More relief on bass side than treble - Collings OM1?

[Wooly]

Originally Posted by Gchord

I doubt that Collings goes to that much trouble to be honest. Perhaps the extra tension from the thicker strings on the bass side results in slightly more relief on that side? Then it is 'built in' in a sense.

I believe this is the answer. All my guitars, low or high end, have more relief on the bass side

[gmel555]

Originally Posted by Howard Emerson

So you want to know if the neck is somehow twisted, hence 2 different “up-bow” measurements between bass and treble sides, right?

Best,
Howard Emerson

+1 for Howard's question. After reading all responses I'm still not clear on whether we're talking neck relief or string height*. I'm having a hard time believing the "up-bow" measurements are engineered to be different from treble to bass side of the neck/fretboard. I'll happily stand corrected if my skepticism is unwarranted.

*e.g., string height can be adjusted at the nut or bridge without changing neck relief, so a difference in action/string height between treb and bass strings is not necessarily an indication of different relief...?

[brencat]

Originally Posted by JayBee1404

It would make sense, would it not, to allow for the wider vibrating arc of the bass-side strings compared with the treble-side?

Originally Posted by fitness1

Very common...in all well built guitars.

Originally Posted by Sadie-f

Yep, Santa Cruz does this also

^^ Yep, 100%.

I first noticed this on my Merrills, but it makes perfect sense why every quality guitar manufacturer would do this.

[waterlooz]

Hi Koda, I own a few Collings. The OM-1 has a 14-26" compound radius. I wonder if this plays into your observations?

[Koda]

I'm getting the feeling that some folks aren't understanding the original post.

Let me clarify!
For the most part it is a statement of my observation as it applied to the relief on my Collings OM1.

I followed up with the fact that I spoke with Collings and they indeed did confirm that they do build in more relief on the bass side then the treble side.

The only question I asked was whether other Collings owners have noticed the same thing, not whether or not it does indeed exist.

I hope that helps!

[Russ C]

Well good on them for doing it.

[Gchord]

Originally Posted by Koda

I'm getting the feeling that some folks aren't understanding the original post.

Let me clarify!
For the most part it is a statement of my observation as it applied to the relief on my Collings OM1.

Haha yeah it wasn't hard to understand, you were very clear, but some folks read what they want to read.

If indeed more relief is built in to the bass side of the neck it would be fascinating to know how this is achieved.

[Howard Emerson]

Originally Posted by Gchord

Haha yeah it wasn't hard to understand, you were very clear, but some folks read what they want to read.

If indeed more relief is built in to the bass side of the neck it would be fascinating to know how this is achieved.

Fascinating, indeed.

HE

[Koda]

It certainly makes sense and I doubt that Collings would say it if it wasn't the case.

[JayBee1404]

Originally Posted by Gchord

If indeed more relief is built in to the bass side of the neck it would be fascinating to know how this is achieved.

To me, it seems reasonable to assume it’s achieved by the skilled and judicious use of a plane on the F/B, or even abrasive paper. Very little material would need to be removed to achieve an additional few thou”.

Hopefully, one of our resident luthiers will jump in to tell us!

As always, the standard disclaimer applies - IMHO. However, I realise that YMMV, and I’m cool with that.

[Mycroft]

Originally Posted by Gchord

Haha yeah it wasn't hard to understand, you were very clear, but some folks read what they want to read.

If indeed more relief is built in to the bass side of the neck it would be fascinating to know how this is achieved.

It would have to be done during the construction phase, methinks. You could not adjust it using the truss rod, as it acts on the entire neck. So either through building a slight "twist" to the neck via judicious use of CNC programing, or building the neck straight and twisting the entire neck at the bolt-on mount.

[Koda]

I totally agree that it would be done during the construction phase but I'm pretty sure there's no twisting of the neck!!

I would think that it's a matter of milling the variable into the fret as they do the final set up.

[Glennwillow]

Originally Posted by fitness1

Very common...in all well built guitars.

Yes, agreed.

- Glenn

[ewalling]

Originally Posted by Koda

I'm getting the feeling that some folks aren't understanding the original post.

Let me clarify!
For the most part it is a statement of my observation as it applied to the relief on my Collings OM1.

I followed up with the fact that I spoke with Collings and they indeed did confirm that they do build in more relief on the bass side then the treble side.

The only question I asked was whether other Collings owners have noticed the same thing, not whether or not it does indeed exist.

I hope that helps!

I think people understood okay and found the core question interesting. However, it's too narrow for the vast majority of us who don't own a Collings - hence the 'broadening' of it. I think responders enhanced the original question because the phenomenon you describe goes beyond the foibles of one particular make and is one that others have experienced.

[gip111]

In my case, I have found this to be a twist in the neck for the most part. I have seen it more on bass guitars, but then again, I'm not well versed on high end guitars.