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Joined:
March 2003
Posts: 127
Location: Corvallis, OR | A recent post about aluminum necks mentions what I have already heard, that it presents a re-fretting problem.
But I have always had another question about these necks that maybe someone can answer.
Are aluminum necks as reliable as wood necks ? That is, are they suseptable to warping more than wood necks ? It seems to me cheaper (since no truss rod is required) and simpler to manufacture than wood, but for some reason, aluminum is rarely used for necks.
Maybe it isnt feasable to saw the neck and insert brass frets into the aluminum ???
Thanks for your time |
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Joined:
March 2005
Posts: 12759
Location: Boise, Idaho | The theory, which has been borne out with my 30 year old Matrix, was that the urethane and aluminum would not warp like wood. The fretboard and frets are one piece. Ovation anticipated the problem with the frets wearing out and planned on replacing the fretboard in order to replace the frets. Some have said the whole neck was to be replaced, but that's not how I recall it and it doesn't sound very practical to replace the whole neck because of worn frets. I may have been misinformed by a salesman.
Anyway, the idea didn't catch on and as you can see from the Ovation website, no aluminum fretboards or necks are available. Mine will last at least another 30 years, no more than I play it. |
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Joined:
November 2005
Posts: 4832
Location: Campbell River, British Columbia | And then your kids can file off the rest of the frets and use it for slide guitar! |
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Joined:
July 2003
Posts: 1922
Location: Canton (Detroit), MI | The whole neck was to be replaced...that is fact from "The History of Ovation Guitars". There are others here who can confirm this, I am sure. There was never any possibility of refretting the fretboard.
I have a 1976-vintage Applause AA14-4 with this "feature", and it is in vintage rewarped condition. Mine will last FOREVER, given how much I play mine(it has been retired in favor of my other Os).
Roger |
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Joined:
March 2005
Posts: 12759
Location: Boise, Idaho | I'll have to go look, but I think the book has at least one error concerning Matrix guitars. |
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Joined:
October 2005
Posts: 803
Location: Avondale, AZ | Look at history. Wood is better. |
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Joined:
March 2005
Posts: 12759
Location: Boise, Idaho | OK, I reread the book and my original Matrix manual and my memory was wrong. Had to replace the whole neck. Turned out I wasn't the only one who thought that wasn't a good idea. I also forgot that I saved a whole $4 off the list price and got the cheap cardboard case thrown in. |
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aluminum neck ?
