TF-neck tone-compare

Comparing the tone of a Bunkerguitar Tension Free neck to that of a standard truss rod type neck, Dave demonstrates why you get more tone and sustain when the neck is not stressed by compression

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Howto & Style

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[rlholo]

Your hand is dampening the wood.

[ddbunker]

Thanks, that is right, but compared to the average tension compression, from nut to butt of around, strings120#s and rod tighten 60-100 #s, or around 200 #s of compression, it is minimal, check out bunker-guitars for more info on technical. Thanks

[oldpython]

If I understand, the tension of the strings is carried by a bar not the neck. The strings tension is a downward stress similar to the stress over an archtop bridge... This elliminates the stress on the overall length of the guitar which warps necks and bridges on flattop guitars. That is the piano. The harp holds the strings while the soundboard vibrates free of tension. The strings contact the bridge only. The TF bar does not contact the neck along the fingerboard. I want to see it.

[ddbunker]

very, very good, the rod makes it's first contact with the neck at the 17-18th fret area and the strings pull on the distal end to that point which enhances that area with mass while letting the frets below 0-17 free to oscillate the neck. Imagine how much pressure between the pull of the strings and the stress applied when tightening the truss rod to counter the strings, now that is compression, about 2-300 pounds. and that is a small piece of wood if it's a nice fast neck.

[oldpython]

And how are you eliminating tension? Once a string is connected to the neck tension is applied.

[ddbunker]

Instead of the strings pulling on the nut end of the neck they pull at the body end through a3/8th steel bar pinned at the 17th fret, thanks for asking

[JohnnyTsak316]

This is a known fact among guitar builders - The titanium rod eliminates this problem and it works amazingly ! I testify to you that the titanium rod is lighter yet stronger then steel but it does not have as much mass as the steel rods do and you get more sustain and natural resonance out of the wood without that accursed STRING DAMPENING EFFECT ! Your Idea sounds fascinating eliminating the tension off the neck I am afraid that because of the mass of the TF you may be having string dampening

[JohnnyTsak316]

I was using double acting truss rods but then I went to Titanium single acting truss rod and the string dampening effect from the heavy steel inside the 2 way truss rod disappeared . When a sting is plucked on the double acting steel rod neck the rod inside the neck begins to vibrate with the same note the problem is that the rod has more mass then the string and as it vibrates the pitch of the note thru resonance it overpowers the strings natural vibration - thus - string dampening effect .

[oldpython]

Have you encountered reaction at the soundboard bridge? Your invention should blow Kosha out of the water in theory since the TF bar frees up tension to be used elsewhere. The sound board can be thinner and rebraced if your TF bar extends from two opposite distal points. You can liken the guitar construction to the piano's. I have a patent design pending from 1975 that is similar to you design but not as streamlined. Very encourageing.

[ddbunker]

Thanks for the comments! can you imagine how much the wood is changed when a standard truss rod is tightened to counter the strings, over 100 plus pounds of compression, plus the tightening of the strings, altogether over 200 pounds of tension on a normal truss rod neck, the Tension free neck has very little if any tension stress on the finger board, only on the headstock and the neck bar which developes much more sustain and tone

[GnAArL]

But surely by using your hand your dampning the wood a considerable amount. Therefore rendering this test useless as they are not testing the same thing (as your comparing a neck under tension that is also dampend to a neck that isnt under tension that isnt dampend.