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

[SpruceTop]

Bolt-on vs. Dovetail necks. Why do we keep going over this subject?

[bitraker]

yeah, like I am playing my Martins thinking, "Wow that dovetail neck joint sure sounds great. So fundamental. Glad I didn't buy a bolt on."

[RP]

Originally Posted by SpruceTop

Bolt-on vs. Dovetail necks. Why do we keep going over this subject?

I suppose that for every veteran member like yourself who has seen a topic previously discussed, there is one (or probably more) who was not part of that previous discussion and has something to add to the collective mix...

[ukejon]

Very strong differences between the two. Bolt-on necks offer up a definite mineral character with hints of crisp fall Jonathan apples, underripe rhubarb, Birch bark, cool Artesian water, dry sourdough toast, jicama fruit, and canned Sicilian sardines. Dovetail necks offer up a softer edge reminiscent of ripe pumpkin, smoked peaches, seasoned peat moss, Latvian pine cones nubs, April rain, marinated pork belly, and red M&Ms.

[BrunoBlack]

Originally Posted by ukejon

Very strong differences between the two. Bolt-on necks offer up a definite mineral character with hints of crisp fall Jonathan apples, underripe rhubarb, Birch bark, cool Artesian water, dry sourdough toast, jicama fruit, and canned Sicilian sardines. Dovetail necks offer up a softer edge reminiscent of ripe pumpkin, smoked peaches, seasoned peat moss, Latvian pine cones nubs, April rain, marinated pork belly, and red M&Ms.

..........

[ntotoro]

There's so much more that factors... Taylors, to my ears, don't have anywhere near the depth of a Martin, but it's not solely the neck joint. Bourgeois guitars uses a bolt-on neck and my Country Boy OM is certainly isn't lacking anything compared to my 000-18GE.

Nick

[ewalling]

Originally Posted by ukejon

Very strong differences between the two. Bolt-on necks offer up a definite mineral character with hints of crisp fall Jonathan apples, underripe rhubarb, Birch bark, cool Artesian water, dry sourdough toast, jicama fruit, and canned Sicilian sardines. Dovetail necks offer up a softer edge reminiscent of ripe pumpkin, smoked peaches, seasoned peat moss, Latvian pine cones nubs, April rain, marinated pork belly, and red M&Ms.

Or, in a nutshell:
- bolt-on necks - sparkling champagne
- dovetails - warm, mulled wine

[ukejon]

Originally Posted by ewalling

Or, in a nutshell:
- bolt-on necks - sparkling champagne
- dovetails - warm, mulled wine

Very well stated. I was thinking this:

* Bolt-on-necks = late vintage Austrian Gruner Veltliner

* Dovetails = 1997 Allegrini Amarone (if you can find it!)

But indeed your introduction of the concept of effervescence for Bolt-on is rather brilliant.....

[M Sarad]

[jimmy bookout]

Originally Posted by ukejon

Very strong differences between the two. Bolt-on necks offer up a definite mineral character with hints of crisp fall Jonathan apples, underripe rhubarb, Birch bark, cool Artesian water, dry sourdough toast, jicama fruit, and canned Sicilian sardines. Dovetail necks offer up a softer edge reminiscent of ripe pumpkin, smoked peaches, seasoned peat moss, Latvian pine cones nubs, April rain, marinated pork belly, and red M&Ms.

You had me till "April rain"....EVERYONE knows that a dovetail joint is more like a July t-storm.

Jeez....some people.

[jseth]

Sounds like total nonsense to me... one only has to play a Goodall to refute this claim, and James told me that EVERY guitar he has built has a bolt-on neck!

While I can understand why people want to find some convenient categorization to "explain" why different guitars sound... well, different... I think that's largely a "Fool's Errand".

Personally, I have believed, strongly, for decades now that it is the BUILDER who determines the tone and volume of any given instrument, not the woods used or the type of neck joinery or the glue or any of that stuff... and I could certainly be mistaken about that, but my own experience leads me to that conclusion.

"Truth? Truth is an island in the setting sun...
but proof? Proof is the bottom line for everyone..." (Paul Simon)

[jimmy bookout]

Originally Posted by SpruceTop

Bolt-on vs. Dovetail necks. Why do we keep going over this subject?

Because we can't find a building to jump off of.

[tbeltrans]

Originally Posted by SpruceTop

Bolt-on vs. Dovetail necks. Why do we keep going over this subject?

As I mentioned elsewhere in this thread, because it is much more fun than actually PLAYING guitar! This is what forums are for, more often than not.

Tony

[RoseAdi]

Originally Posted by ukejon

Very strong differences between the two. Bolt-on necks offer up a definite mineral character with hints of ..... Sicilian sardines.

and:

Dovetail necks offer up .... smoked peaches, seasoned peat moss, .....

Hmmm, I think my next guitar will have a duck taped neck joint thank you!




BTW, don't start talkin' about "seasoned pet moss" as I'm sitting here totally enjoying a nice glass of Ardbeg!!!!

[pdidmh1]

I have a bolt on neck and I sound just fine.
F Stein