Bolt-on to Set-neck?

[hollowbody]

Hey all, is it possible to turn a bolt-on neck guitar into a set-neck?

I have a Epi SG that has a bolt on neck that I would like to fiddle with. I don't even know if this is a viable option.

[fraser]

no reason you couldnt just glue the neck in-
remove it, add white or hide glue, so itll be reversible, then bolt it back in making sure its aligned properly.
then its the same as a set neck, a giant pain in the ass to adjust or replace, except the bolts are still there.
you could remove them and plug the holes if you wanted.

ritchie blackmore used to do it to his strats so they wouldnt go all out of wack when he threw them around.

[hollowbody]

no reason you couldnt just glue the neck in-
remove it, add white or hide glue, so itll be reversible, then bolt it back in making sure its aligned properly.
then its the same as a set neck, a giant pain in the ass to adjust or replace, except the bolts are still there.
you could remove them and plug the holes if you wanted.

ritchie blackmore used to do it to his strats so they wouldnt go all out of wack when he threw them around.

Yeah, that's pretty much what I was thinking. Is there any benefit to this other than having the set stay put if I decide to chuck my guitar across the room? Set necks are supposed to have better sustain - would this increase sustain, or is it just plain stupid?

[fraser]

i dont think its stupid- if a set neck is your thing, then id go for it.
youll get more sustain im sure, might prove better in other sonic ways as well, but im not the one to say-
if you do decide to chuck your guitar across the room however, then itll be a much bigger hassle to replace the neck if it breaks. exactly the reason why i prefer bolt ons, and why i cant really say much regarding the sonic advantages of the set neck- i know that they exist, but i have much more experience with chucking guitars across the room-
i use sandpaper or a peice of window screen in the neck pockets of my guitars so there is no slippage (or minimal) of the neck.
if it was my epi sg tho, id be tempted to do what you are contemplating.

that bolt on neck might be the only thing keeping that guitar from sounding as it should.
please be sure to do this with the strings on- youll be able to adjust it so its right before the glue dries. watch the strings in relation to the polepeices, as well as the neck dots, and most important and above the rest, that the E strings are not too close to the edges of the board-

[hollowbody]

Yeah, that's pretty much what I'm thinking. I would love to get a '61 reissue, but I can't really afford it right now, and I actually like the way my Epi plays and feels, but it doesn't have that SG 'magic.' I've been thinking about replacing the neck with a warmoth neck or something, but i started thinking about this a little while back and wanted to see if it was possible.

Do you (or anyone else out there) think that it would simply add sustain, or would it alter the fundamental tone of the guitar (which I like and do not want changed).

Also, while we're on this topic. Assuming I can afford it at some point, and since this is reversible (with enough heat to remelt the glue), would a fancy-pants neck from Warmoth, or a real Gibson replacement neck make a huge improvement in playing feel, or is the difference not worth the investment into an already-inexpensive beater guitar?

[Hamm Guitars]

I've heard of guys stating that glueing a neck on a strat was a good thing, but I've never tried it myself...

[Robboman]

I doubt it would make a big difference in sustain. If the neck pocket fits well and the bolts are evenly tight I doubt that little skim of glue will make a dramatic difference. If you do it, see if you can find some method to measure before and after (record a sustaining note, glue the neck then record the same note again, measure audible sustain legnth?)

If you decide to skip all that (I would :smile:) and want guaranteed, adjustable sustain, try a quality compressor at the start of your signal chain. A good, transparent comp properly dialed can work wonders. You can leave your basic tone unaltered but add just a bit OR a lot of extra sustain to the end of every note or chord.

[hollowbody]

I doubt it would make a big difference in sustain. If the neck pocket fits well and the bolts are evenly tight I doubt that little skim of glue will make a dramatic difference. If you do it, see if you can find some method to measure before and after (record a sustaining note, glue the neck then record the same note again, measure audible sustain legnth?)

That sounds like a good idea, but it would be hard to get it just right, because pick attack and other physical variables would come into play. But not a bad idea at all for seeing if this actually results in anything.

