Set-in neck

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A set-in neck (often shortened to set neck) is the traditional form of joining the neck of a stringed instrument with its body. This is typically done with a tightly fitted mortise-and-tenon or dovetail joint, secured with hot hide glue. Among its qualities are a warm tone, long sustain, and a large surface area to transmit string vibration, leading to a "live" feeling instrument. In guitars it also often allows superior access to top frets closest to the body.

It is a common belief that this yields a stronger body-to-neck connection than an inexpensive mechanically joined bolt-on neck. There's also a third method, neck-through construction, which requires more material to provide an even stronger connection.

Set-in necks are the most popular method for acoustic guitars. Almost all major acoustic guitar manufacturers (but with exceptions) use set-in necks and have applied this method also to their electric guitars; most notably, Gibson and Gretsch. With hollow body set-in neck electric guitars of the 1940s being rather expensive to buy and repair, newcomer Fender in 1950 introduced electric guitars that were easier to manufacture, combining a simple solid body with a bolt-on neck. Fender also introduced the electric bass guitar by adding a longer neck bolted to a solid guitar body.

Set-in necks are traditionally and best secured with hot hide glue, which may be re-heated to allow convenient disassembly. White and yellow PVA glues are inferior alternatives. Use of epoxy or cyanoacrylate is not recommended as disassembly is then no longer possible.^[1]

Typically cited advantages of set-in neck include:

• Warmer tone
• More sustain
• Often, better access to top frets compared to bolt-on necks that use a square metal plate
• Because the increased surface area results in more transmission of strings vibration, set in necks can feel more "alive" than if bolted on.

• Harder and more expensive to mass manufacture than bolt-on necks
• Harder and more expensive to repair or service because the glue must be steamed or melted with a hot knife
• No control over the neck-to-body angle; changing it requires a luthier to disassemble and re-glue the neck.^[2]

Notable manufacturers of guitars with set-in necks include:

• Gibson
• Gretsch
• Paul Reed Smith

• Glue comparison chart at frets.com