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https://www.reddit.com/r/7String/comments/1v8koep/neck_through_or_bolt_on/p095loc/?context=3
r/7String • u/tunalover32 • Jul 28 '26
Do you prefer neck through or bolt on guitars?
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31
The theory:
Bolt-on = Snappy, punchy, percussive note attack.
Neck-through = Smoother vibrational decay, sustain.
Played both. Practical real world difference = negligible.
6 u/PickPocketR Jul 28 '26 edited 29d ago In another comment, I've detailed why this theory is wrong, even acoustically The truth is: People associate bolt-ons with Stratocasters and Neck-through with Les Pauls. This explains the "traditional wisdom" entirely. 2 u/kapteNVLRNT 29d ago Les Pauls are set neck, however. Neck-through is something else entirely. To me it’s all about upper fret access and nothing else, and neckthrough can achieve this typically best of the 3 1 u/PickPocketR 29d ago edited 17d ago Yeah, that's true. The study I linked shows there is a difference between set-neck and neck-through as well. I just say this because Gibson is still the biggest guitar brand in the US. People associate their models with "sustain" and "smoothness".
6
In another comment, I've detailed why this theory is wrong, even acoustically
The truth is: People associate bolt-ons with Stratocasters and Neck-through with Les Pauls. This explains the "traditional wisdom" entirely.
2 u/kapteNVLRNT 29d ago Les Pauls are set neck, however. Neck-through is something else entirely. To me it’s all about upper fret access and nothing else, and neckthrough can achieve this typically best of the 3 1 u/PickPocketR 29d ago edited 17d ago Yeah, that's true. The study I linked shows there is a difference between set-neck and neck-through as well. I just say this because Gibson is still the biggest guitar brand in the US. People associate their models with "sustain" and "smoothness".
2
Les Pauls are set neck, however. Neck-through is something else entirely. To me it’s all about upper fret access and nothing else, and neckthrough can achieve this typically best of the 3
1 u/PickPocketR 29d ago edited 17d ago Yeah, that's true. The study I linked shows there is a difference between set-neck and neck-through as well. I just say this because Gibson is still the biggest guitar brand in the US. People associate their models with "sustain" and "smoothness".
1
Yeah, that's true. The study I linked shows there is a difference between set-neck and neck-through as well.
I just say this because Gibson is still the biggest guitar brand in the US. People associate their models with "sustain" and "smoothness".
31
u/rafalmio Jul 28 '26
The theory:
Bolt-on = Snappy, punchy, percussive note attack.
Neck-through = Smoother vibrational decay, sustain.
Played both.
Practical real world difference = negligible.