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Of course, bad ones will slip through from time to time. Treat it badly and you will have problems. Scarf joint warps were also fairly common with Kramer guitars back in the day.īut really, its just like anything else on a guitar. I bought an EBM bass with a scarf joint warp, probably due to being leaned up against the wall in a closet in high humidity for a few years. The only downfall with a scarf joint are the ones they put just below the headstock (2nd or 3rd fret) can be prone to warping or delaminating if you are the type of person to lean your guitar up against things instead of putting it in the case or on a stand. But again, even then, the type of neck construction wouldn't stop me from buying a guitar whose tone and playability were good.
![neck scarf neck scarf](https://www.worldoffemale.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/summer-neck-scarf-33.jpg)
Very few high-end acoustics use scarf-joint necks, and that is the type of guitar where it would be most likely to impact tone. So if I like the way a guitar feels and sounds, I have no problem with a scarf joint, especially if it makes the guitar more affordable. The body construction and material, pickups and electronics all have MUCH more effect on a guitar's tone. I have scarf-jointed guitars that sustain like crazy and sound exactly the way I want them to. However, in my own experience, having owned guitars with all three of the neck types mentioned (one-piece, laminated, and scarf-jointed) I honestly can't say that I can detect any sonic differences in tone strictly due to neck construction - especially for electric guitars. Again, this is done to give the neck more stability and resistance to warping and twisting, while retaining more of the vibrations through the entire length of the neck.
![neck scarf neck scarf](https://ae01.alicdn.com/kf/HTB1Nu9sSVXXXXboXVXXq6xXFXXXU/XiuKe-scarves-2017-new-mini-squares-silk-scarf-women-fashion-scarves-printing-shawl-Neck-Scarves.jpg)
However, many high-end guitars (for-example the Epi Sheraton or Gibson L-5) have laminated necks made of 3 to 5 strips of wood glued together lengthwise. The main argument in favor of one-piece neck construction is that the sound vibrations are unimpeded, which is supposed to enhance tone. Furthermore, a scarf-jointed neck is LESS likely to warp or twist than a one-piece neck, since the grain characteristics are different. A well-made scarf joint is actually stronger than the wood being joined, and as long as the joint is not at the exact angle of the headstock, is highly unlikely to ever come apart. and especially with more expensive, cured tonewoods, it's a way of getting maximum use out of the available lumber. It's more difficult to find a single piece of wood long enough for an entire neck with no flaws, blemishes, knots, etc. Using scarf joints in neck construction is done primarily to allow the builder to use smaller pieces of wood, which does save money. I spent several years working in a custom woodworking and furniture shop, so my opinions are based on some experience.