Lunch Report: Mon Oct 22, 2012

Ok, I'll jump in! I had sushi today and it was good...



Here's a pic of me from a previous Lunch Report.

Here's my question: do any of you have experience with the quartersawn neck types? I'm still getting used to the flatswawn and prefer it with a gloss finish. Any close-ups? I still like the bi-cut necks & here's a pic:



Another question: Any "vintage" BBE stuff? I still have a 362 in the rack:



I'd just like to see how this stuff holds-up over the years... Have a great week!


Cheers,

Will

G'day Will, excuse my ignorance but is the G&L neck in your photograph flat or quarter sawn?
I know it relates to the way the timber is cut against the angle of the grain . I just can't tell which is which.
Cheers mate
Anthony

Hey Will, lookin' good

Here's a couple of shots of the quarter sawn neck on my Korina Jr


The neck on my Bluesboy is also quarter sawn, despite not being asked for - thats not a complaint! IME they seem to resonate better than the bi-cut neck on my '97 Classic, but that could be because they're physically larger than that neck.

Anthony - The dead giveaway for a quarter sawn neck, I'm told, is the rear of the headstock. See the grain in the bottom photo? Thats quarter sawn. Flat sawn will have much fewer grain lines. I'm no expert however, and this info is based on stuff I read on the disinformation super highway

How you doing Will? Great looking picture, wish I were your age!

I have an 882I maximizer that has been dropped several times. Last time it happened, I opened it up just to make sure there was no visible damage. They're built like tanks and will probably last forever.

I have both types of necks and I have never had a G&L neck problem other than an adjustment screw that was not machined deep enough, an easy fix it turned out. I have noticed that the quarter sawn seem to be very stable. I have one heavy birds eye and it is sweet.-- Darwin

I have a quartersawn. Save the money, there is nothing wrong with flatsawn, it has been used for decades. With quartersawn, it is easier to split and run down the grain. For example, when you change the tuners. Supposedly, QS is better with change of humidity.

I am not sure how one would feel a difference, especially if they are the same dimension and have the same finish. I think you would feel the fretboard, frets, and finish before you can feel the difference in a cut of wood.

If I was to buy a new guitar, it would be flatsawn.

Thanks for the replies! The picture of the neck shows a bi-cut. Look where the two grains don't quite match up... Otherwise, the grain shows straight up the neck and across the headstock ala quarter sawn. Darwin, that 882I sounds like a beast. I just use the 362 for one thing and it does it well.


Cheers,

Will

Most of my older G&Ls have flatsawn or riftsawn necks. Here's an '81 L-2000E with the flattest flatsawing possible - no visible grain on the back of the headstock:



I love the bi-cut necks, but I also have a thing for the '80-'82 skunk stripes:



In my collection, the striking grain starts in the late '90s. Here's a bi-cut, quartersawn, lightly flamed headstock on a '98 ASAT Bass (which the photo does not do justice to):



Here's a bi-cut, flatsawn birds-eye headstock on a '00 L2K:



Here's a shot of the back of the L2K's neck:



This is my favorite neck out of all of my G&Ls, quartersawn birds-eye on a '98 ASAT Classic:





I do have an ulterior motive in this gratuitous showing of headstock porn. Since all of my G&Ls came to me from previous owners, I have no idea what to call the finishes on the BBE-era headstocks. Any input on this would be greatly appreciated!

Ken

I have a quartersawn. Save the money, there is nothing wrong with flatsawn, it has been used for decades. With quartersawn, it is easier to split and run down the grain. For example, when you change the tuners. Supposedly, QS is better with change of humidity.

I am not sure how one would feel a difference, especially if they are the same dimension and have the same finish. I think you would feel the fretboard, frets, and finish before you can feel the difference in a cut of wood.

If I was to buy a new guitar, it would be flatsawn.

quartersawn is better stability wise if you gig and travel much. if you are just an at home hobby player, it makes no difference whatsoever. same as with tube wear.

I really like the look of the all maple bi-cut neck. To the casual observer, it's like there's no way there's a truss rod in there because there's no skunk stripe and no sepatate fretboard.

I think I've been a bit spoiled with my S-500 neck as it is bi-cut and quartersawn...and seasoned-in too. Here's a crappy pic I just shot of the headstock:




Cheers,

Will

One more quick Q: did G&L go to the headstock plaques in response to the Fender Select Series & their metal coin-like thingy? They look to be a direct competitor to G&L w/ the choice woods, appointments, etc...

Quartersawn from the top of the headstock


Quartersawn headstock


Quartersawn back of neck


Question:
This is a pic of another guitar. Is it quartersawn?




Here is a pic of a Flatsawn
Top of the headstock

Yes, quartersawn.

Now, what do I win? - ed ;+)

Yes, quartersawn.

Now, what do I win? - ed ;+)

Sorry ed. The G&L Certificate does not say it was Quartersawn. Only "Hard rock maple". We will never know the true answer.

Edit: Not the G&L Certificate but the G&L Custom Creation paper. Also, my first guitar has "Quartersawn Maple" in it's Custom Creation paper.

Bastid! - ed

I'm with Ken - I favour the bi-cut and the old school skunk stripe necks...
NOt sure exactly what attributed to the change in the feel of the early/mid 90's BBE necks but I really dislike the 'feel' of the them (rosewood fingerboards esp). I've had 4 of them ( 1 ASAT, 3 Legacy) & they all felt dead and lifeless to me... particularly the Legacy necks.
Cheers,
Kf

Hey KF, I dig the old necks too.

However, my experience with the newer ones is different than yours. The neck on my maple/rosewood bluesboy (built maybe 7 years ago) is very comfortable. And the maple neck on my new Legacy (built and plekked earlier this year) is just superb, with fretwork that rivals that of "boutique" builders. - ed

PS: Are you able to get any Iced Vovos down where you are? Yum! ;+)

Hey Ed,

I'm only talkin bout the early/mid 90's stuff... seems to me that the quality took a bit hit round at that time but I can only vouch for my own personal experience and the instruments from that time period that I've owned. I'm sure many folks would disagree with me.
Its apparent to me that things have really changed for the better since then tho I would argue losing the 3 bolt and tilt adjust was a less than brillant move.

I don't know... probably, but I reckon for a hefty amount of $$ ... things are priced bout 3x higher here
Cheers,
KF