KH-2 ntb or bolt?

[deviance]

Hi first time post and new to the forums.
Sorry if this has been disscussed
I am looking to buy a KH-2,but confused about which to get.
If I get a NTB and the neck warps I am screwed right.
but I get a better tone with a NTB.
I just started playing again, last time I played was 20yrs ago.
I have an Ibanze and a Aria pro 2(my first guitar).
I am a big Metallica fan so I am looking at the KH-2.
Just concerned about the neck, I am going to play one this weekend.
just want to see what you have and if anyone has had any problems
with there NTB or bolt on.

[Tdog07]

Hands down, go NTB. I've had mine for about a year and It has been perfect since the day I recieved it from ESP. If your neck ever does flex, you can always make a truss rod adjustment. Your local music store should be able to set it up no problem. Thats just my opinion.
Tk.

[N3rdAl3rt]

ntb

[ESPKH4Builder]

Ntb

[ZephMan13]

Bolt-on Owns< Period!

[KH Guitar Freak]

*smacks forehead* :lol

[Chonny]

The neck thru will have a bit more sustain and stronger attack which are definitely desired qualities when selecting an agressive sounding guitar.

[KH Guitar Freak]

Stronger attack is false, as bolt ons have very good attack...

And sustain is also quite a bullshit myth as a good bolt on guitar would sustain just as well as a good neck thru guitar...

Even if the neck thru does sustain better, it's hardly noticeable...

[flakelorenz]

Stronger attack is false, as bolt ons have very good attack...

And sustain is also quite a bullshit myth as a good bolt on guitar would sustain just as well as a good neck thru guitar...

Even if the neck thru does sustain better, it's hardly noticeable...

Neck thru would have more sustian but as it's a floyd guitar and floyds have little sustiane it's hardlies noticelable. Also, NTB is easier to play as it is shaped smoother round the back giving easier acsess to higher frets

[deviance]

thanks for the input.
I never played or seen a neck through, didn't realize they had a truss rod.
I talked to a few people at music shops some say stay away from NTB and
others say they are the best. I guess its all personal preference.
like I said before I was just worried about neck issues, seems like nobdy
here so far has had a problem with them. thanks again.
can't wait to play it and check it this weekend.

[KH Guitar Freak]

As I've said, it's a trivial thing...

There are many bolt on guitars that sustain very well...

[strngthbyndstrngth]

I suggest trying them both out. The neck shape is different on the 2, with the bolt on being flatter.

Personally, I like the feel of the neck-thru, but you may like the flat bolt-on better. I wouldn't choose either because of the neck joint construction, that is for sure....they both are AWESOME guitars.

[deviance]

well I didn't want to wait so I went today to check it out.
but the music shop didn't have one grrrr, on the phone the other day
they said they had one.they are supposed to be an ESP dealer but
they only have like 3 esp guitars. so I asked if he could get one in so I
could try it out, he said no he couldn't do that because it was 1849.00.
I would have to buy it. and if I buy and don't like it I only get store credit.
so now I am stuck.

[shakeESP]

The NTB, it'll just be that's bit smoother and easier to access the upper frets.

-Chris

[deviance]

I just got off the phone with another store and they have a KH-602 NTB in stock
should I go play that? is it comparible to the KH-2 NTB.(playablity)

[expextremist]

pfft......

i;ve got an older bolty kh2 (CS).... and i've yet to play a super strat with a neck like it. it just seems to be perfect for my hands.

i have played a neck thru kh (SS)... and it was a dog compared to my bolty. i was honestly disappointed, having waited to play a neck thru kh for so long.. it was quite a let down. but then it was quite rashly pointed out by a member of this forum.. that i was comparing an older CS guitar to a new SS axe.

chalk and cheese it seems.

[flakelorenz]

Try the 602 it's much the same as the 2 only the 2 is way better.

It'll give you a feel for the neck depending on what year it is the neck should be the same

[deviance]

thanks
the kh-602 is brand new. so it should feel the same is what your saying?

[flakelorenz]

thanks
the kh-602 is brand new. so it should feel the same is what your saying?

Yeah more or less. The 2 will sound better but i mean try out the thru neck to see if you like it.

[ßeckerƒan]

bolt-on. Snappier attack and better sustain, feels nicer, and is cheaper.

[flakelorenz]

bolt-on. Snappier attack and better sustain, feels nicer, and is cheaper.

Is cheaper should never be an issue when buying a guitar if your a serious player... Unless your on a tight budget.... and the sustain is disputed

[KH Guitar Freak]

I think people don't seem to get the idea that it's an OPINION... :lol

[ßeckerƒan]

Is cheaper should never be an issue when buying a guitar if your a serious player.
:|

[Chonny]

The entire reason neck through body was designed was to increase sustain because the neck doesn't have a joint. If there was no advantage to neck through it wouldnt exist. Think about it. The notes definitely jump off the fretboard in a more lively manner. I definitely get stronger attack off NTB this may be due to my amp or playing style.

