Opinions: "Bolt on necks favor the fundamental tones and brightness"

[Bearclaw Spruce]

Is the fact/opinion that Taylors sound brighter than Martins because of their bolt on necks?

In a recent discussion about the differences between Collings and Santa Cruz, it was posted:

Originally Posted by Matt Sarad

My take is the dove tail Cruz vs the bolt on Collings. I find the bolt on necks favor the fundamental tones and brightness while the dove tail construction of the Cruz sounds warm and woody at the same time.

Other experiences with 12 fret Dreads reveal the same characteristics. The Cruz has more rumble, a thunderous sound of an approaching storm, a Vintage Corvette revving up. The Collings is more BMW sounding with precision tuned cams singing at high speed. The last Collings 12 Fret I played was a screamer with intense power.

When asked whether the above applied to Bourgeois, who also use bolt on necks, the author replied:

My experiences with Bourgeois guitars is dated. In those days I found them to be somewhere between the Cruz and Collings. I almost bought a Soloist instead of my Merrill OM, but the Soloist lacked the deeper bass, perhaps due to the bolt on.

Does this mean if Taylor used dovetail neck joints, they would have a bassier sound?

[PTC Bernie]

At face value I would have to disagree. One of the reasons I don't like Taylor's current sound is because the fundamentals are lacking.

I think the sound difference described in that quote has little if anything to do with the type of neck joint. I'd attribute that to wood selection, top thickness, and bracing.

[sdelsolray]

Matt is a veteran poster in numerous guitar forums, is a rather accomplished player, has significantly more experience with fingerstyle acoustic guitars than most folks and, put more simply, knows his stuff.

Nevertheless, I am skeptical of his "findings" about bolt on neck vs. dovetail neck. While I believe he honestly believes he has identified some correlation in his own anecdotal experience, I see no demonstrated causation in his posts, and I doubt he has any causal empirical evidence to back up his claim.

[inadu ridge]

Originally Posted by Bearclaw Spruce

Does this mean if Taylor used dovetail neck joints, they would have a bassier sound?

Maybe, maybe not. But they still wouldn't sound like a Martin.

[MBE]

I completely disagree to such an extent that it is difficult to express in words. That's a serious case of correlation rather than causation.

I could play a Martin and a Somogyi and conclude that the Somogyi has more overtones because there are more vowels in the name. There are so many confounding factors that the SC/Collings comparison could never be considered a direct bolt-on vs dovetail one.

Now if SC had two models, identical specs with only a different neck joint, and you lines up 10 of each in the same wood combos - then I'd be open to hearing people's conclusions.

[Jim.S]

Originally Posted by Bearclaw Spruce

Does this mean if Taylor used dovetail neck joints, they would have a bassier sound?

One way to answer your question is to learn what gives a guitar its bass sounds then ask yourself how a neck joint could have some influence on the things that give those bass sounds.

Two things on a guitar that produce bass frequencies (let's say under 250Hz) are the air resonance (say between 90 and 120Hz) and the main monopole mode of vibration of the soundboard (roughly between 180 and 210Hz).

Jim

[rick-slo]

A covered topic ad nauseam. The Santa Cruz versus Collings comparison is an amusing additional twist though. Santa Cruz boxes are more lightly built than Collings boxes - therein lies the warmth and fundamental tonal differences.

[SOR]

Before trying to attribute a specific tone to one design element it's important to remember numerous builders such as Collings, Bourgeois and Ryan use bolt on necks. I don't think anyone would argue those builders have many tonal characteristics in common.

[AZLiberty]

Breedlove uses bolt on necks, and nobody would call their tone "fundamental".

[cke]

While I do think neck joint does affect the tone, it is far more about bracing. A Taylor would still sound like a Taylor, if perhaps less edgy.

[dcmey]

Originally Posted by cke

While I do think neck joint does affect the tone, it is far more about bracing. A Taylor would still sound like a Taylor, if perhaps less edgy.

I also think it is more about bracing and wood selection.

[B Chas]

Originally Posted by MBE

I could play a Martin and a Somogyi and conclude that the Somogyi has more overtones because there are more vowels in the name.

You may be onto something here, lol. Love the logic.

[jmat]

^

Extent of which depends as to whether this is an 'and sometimes Y' situation.

[harmonics101]

Bolt on Necks are only for 7' 4" BUFFOONS

J/K

H