You would think it was more desirable than bolt ons for upper fret access.
I am under the impression it is tough to get a replacement neck if you need one. So what's the purpose of keeping them bolt on?
Just curious if anyone knows. Tradition?

Because set necks are terrible to repair on your own, unless you're a skilled luthier. Leo Fender's vision was to have affordable, easy to repair, and maintain instruments, so of course, bolt on was the way to go. Also, they did have set necks. I guess they weren't very successful. They're also more expensive.

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1984 Squier Contemporary Stratocaster
1986 Peavey Envoy 110
1967 Kingston Acoustic

I've always found the Fender Strat and Tele to have far better upper fret access than the traditional Gibson guitars with set necks. The exception to that rule being the V.

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No no and no

les paul neck heels drive me crazy!!!!

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You mean like this?


I think the answer is, if everyone wanted a Ford there be no reason for Chevy.
Or, variety is the spice of life.

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'10 American Deluxe HSS Sunset Metallic
'10 JA-90 Thinline Telecaster
'15 Music Man JP-15 Blueberry Burst
'07 Les Paul Standard Faded LCPG #82
'14 Carvin ST300
'12 Carvin CS424S
'66 Guild Starfire IV w/Bigsby
'14 Warmouth Partscaster Daphne Blue

They have built them on occasion. The Fender Master Series guitars like the Esprit and Flame had set necks.

The same reason that they don't do block position markers on
their guitars (just basses).

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Being able to play and enjoy music is a gift that's often taken for granted.

Don't leave home without it!

The Squier Esprit was a really nice guitar. Kick myself now that I didn't get one at the time. The Fender equivalent (so called Robin Ford guitar) is prohibitively expensive even if you can find one.

I recall there was a thread here about the set neck Fender GT Toronado.. (admittedly they were ultra rare) but it shows that Fender do have the expertise in set neck construction!

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Fender Highway & Classic 60s Strats, Fender Toronado, Telecaster, Gretsch Projet, Charvel 3, PRS SE Soapbar II & Custom 24, Burns Batwing and many others!

I find no difference in fret access with my bolt on neck AM DLX strat or my fixed neck SG.

Except the strap button position behind the heal on the SG drives me nuts.
The straplock ends up digging into body parts.

And the Strat cost me double what the SG did.

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Keep on Truckin, Going full speed ahead down the highway to hades.

Are you saying it's easlier to get a set neck replaced than a bolt on? Just the opposite is true and a bolt on can be changed in a matter of minutes and cheaper than a set neck which requires an act of congress to replace if you wanted to.

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08 Fender Highway One Tele-Sunburst
09 Squier Custom Tele II-Blonde
04 Squier Standard Strat Antiqueburst
07 Washburn D10SCE natural with Rosewood backing
Fender Mustang II amp


Experience is the best teacher

I think he's saying since you can't get a replacement neck from Fender, why have it bolt on?

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'10 American Deluxe HSS Sunset Metallic
'10 JA-90 Thinline Telecaster
'15 Music Man JP-15 Blueberry Burst
'07 Les Paul Standard Faded LCPG #82
'14 Carvin ST300
'12 Carvin CS424S
'66 Guild Starfire IV w/Bigsby
'14 Warmouth Partscaster Daphne Blue

WhoawhoawhoawhoaWRONG.

They're different. As mentioned...





And also...



So... there we have it. End thread.

I also seem to remember a few Korean special models that were set neck- the Telecaster Custom FMT HH (like the American Deluxe one, but actually nicer ) and the one with P90s fitted to it that looked a little like a Telecaster... think the Jim Adkins signature may have it too?

The Fender Custom Shop also made the Showmaster Set Neck, not sure if they still do. I have the catalogue with it in though. There's also a Custom Shop Telecaster on UK eBay with a set neck that I'd like, but don't have $2,400 spare for.

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'01 American Deluxe HSS Strat.
'87 Japan HSS Strat.
'11 Custom Shop FMT HSS Strat.

"Without music, time is just a bunch of boring production deadlines and dates by which bills must be paid."

Here's one of the Korean Special Run Teles with a set neck - it's the red one with HH configuration. I love it! I think that's my only Fender set neck out of 20+ guitars. I think it's my only Fender without a pick guard, too.



No, I take that back - the Toronado GT also has no pickguard.

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Dennis in CR
Rockin' since 1963

With Bolt ons, it's easier and faster and thus cheaper to manufacture and if the neck angle is screwed up, a shim under the neck and ship it out the door. If the neck is twisted, replace it and ship it out the door. With a set neck.....not so much.

The best access to upper frets that I have with any of my guitars is with my 24 fret semi hollow set neck. I can easily reach frets that don't even exist on a strat.

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2002 mim Telecaster
Jimmie Vaughan Stratocaster
Mexican HSS Stratocaster
6 non-fender guitars
2 kids (not for sale)
1 wife (uh....no comment)

We used to have a Korean Fender Tele Custom in the store with a set neck. It had a spalted maple top, it was really nice.

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