Goncalo alves neck?

[Cagey]

You do have to watch the hands of those who want to fondle your fiddles. It's surprising how many guys have bear claws for fingernails, sweat like whores in church, or haven't washed since their last doctor visit. But, I change my strings frequently, and am pretty good about keeping things clean even from myself.

From the opposite perspective, I'll often leave other's guitars alone rather than touch the disgusting things, no matter how enticing. I'm quite diligent about keeping my nails in good shape and my hands clean, and I don't need to pick up a bad case of creeping crud off some sewer dweller's instrument. Lord only knows where his hands have been. I'm not what you'd call a "germophobe", but there is a reality about transferring a variety of virus and bacteria around through touch that you have to keep in mind.

 

[grak]

I'm thinking of getting a wenge/wenge Warmoth pro neck with  ss6150 frets and I like the idea of an earvana black Tusq nut..Any thoughts??

 

[Cagey]

I have one on one of my necks, and it makes a difference. But, you only hear it down in the cowboy chords that include open strings. As soon as you start fretting notes, the effect of the nut gets lost. So, it's a limited benefit, more so for some than it is for others depending on your playing style. At $70, I don't know that I'll be putting any more on.

If you want the strings corrected along the length of the neck, you have to buy into the "True Temperament" system.

 

[stubhead]

Except that there are five different ones, for the five different keys the "True" temperament guys have decided you'll need to be in tune in.
http://www.truetemperament.com/site/index.php?go=1&sgo=0
If you want to play as close to tune in all possible keys, you want the one for the "even-tempered tuning" that was all the news back around... 1740 or so. And it has almost straight frets, just adjusted backwards from an Earvana nut.
http://www.truetemperament.com/site/index.php?go=1&sgo=3
Heck of an innovative way - to make $500 extra per neck.... :icon_scratch: I mean, obviously it is a lot of work to install squiggles on necks - so is carving a ball inside a box out of one piece of wood, stuffing 25 people in a phone booth, or balancing on your head for days on end. There are yogis in India who can stuff a marble up their butt, and 26 hours later spit it out their mouth! Takes 20 years to learn that. But it only costs one marble.... :icon_thumright:

 

[SustainerPlayer]

From Goncalo Alvez to yogis in India who can stuff a marble up their butt in less than 2 pages.

I think you are ready for the big league gentlemen!

 

[Patrick from Davis]

The main effect of the Earvana goes about to the fourth fret.  It is similar to having your intonation off.  With the nut, the chords in that area, especially jazzy things, are quite a bit clearer.  The effect for me initially was like when the e and the b string get properly in tune and resonate.  That ringing bell thing, but for chords.  Now it is weird for me when they don't sound that way.  There is a place on eBay that sells the Earvana shelf nuts for $29, which is about the best price I have found.  As you go up the neck, the change is less apparent.  If you just chug out power chords, or pump out a million notes a minute, it is not going to do that much for you.  I guess the B string is supposed to be in better tune, but I don't notice it other than the open stuff and the jazzy or metal chords with dissonant notes sound truer.

There are still arguments about how close it is, and if it can be done better.  I assume it can.  However, it is a pretty cheap way to get the setup to sound better.  And I like open chords, so it made things more fun for me.
Patrick

 

[DustyCat]

Be prepared to encounter resistance from the guys behind the counter at your local music box. Naysayers, purists, old school, whatever you want to call them, they may try to talk you out of installing the Earvana Compensating Nut if you are like me and have no experience with wood working, and need the help of a professional Luther.

But I went ahead with it on my Telecaster because the notes on the first fret were sharp (i.e. G string and the Low E string). There was a noticeable difference to my ear and I second the statement above that it took some time to get used to hearing the pitch of the notes 'corrected.'

Oddly enough, my Semi-Hollow body VIP with fully scalloped neck does not have an ECN, nor does it need it. I should be getting my Tele back from the shop soon with a new neck (need 1 11/16" minimum nut width). It will not have an ECN but a TUSQ XL black nut, so we will see what happens. I am super excited.

 

[stubhead]

If I "have" to play rhythm guitar for a while, I have come around to the old-guy thing of using a wound 3rd string. Even if you're just subbing in a .018w for a .017p it stays in tune better, as far as any guitar is in tune. But the wound 3rd wipes out anything the Earvanas or Buzzy Feiten or True Temperaments people are trying to do, all their work is based around that ubiquitous, moody  .017" plain G. Heck, my #1 2001 Warmoth/USACG "tele-shaped" thingamajig is wearing a set of Jazz Heavy 13-56's this month, tuned down to C.
High notes are over-rated.  :cool01:

 

[Patrick from Davis]

Sort of, they have a different adjustment on the ones for wound G's.  But, yes, that does change things.
Patrick

 

[-CB-]

FWIW, goncalo once piece necks are my all time favorite for tone when used with a solid body, or thinline, and single coil pickups.  Something about a Tele with a goncalo neck and some jangly Tele pickups that smoothes out, but retains the spank and sparkle.  Its perfection to me...

 

[mrpinter]

I love Goncalo Alves! Here is one with an all GA neck. It's a great player too.

 

[Creeping Death]

I am pretty late to this party but,

Something I am surprised no one brought up or maybe I didn't see is what style or music are you playing? If the notes seem thin for what you are playing maybe you would be better suited have an H/H setup rather than an S/S/S.  Also like Cagey said the ebony fretboard definitely isn't the culprit because if you are playing properly the strings never even touch it.  Fretboards are all about feel, some like the oilier feel of rosewood some like the smooth feel of ebony.

Also remember you can beef up a bright guitar but you can never clean up a muddy one. A bright guitar will sound heavier because when you add it in it will have a tighter low end because it is naturally brighter.