If you decide to skip all that (I would :smile:) and want guaranteed, adjustable sustain, try a quality compressor at the start of your signal chain. A good, transparent comp properly dialed can work wonders. You can leave your basic tone unaltered but add just a bit OR a lot of extra sustain to the end of every note or chord.

I have a compressor now, but I don't like the way it sounds with chords. I don't mind it at all for single notes, but chords sound dulled. Granted, it's just a re-issue Dynacomp, and I don't have any experience with boutique comps like the Keeley, but I don't know if they would help exactly.

Also, sustain isn't the only thing I'm looking for. I figure if it's going to make a noticeable difference anywhere, it would be to sustain, but I don't know if there are any other audible characteristics that it may affect.

Like I said, this is just an idea that popped into my noggin that I thought I would float around out there.

[User_X]

Like I said, this is just an idea that popped into my noggin that I thought I would float around out there.

I have pursued the same question without getting any positve answer that it will have any noticeable effect and just have not had the nerve to go ahead and do it. If you can commit, it probably won't hurt.

Compressors do not compare with natural sustain, imo.

[cknowles]

Yeah, that's pretty much what I'm thinking. I would love to get a '61 reissue, but I can't really afford it right now, and I actually like the way my Epi plays and feels, but it doesn't have that SG 'magic.' I've been thinking about replacing the neck with a warmoth neck or something, but i started thinking about this a little while back and wanted to see if it was possible.

Do you (or anyone else out there) think that it would simply add sustain, or would it alter the fundamental tone of the guitar (which I like and do not want changed).

Also, while we're on this topic. Assuming I can afford it at some point, and since this is reversible (with enough heat to remelt the glue), would a fancy-pants neck from Warmoth, or a real Gibson replacement neck make a huge improvement in playing feel, or is the difference not worth the investment into an already-inexpensive beater guitar?

I've done a bit of testing on the Epi SG Special and Epi G400 and Gibson SG models.

What I've noticed with the special vs the G400 models or the Gibby SG for that matter is that the neck joins the body at the 18th fret on the Epi special and 21st fret on the set neck models. Epi G300 joins at the 18th fret as well.
More importantly this places the pickups at a different point on the string creating very different tones. Comparing bridge pickup locations, there is a large gap between the bridge and the pickup on the Epi special whereas on the G400 and Gibson SG's the pickup is almost tight against the bridge making it much brighter sounding.

In short if you are wanting your Epi SG Special to sound like a true SG, you're going to need to mod it more than simply gluing the neck into the pocket. I don't believe a warmoth replacement neck will alter the sustain or tone significantly unless you change fret board species.

[Milkman]

I doubt very much that it would impact tone or stability much in either direction.

It WOULD however defeat the biggest bnefit of having a bolt on (easy replacement of worn out or damaged necks).

[hollowbody]

I've done a bit of testing on the Epi SG Special and Epi G400 and Gibson SG models.

What I've noticed with the special vs the G400 models or the Gibby SG for that matter is that the neck joins the body at the 18th fret on the Epi special and 21st fret on the set neck models. Epi G300 joins at the 18th fret as well.
More importantly this places the pickups at a different point on the string creating very different tones. Comparing bridge pickup locations, there is a large gap between the bridge and the pickup on the Epi special whereas on the G400 and Gibson SG's the pickup is almost tight against the bridge making it much brighter sounding.

In short if you are wanting your Epi SG Special to sound like a true SG, you're going to need to mod it more than simply gluing the neck into the pocket. I don't believe a warmoth replacement neck will alter the sustain or tone significantly unless you change fret board species.

Yeah, you're absolutely right. I have no inclination at all to spend more money on this guitar and would probably look at getting a Gibson Standard given the relative amount of $ I would have to blow on mods to the body, new bridge, etc, etc.

Since it's a cheap-ish beater guitar, I might try gluing in the neck just to see if that makes any difference at all in terms of sustain, but I will likely be looking for a new SG soon, since I love the shape and feel of it. I've got my eyes all over the '61 reissue :rockon: