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),
- "warmer" 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 a 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.[1] 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
Ed Roman Guitars offers following guitars with "deep-set tenon neck join", which is a version of set-through neck:
- Quicksilver (since 2005)
- Centurion
- Viking
- Jaros
B.C. Rich guitars offer so-called "Invisibolt Technology" since 2006[1], which is effectively also a version of deep-set neck, bolted underneath the pickups. As of 2007, B.C. Rich offers 3 models in SE series with Invisabolt Technology:
- I.T. Beast
- I.T. Jr. V
- I.T. Warlock
Toone Guitars offer "neck-into-body" option since 1993. As opposed to popular neck-through design that emphasises that neck is one piece of wood and the body wing are laminated other wood 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 notable exception that uses black ("shadow") body and contrasting light neck wood.
References
- ^ "Set-thru" neck trademark information, serial number 78014000, registration number 2690889 at US patents office server.
- Explanation of "Set-Thru" Neck at David Thomas McNaught Guitars.
- Guitar Neck Construction at Ed Roman Guitars.
- Deep Set Neck Tenon construction details and photos at Ed Roman Guitars.
- Neck-into-body construction Toone Guitars.
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| Bolt-on - Set-in - Neck-through body - Set-through |


