Rule 8 Evaluate The Neck Joint - Gibson ES-335 Dot Fat Neck Supplementary Manual

the elements that set a high quality
instrument apart from the run-of-
the-mill can only be performed by
skilled craftsmen. The final sanding
and shaping of the carved top of
a Les Paul or the artistic blending
of colors in a sunburst finish are
examples of craftsmanship that
machines can't perform. A "semi-
production" guitar – combining
automated production and hand
craftsmanship – offers the best
value and quality.
RULE 8 EVALUATE THE NECK JOINT
I like a glued-in neck because it
keeps the angle accurate. I've seen
other players wedge a guitar pick
or a matchbook cover in a bolt-on
neck joint to try to get the neck
angle right.
The neck joint should be tight
and rigid so that none of the string
vibration is transferred to the
neck. If the neck joint is loose,
the strings lose vibrational energy
to the neck and the guitar loses
sustain and tone.
Many electric guitars and basses
are built with bolt-on necks because
the process is easier and faster,
but a traditional, fitted, glued-in
neck is more solid. A Gibson neck
is fitted for "pitch" or angle and
then centered side-to-side with the
use of gauges. It is then glued in
to maintain the neck's axis to the
body forever. Minor adjustments,
to accommodate changes in
string gauge or in climate, can be
accomplished with an adjustable
truss rod – a Gibson invention – or
an adjustable bridge. (See Owner
Adjustments at the end.)
9