Dumb question- any pitfalls on neckthrough guitars?

Please put your pickup/wiring discussions in the Electronics section; and put discussions about repair issues, including "disappearing" errors in new instruments, in the Repairs section.
Post Reply
Matthew Lau
Posts: 640
Joined: Sat Feb 18, 2012 2:03 am

Dumb question- any pitfalls on neckthrough guitars?

Post by Matthew Lau »

Dear Mimf,

I'm trying to fulfill a promise I made 13 years ago to build a bass for a dentist in NJ.
However, I plead ignorance on basses and electric instruments.

Are there any pitfalls/cons on neck through guitars?

I'll be building both a neckthrough and a bolt on bass using port orford cedar (just happen to have both glued up from before my move to the new house).
I'll have carbon TOW in the neck, along with a dual action truss rod.

I'm not sure if wood warpage is an issue for neckthroughs (not being able to easily repair it)?
Not sure if I can prevent it with more Carbon TOW on the back of the body?

Also, my apologies if I'm typing weird.
I've been trying to go on a modified keto diet, and have low blood sugar.
I find myself typing and speaking like Yoda sometimes.
User avatar
Peter Wilcox
Posts: 1325
Joined: Sun Jan 08, 2012 1:31 am
Location: Northeastern California

Re: Dumb question- any pitfalls on neckthrough guitars?

Post by Peter Wilcox »

I had to shim the saddles (cheap Chinese) on a neck through bass I made years ago, as they didn't have enough vertical adjustment, and there was no way to change the neck angle after the fret board was on.
Maybe I can't fix it, but I can fix it so no one can fix it
User avatar
Barry Daniels
Posts: 3253
Joined: Thu Jan 05, 2012 10:58 am
Location: The Woodlands, Texas

Re: Dumb question- any pitfalls on neckthrough guitars?

Post by Barry Daniels »

Carbon tow on the back of the body? Does that mean it will be exposed? I don’t think that is a good idea. I have used tow in necks but I bury it in slots cut into the neck before the fretboard is glued on.

Warping is mainly a factor of unstable wood that has not reached equilibrium with your shop environment. I prefer to have wood in my humidity controlled shop for a year or two before I use it.
MIMF Staff
Matthew Lau
Posts: 640
Joined: Sat Feb 18, 2012 2:03 am

Re: Dumb question- any pitfalls on neckthrough guitars?

Post by Matthew Lau »

Sorry not to clarify.

The carbon tow will be buried in the channel under the truss rod.

It won't be visible.
Matthew Lau
Posts: 640
Joined: Sat Feb 18, 2012 2:03 am

Re: Dumb question- any pitfalls on neckthrough guitars?

Post by Matthew Lau »

Also, the wood has been in my house for about 15 years now.
It should be dead nuts stable.

Now, I'm trying to figure out if I should cut the wings off, bandsaw the neck profile, and reglue the wings (reocmmended at yesterday's luthier meet by Bruce Sexauer). Alternatively, I'm tempted to just use a router for thicknessing/tapering the neck (routersled), and cutting the profile.
Post Reply

Return to “Solid-Body and Chambered or Semi-Solid Electric Guitars and Bass Guitars”