Maple Cap Neck vs 1 piece Maple Neck tone?

[topbrent]

As the title stated, what are the basic tonal differences between a one piece maple neck and a maple cap neck. Bolt on.

Assume the tuning machines, frets, and truss rod are the same (single acting), and both are flat sawn.

I have never owned a maple cap neck. Just curious.

[RvChevron]

As the title stated, what are the basic tonal differences between a one piece maple neck and a maple cap neck. Bolt on.

Assume the truss rod is the same (single action), and both are flat sawn.

I have never owned a maple cap neck. Just curious.

If using the same piece of neck AND body wood, the cap board would make for a snappier/brighter/spankier tone. Not a night and day difference like changing pickups but it's there. Not harsh or shrill either.

Cap board construction being the most rigid, dense and could drive the body harder, then slap board, then one piece, hence the sonic difference.

Different flavor, all is good!

[buddastrat]

Don't you have that backwards? Every cap board I play is mellower or more spongey than the one piece I compared. Cap has more of a mellow thud knock when you knock on the neck when it's off the body. Compare a bunch of 69 relics (cap board) and they have a smoother sound than the '56 relics (one piece maple) which have a woodier, lively snappy tone. Those guitars are essentially the same 'cept the pickups. Unplugged, and when you put your ear on the neck and play you can really hear it. I even went so far as to switch bodies around, and the capped neck guitar still had the mellower tone.

[Eagle1]

Don't you have that backwards? Every cap board I play is mellower or more spongey than the one piece I compared. Cap has more of a mellow thud knock when you knock on the neck when it's off the body. Compare a bunch of 69 relics (cap board) and they have a smoother sound than the '56 relics (one piece maple) which have a woodier, lively snappy tone. Those guitars are essentially the same 'cept the pickups. Unplugged, and when you put your ear on the neck and play you can really hear it. I even went so far as to switch bodies around, and the capped neck guitar still had the mellower tone.
:agree

[RvChevron]

Don't you have that backwards? Every cap board I play is mellower or more spongey than the one piece I compared. Cap has more of a mellow thud knock when you knock on the neck when it's off the body. Compare a bunch of 69 relics (cap board) and they have a smoother sound than the '56 relics (one piece maple) which have a woodier, lively snappy tone. Those guitars are essentially the same 'cept the pickups. Unplugged, and when you put your ear on the neck and play you can really hear it. I even went so far as to switch bodies around, and the capped neck guitar still had the mellower tone.


My findings are based on the experience of playing 5 different cap boards （orginal 70's strats and teles, plus a Lentz), a few of slab maple boards (non Fender strats) and bunch of one piece neck (Fenders).

Huge variations for sure. YMMV:cool: