Neck- Headstock Joint on USRG - What is it?

[caprile]

Hey I was watching the pics of Jimi D's USRG10 and noticed the strange neck-headstock joint. It seems like a bronze *conection or something. Is that a tension free neck? By the way, its the coolest Ibanez hardtail I've seen (besides the PGM90th)

[rickboot]

It is a tension free neck joint created by Dave Bunker who now owns Bunker guitars and used to run PBC Guitar Technologies. PBC built the USRG series.

You can find out more here:

http://www.bunker-guitars.com/tf_neck.html

And here:

http://www.bunker-guitars.com/Biography.html

Rick

[caprile]

thanks for the quick reply! this system seems like a great idea. Is it actually a noticeable improvement in neck stability? or is it one of those cool inventions that actually are semiuseless and do not justify paying for patents?

[rickboot]

I can't comment on the performance. I have picked up a few USRGs in stores, but I have never owned one. Hopefully someone with firsthand knowledge will chime in.

[Jimi D]

I live in an area where we experience true extremes in climate - HOT, WET summers (we got way over 110° F a couple times this summer) and COLD, DRY winters (-40 to -50° F anyone?) and in this kind of environment you get used to tweaking your truss rod to keep things stable - in fact, I have a number of friends who don't use their truss rod covers because they hate being bothered with removing and replacing them every time they make an adjustment. I've adjusted the PBC neck on my USRG twice since getting it, merely to set it up to my preference. It hasn't moved since. That's stable!! :thumbsup:

[caprile]

that's great! i have to say it: envy corrodes me!!
that's the thing i don't get about marketing: people will be happy to pay extra for a useless animal named hole in their guitar, but i guess if their charged more for useful *technologies like these, the response wouldn't be so good.
there are important advances in materials technologies that would be great, i'm not saying lets make a carbon guitar, but for instance, there are polymers that can make the edges of tremolos and saddles virtually last forever
(excuse me for the jem comment, i love them! and if i saw a samick guitar made of plastic with one string with vai's name, i would get it, i'm just saying you can actually make improvements without making a guitar that seems out of the jetsons)

[Eddie B]

I bought a USRG 30 in march and I've had it in outside in 40 degree weather in the back of my truck for an hour ride and I didn't have to adjust it. VERY SOLID. Now it's almost september and I haven't had to touch the neck with any kind of tool other than to change strings! I love it. Wish I had another one with different pickups. Would be cool for covering all the bases. Two USRG's and a hell of a loud amp. What more could you ask for?