Our latest construction methodology uses a one piece neck blank with the truss rod installed underneath the fingerboard. In the case of an all-maple neck, a layer of the maple neck blank is sliced off, and this slice becomes the fingerboard, ensuring a consistent appearance of a solid, one-piece maple neck.
Truss rod technology has evolved over the years, and G&L has carefully studied design options before finalizing its latest design. This contemporary design incorporates a secondary, flat-sided rod which bows away from primary rod. Unlike a vintage truss rod, this design does not compress the neck longitudinally in order to function; compression contributes to distortion of the fingerboard curvature. Operation is both fluid and accurate with the articulation of the neck, the “relief”, being very consistent across the length of the neck. Unlike similar rods available today, G&L’s rod has an additional anchor for the heel end of the neck, to help ensure long-term stability and ensure that the rod will never shear through the adjustment end of the neck. Finally, the channel for the rod is also carefully designed to provide a snug fit for the rod while ensuring free and complete articulation.
While we at G&L maintain great respect for the innovative bi-cut design pioneered by our founder, Leo Fender, he would have expected that we continue to improve G&L instruments to better serve musicians. To fulfill this expectation, it means that we must be unafraid to change something that we had once viewed as state-of-the-art. However, there is but one certainty about state-of-the-art; it changes as improvements are made.
Presentation of the Bi-Cut design
The Bi-Cut neck design was another revolutionary patent granted to Leo and G&L. The traditional method of truss rod installation involves routing out the back side of the neck, installing the truss rod and covering the route with a rosewood stripe commonly referred to as a skunk stripe. Alternatively, a traditional installation puts the route for the truss rod from the face of the neck, covering it with the fingerboard.??The Bi-Cut method involves cutting the neck blank in half longitudinally, making a route on the inside, inserting the truss rod then gluing the two halves together. The new completed neck blank is then put in a Taylor press with approximately 350 pounds of pressure, assuring a nearly invisible truss rod installation. The design goal that the Bi-Cut method achieves is exceptional resistance to warping and twisting, because the centrally located glue joint is actually stronger than the wood on either side.