Rule 8: Evaluate The Neck Joint.

"I like a glued-in neck because it keeps the pitch 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 pitch right."

The neck and the body should vibrate together as one piece of wood. If there is any interruption of the vibration at the joint between the neck and body, the instrument loses tone, resonance, and sustain.

A traditional, fitted, glued-in neck is more solid. Most electric guitars and basses are built with bolt-on necks because the process is easier and faster. Gibsons necks are glued-in to the body. The neck is fitted for pitch and centered side-to-side with the use of gauges. It is then glued-in to maintain the neck's axis to the body forever.

There are several ways of making necks that are perfectly functional and long lasting. One piece mahogany necks are good, and quarter sawing makes the most of the wood's strength. Slab cutting - which is more common - may allow unwanted flex. Three piece laminated maple offers excellent strength, especially when the pieces are joined with opposing grain.

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