Is This the Future of the Guitar Neck?

Subject: Is This the Future of the Guitar Neck?
From: Bee-dubya-ell
Date: 27 Jan 05 - 09:10 PM

So I was poking around in the "Signature Editions" section of C.F. Martin's website when I saw mention of a Ned Steinberger signature model. I immediately thought, "Aaarrrggghhh! Don't tell me Martin's come up with a headless model!" what with Steinberger's main claim to fame being the invention of the headless electric guitar/bass.

Well, thankfully, that wasn't the case. What Mr. Steinberger has come up with that Martin is trying out is a system that allows the player to adjust the angle at which the neck joins the body of the guitar. Not just a truss-rod adjustment that only adds or removes curvature (relief), but a pivoting system that changes the actual neck-to-body angle. Sorta like having a neck reset on demand.

Click here for more at Martin's site.

Subject: RE: Is This the Future of the Guitar Neck?
From: Mooh
Date: 27 Jan 05 - 09:50 PM

It's old news from Martin isn't it? At any rate, it's not a new concept, though the engineering might be new. I can't remember the name of the guitars from several decades ago that had a mechanical neck tilt adjustment, but I believe that Rick Turner (Renaissance Guitars) collects them. It's a good idea, even if the naysayers debate the acoustic purity of it. Taylor has a wedge/pocket thing happening these days, as another example.

I don't know whether I'd go for it, being somewhat suspicious of overly complex engineering in my axes, but it might gain a following among less (small c) conservative guitar buying public.

I'd like to take it apart to see what makes it tick.

Peace, Mooh.

Subject: RE: Is This the Future of the Guitar Neck?
From: GUEST
Date: 28 Jan 05 - 09:01 AM

..don't know whether I'd be willing to shell out the extra bucks for it either, based on what the article you linked to says about the advantages. Does the average player need adjustable string height? The musicians I know have their guitars set up a specific way and leave it at that, whether they're playing rhythm or lead, flatpick or fingerstyle.

Subject: RE: Is This the Future of the Guitar Neck?
From: Bee-dubya-ell
Date: 28 Jan 05 - 04:08 PM

I can see how it may be advantageous in a small handful of situations:

For a player who plays in a lot of different tunings, it might be nice to be able to quickly tweak the neck angle to eliminate fret buzzes from increased excursion on slack strings.

A player who plays conventional styles and slide on the same guitar could quickly raise the action for cleaner slide playing.

A touring musician who might play in, say, Denver, CO one night and New Orleans, LA the next could accomodate for neck changes due to changes in altitute, temperature and humidity.

And just about every guitar is eventually going to need a neck reset. With the TransAction system you can just do it yourself any old time.

But the first two situations presume that someone is going to use a single guitar when, in fact, just about everyone who plays in tunings or does slide work uses more than one guitar. And weather/altitude changes can usually be dealt with by truss-rod adjustments. And, if you're the original owner of a quality guitar with a lifetime warranty that eventual neck reset is a freebee.

I think it's an interesting idea, but not one I'd be willing to pay extra for. In fact, I wouldn't buy a high-end guitar with anything quite that gimmicky on it. If Martin is serious about trying to get the system widely accepted, they need to push it as a low-cost option on some of their cheaper boxes like the 15 series. Then they might find a market for high-end axes equipped with the thing from people who are trading up.

Subject: RE: Is This the Future of the Guitar Neck?
From: Geoff the Duck
Date: 28 Jan 05 - 07:30 PM

What's so new? Simple adjustment of the angle of the neck has been a feature of banjos for well over a hundred years.
Why are guitar makers so behind the times?
Quack!!
Geoff the Duck.

Subject: RE: Is This the Future of the Guitar Neck?
From: GUEST
Date: 28 Jan 05 - 11:12 PM

and 1970's fender electrics, and other electric guitar brands

Subject: RE: Is This the Future of the Guitar Neck?
From: Mooh
Date: 29 Jan 05 - 07:26 AM

Yup I had a Telecaster with the tilt neck thing, and recently serviced a Strat with it and it worked great after 30 or so years. It's differently engineered in acoustics, but the results are similar. However, anything which might prevent me from owning more guitars is anathema.

Peace, Mooh.

Subject: RE: Is This the Future of the Guitar Neck?
From: DADGBE
Date: 29 Jan 05 - 08:06 PM

Hermann Houser made the classical guitars played by Andres Segovia before WW II. I played one of his from the mid 1930s which had an inset metal fixture in the heel. The instrument came with a specially made key which fit the fixture and changed the neck angle. It worked perfectly and played wonderfully when I saw it in 1996.