KH-2 NTB or Bolt-on?

[wegoto11]

I've worked my butt off to save for a KH-2. Now that I'm ready to pull the trigger, the question of the NTB comes up. Can anyone advise me on the advantage of ntb versus bolt-on? I have a hotrod strat which of course is a bolt-on. The KH-2 will be my first real shredder. The music store dude says I will get more sustain and "tone" (?) from the ntb. I've played both but not on my stack (mesa/roadster); both the ntb and bolt-on were incredible. Thanks.

[tmoori]

bolt on!!! sounds way nicer! and all this more sustain with neck thru is a marketing rubbish. i have owned loads of neck thru and bolt on guitars and 9 times out of 10 the bolt ons have sounded and sustained much nicer.

[wegoto11]

Thanks for the quick response. I had the same suspicion - I've never had any real sustain issues with my current rig. And saving 450 guidas on the ntb uplift is cool...

[tmoori]

as neck thru costs more due to the fact that its a harder method to manufacure then bolt on i think people just assume its always better. just because bolt on is cheaper (easier manufacture process..time etc) doesnt mean its not as good! :)

[flakelorenz]

Completly preferance.

[ice6]

Depends on the quality of the guitar - there are low end bolt-ons that sound pretty shitty period - but higher end bolt-ons will definitely play and sound much better. It's pretty much the same with set necks (NTB) models. Then it basically comes down to the details of the models you are looking at and personal preference for the sound you want, the player you are, and so on and so on. Yes there were previous schools of thought that assumed set necks were autmotically better which as a general statement really is not true - though I tend to prefer set necks for playability for my style, etc. There is a good article about this very topic in the latest Guitar Player (also has an article about Mr. Lynch) so it's worth picking up.

[Guitarguyemg81]

I prefer the tone of bolt-ons because they are made of less pieces of wood than a neck-thru. Bolt-ons seem less fragile to me too.

[Aeroscopic]

I can't compare the ntb because all I ever played were bolt-on's and set necks.
However, in terms of beauty, I think ntb kicks ass vs bolty's and I suspect it has a nicer feel to it.

[Gfunk]

It's pretty much the same with set necks (NTB) models.

Neck thrus and set necks are two different styles of construction.



:)

[KH Guitar Freak]

Pretty much down to your preference, go and try them out yourself...

[ice6]

Neck thrus and set necks are two different styles of construction.



:)

Yes, I realize that - Just meant that you are going to have good quality guitars with each of these types of necks and some that are not such good quality. It's much more complicated than saying bolt-ons bad; set necks (and / or neck-thrus) good. Just look at all the players that play bolt-ons and all the players that play set necks (or neck thrus) - all designs can obviously offer high quality and playability. Like most of the things discussed on here; at the end of the day, everyone has to figure out for themselves wha they think feels the best to them, sounds the best to them, and plays the best (and is maybe the most for the money). Nobody else can decide most of these things for you.

[emg32]

bolt on!!! sounds way nicer! and all this more sustain with neck thru is a marketing rubbish. i have owned loads of neck thru and bolt on guitars and 9 times out of 10 the bolt ons have sounded and sustained much nicer.

I agree. Neck-through guitars are my least favorite. I really don't get the hype that is made over them but of course it is personal preference.

To me well made bolt-on and set-neck guitars kill well made neck-through guitars in overall tone. The attack and the way the notes jump from a quality bolt-on and set-neck guitar make the neck-throughs tone feel lifeless to me.

[iksose]

Completly preferance.

a-fucking-men!
:hat

i dont know how many times this debate has gone on, for me its all about the qaulity. i had a n/t src500 (ltd) and the thing was a dud, i think it was a lemon or the wood they used for the wings had a bunch off knots in it, i tried numerous different pick ups swaps and nothing would save the axe, it stayed in tune well at least,,anyways i usally like set and thru necks, but if i could only own one guitar it would probablly be a fender u.s. tele

[ßeckerƒan]

I would personally get the bolt-on. Cheaper and i much prefer bolt on guitars. Win win.

[KH Guitar Freak]

IMHO... bolt on and neck thru> many set necks...

[shreddie]

no-one can say whether a particular model of guitar sounds better than another. try both thru an amp like yours and you pick don't let other people, who have prefernces tell you what to do

[wegoto11]

Thanks for all the help and advice. In the end it came down to the deal, which was screamin' righteous on an ntb. I even called ESP to make sure it was legit. I got the ntb for less than the typical bolt-on discount price. I got it home, fired it up, haven't stopped shredding for 3 days....way addicitive - and it stays in tune. Thanks again.

[frantic77]

we need pics here!please!

[HateEvent]

I prefer the feel of the neck thru. I've played both and I just find the NT more comfortable. That's MY preference though, it's all up to you man :)

[gainiac]

Congrats! I know you already bought yours, but I'll share my experience for any others that have the same Q. I've got 13 guitars with a good mix of bolt on, set neck, and neck thru. The neck thru ones feel better in my hands, but I seem to always prefer the tone of my bolt-ons. When I got my KH-2, I went bolt-on, and I couldn't be happier. It's a ripping fun guitar to play, sounds phenomenal.