesting stuff.

I was thinking about "stratty" sounds, and thinking that the bolt on setup must make it sound in a particular way...  then I got to thinking about all sorts of things, like shortening the scale length, adding P90s instread of traditional strat coils... then I had to go lie down and have a rest.

Title: Re: Anyone Every Tried Gluing In A Strat Neck?
Post by: Philly Q on June 01, 2010, 03:19:33 PM
I was thinking about "stratty" sounds, and thinking that the bolt on setup must make it sound in a particular way...  then I got to thinking about all sorts of things, like shortening the scale length, adding P90s instread of traditional strat coils...

... and you ended up with an SG Special.
Title: Re: Anyone Every Tried Gluing In A Strat Neck?
Post by: MrBump on June 01, 2010, 04:43:42 PM
^ Hah!

Well, yes.  I guess...

I actually have a template for an LP Junior at home, just waiting for me to get my arse in gear...