Set-through neck

Set-through neck (or Set-thru neck) is a method of joining the neck and the body of guitar (or similar stringed instrument), effectively combining "bolt-on", "set-in" and "neck-through" methods. It involves:

* A pocket in the instrument's body for insertion of neck, as in bolt-on method. However, the pocket is much deeper than usual one.
* Long neck plank, comparable to the scale length, as in the "neck-through" method.
* Glueing (setting) the long neck inside the deep pocket, as in the "set-in" method.

The result is usually told to have combined advantages of all these methods, mostly eliminating their disadvantages. Luthiers frequently cite:

* improved tone and sustain (due to deep insertion and body made of single piece of wood, not laminated as in neck-through),
* brighter tone (due to set joint)
* comfortable access to top frets (due to lack of hard heel and bolt plate),
* better wood stability.

The main disadvantage is relatively complex construction that leads to higher manufacturing and servicing costs. Another cited disadvantage is the inability or relative complexity of adding a double-locking tremolo to the guitar, as the routing for cavities would interfere with deeply set neck.

Manufacturers

Set-through necks are relatively uncommon, and few manufacturers produce such neck joints. Sometimes, especially if neck extension inside a body does not fill full scale length, such neck joint is marketed as an extended pocket set-in neck or deep-set neck.

David Thomas McNaught claims to be the first who proposed a modern version of set-through neck joint. "Set-Thru" is a registered trademark of McNaught Guitars in United States since February 25, 2003. [ [http://tarr.uspto.gov/servlet/tarr?regser=serial&entry=78014000 "Set-thru" neck trademark information] , serial number 78014000, registration number 2690889 at US patents office server.]

Despite the trademark, some other companies use the term to describe their products. ESP Guitars offers several models with set-through necks:

* ESP MH, and variants
* ESP Alexi Laiho LTD
* LTD DJ-600 (Dan Jacobs signature model)
* LTD F-500
* LTD AX-400
* LTD V-500
* LTD H-1001

Ed Roman Guitars offers the following guitars with "deep-set tenon neck joint", which is a version of set-through neck:

* [http://www.edromanguitars.com/newsite/guitars/quicksilver.htm Quicksilver] (since 2005)
* [http://www.edromanguitars.com/newsite/guitars/centurion.htm Centurion]
* [http://www.edromanguitars.com/newsite/guitars/viking.htm Viking]
* [http://www.edromanguitars.com/newsite/guitars/jaros.htm Jaros]

B.C. Rich guitars offer so-called "Invisibolt Technology" since 2006 [http://www.bcrich.com/learn_necks.html] , which is effectively also a version of deep-set neck, bolted underneath the pickups. As of 2007, B.C. Rich offers 3 models in [http://www.bcrich.com/guitars/specialedition.asp SE series] with Invisabolt Technology:

*I.T. Beast
*I.T. Jr. V
*I.T. Warlock

[http://www.tooneguitars.com/ Toone Guitars] has offered multiple "neck-into-body" options since 1993, including an asymmetrical sliding dovetail joint:

* Dove
* Orchid
* Starfish

As opposed to popular neck-through designs that emphasize the neck as one piece of wood and the body wings as (laminated) separate pieces by using transparent or semi-transparent finishes and contrasting woods, there's no such trend for set-through guitars. Usually, it's hard to determine if the guitar has set-through neck or neck-through body judging only the general outlook. B.C. Rich's Invisabolt Technology is one notable exception that uses black ("shadow") body and contrasting light neck wood. A second example would be Toone Guitars' deliberate emphasis of the neck joint as an aesthetic choice, in particular the exposed asymmetrical sliding dovetail joint.

References

* [http://www.mcnaughtguitars.com/index15.htm Explanation of "Set-Thru" Neck] at David Thomas McNaught Guitars.
* [http://www.edromanguitars.com/newsite/techarticles/neckconstruction.htm Guitar Neck Construction] at Ed Roman Guitars.
* [http://www.edromanguitars.com/newsite/techarticles/neck_tenon.htm Deep Set Neck Tenon] construction details and photos at Ed Roman Guitars.
* [http://www.tooneguitars.com/TOONEtigerwalnut2.html Neck-Into-Body Construction] detailed variations at Toone Guitars.