[flakelorenz]

The entire reason neck through body was designed was to increase sustain because the neck doesn't have a joint. If there was no advantage to neck through it wouldnt exist. Think about it. The notes definitely jump off the fretboard in a more lively manner. I definitely get stronger attack off NTB this may be due to my amp or playing style.

Not for easier acsess to higher frets then?

[tonymustang302]

I have a KH-2 bolt on and love it to death. It makes me feel like a million bucks

[deviance]

I am going today to check out the KH-602 NTB. I hate
playing at guitar shops, I can only play bits and pieces of songs.
and am really,really rusty since I haven't played in so long.:o
I will post back later

[deviance]

Ok I played the kh-602 and it sounds awesome.
now my question is whats the difference between the 602 and the 2
the only spec difference I see is the tuners and ones made in japan and
the other in korea. sorry for being a pain about this.

[metallica16]

As far as my knowledge goes for this Japan has a higher manufacturing quality control therefore giving you a better guitar. I both the Kh-602(NTB) and a Kh-3(bolt-on) and I find that the Kh-3 blows the 602 out of the water. But as KH Guitar Freak said it's all personal opinion. As for all this stuff about bolt-ons having less sustain etc. in my opinion is false IF you buy a high end bolt-on such as the Kh-2. So my advice to you is save for an ESP model and buy what ever construction you prefer if you like NTB pay that extra bit of cash but you will be happy with either one.

[gainiac]

The entire reason neck through body was designed was to increase sustain because the neck doesn't have a joint. If there was no advantage to neck through it wouldnt exist. Think about it. The notes definitely jump off the fretboard in a more lively manner. I definitely get stronger attack off NTB this may be due to my amp or playing style.

Right, that's possible. But if the neck was made of alder, and the body of maple, it'd be a different story.

A maple bodied alder necked neck-thru would have less attack than a bolt-on version with an all maple body and an alder neck.

Remember that a neck thru is a different guitar. The maple neck runs through the body, and the bridge sits on the maple. So you essentially just have alder wings, which are only attached to the guitar strings derivatively via the maple center block. Hence, being a maple guitar at all the important points, it will have a more lively feel with stronger attack.

The bolt-on has a bridge that sits in alder, and so the strings resonate over maple for much of it, but where they attach on the body it's alder. So, it will have a different feel.

The more proper comparison would be an all-maple bolt-on to an all-maple neck-thru, or substitute any wood but be consistent. That's an open debate. Some people believe that all else equal, there is more sustain with a neck thru. But others believe that sustain is over-rated and rarely used to the nth degree, and the punch and bounce from a bolt-on is more important.

[deviance]

Thanks, I have to see if I can order the KH-2 bolt on to try it.
hopefully they will refund me my money back if I don't like the feel.

[deviance]

Got my KH-2 today. it is awesome!
I got the bolt on neck, it feels more comfortable than the neck through
for me anyways. thanks for the input. sorry for the crappy photos
91 92

[Armitage]

Enjoy your new beast! I love my KH-2 (bolt-on).

[BigMESA]

The KH-2 Bolt on neck is thinner than the Neck-thru version. I also onw a KH-2 and a Ouija and prefer Bolt on's over Neck-thru's personally.

If a guitar is crafted well and made of quality woods and parts, it all comes down to personal preference. All the hype and myths are just bullshit people regurgitate from the shit they've been fed on forums.

[ko112]

since i have both a kh-2 bolton (2001) and i just got a kh-2 vintage neck thru (2006), my first impressions are:

The sustain on my neck thru is better, as well as the access to the higher frets.

However the thin flat shape of the bolt on neck is ever so slightly thinner and just a little bit tougher on the higher frets.

In either case, the differences are very minor. It all comes down to what's important to you, and how much you want to spend!

[KH Guitar Freak]

since i have both a kh-2 bolton (2001) and i just got a kh-2 vintage neck thru (2006), my first impressions are:

The sustain on my neck thru is better, as well as the access to the higher frets.

However the thin flat shape of the bolt on neck is ever so slightly thinner and just a little bit tougher on the higher frets.

In either case, the differences are very minor. It all comes down to what's important to you, and how much you want to spend!

Dude, hi five, my KH2 bolt on has the serial no. on the neckplate...

[ko112]

dude, mine too! I thought I was the only one who had a serial# on the neckplate!

[KH Guitar Freak]

Cool, what is the number on the plate???

I have mine tucked away in storage, I'll pull it out to get the number...

[ko112]

you know i dont really have the need for 2 kh2's so im going to probably put my bolton on ebay.

Wow the kh-2 vintage is incredible. At first it was really hard to notice the difference, but there's something about it that just feels right.
Now that ive played it quite a bit, it's hard to go back to the bolty.

But once again, the differences are minor.