New RG1570, Volute-good or bad?

vicfleet · #1 05-12-2004, 10:36 AM

Hello all. I just purchased a new RG1570 and I love it. My first Ibanez. Now it has a volute on the back of the neck and I know these were a failure for Gibson years ago. What makes the Ibanez volute good, or are they?

JimmyW · #2 05-12-2004, 11:18 AM

I think your talking about the aanj? steve vai made it famous

darren wilson · #3 05-12-2004, 11:39 AM

How could a volute be a "failure"?

disassociative1 · #4 05-12-2004, 11:44 AM

thats what i was thinking, i have a voluet at the headstock on my RG3120 and its no problem at all, just a different way of doin things

vicfleet · #5 05-12-2004, 12:39 PM

Maybe not failure but if you check out some other forums, the volute is not a desired feature on the older Gibsons. I have no problem with it either. Just wanted to know why in the past it was considered not that good on some other guitars.

JimmyW · #6 05-12-2004, 01:52 PM

im lost guys whats a valutE?

frankfalbo · #7 05-12-2004, 03:54 PM

A volute is extra wood behind the nut area. Its there for strength and stability and has NO drawbacks in my opinion. Anyone that is anti-volute may have other issues. Lots of times a volute means you have a 3-piece neck because a factory can do a 3-piece laminate neck with enough wood to carve one in, and not have that much extra waste. A Gibson fan might have issue with the sound of the guitar or the idea of the volute, when the real issue is that it has a laminated maple or mahogany neck, not a traditional 1-piece mahogany. With a scarf joint it depends on how you join it whether or not you can make a volute. But to take the same neck and say is it better with or without a volute, I believe it is always better with one. Unless you are trying to replicate everything about a certain vintage tone, and an "improvement" like a volute would give you too much sustain or whatever so it wouldn't sound "vintage" enough.

JimmyW · #8 05-12-2004, 06:42 PM

thanks for the info frank...anyone have a picture possibly?

darren wilson · #9 05-12-2004, 06:55 PM

JimmyW · #10 05-12-2004, 07:54 PM

thanks guys i guess mine doesnt have a valute

Dr_Guitar · #11 05-16-2004, 05:17 PM

I think the 3pc. prestige neck w/ volute is a big step foward for Ibanez. Ibanez necks dont usually snap for no reason at all, maple makes for a very strong neck.

beyblade · #12 05-17-2004, 01:31 PM

Methinks the volute is a fundamental design improvement for guitars with a toplok. Compared to non-volute necks, there is no need to drill through to accomodate the top lok fastenings. If I had a dollar for every crack I've seen around those holes, I'd be able to afford a new guitar.

Rich · #13 05-17-2004, 01:36 PM

The volute has nothing to do with if the nut is top mounted or thru mounted. They use top mount nuts on either type necks. Volute of no volute I do like the 3 piece necks.

beyblade · #14 05-17-2004, 01:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by beyblade

I'd be able to afford a new guitar.

...Yeah, from Rich.

My Prestige neck ain't drilled through and looking at the 2003 Ibanez catalog and I quote regarding the voluted necks "The Toplok screws in from the top, eliminating the neck holes required for most locking nuts. This allows for greater mass at the guitar's most vulnerable point.

Agree that the volute has nothing to do with the way the nut is mounted. All the volute provides is the opportunity to eliminate neck holes like Ibanez says. I like 3 piece necks too :P

Two hands31 · #15 05-17-2004, 01:55 PM

My Schecter Revenger-7 has a volute, and it doesn't have a locking nut. If I wasn't used to it it'd probably slip me up a bit as my thumb tries to ride up on it sometimes when I'm playing certain root position chords, but I'm used to that because it's a similar kind of slope as where the neck joins the headstock on my Squier Strat and my Fender Jazz Bass V.