Traditionally there are two ways to adjust the action (string height) on acoustic guitars: altering the neck angle to the body, or changing the saddle height. Changing the neck angle is a very complicated, time consuming, and expensive project (not to mention very risky). As you may know there are some new 'dovetail-less' bolt-on neck sets that are meant to address the string action, but most fall short in performance and are designed as a 'way around' problematic soundboard designs (see the section on the Lateral Compression Soundboard). Many tilt or re-pitch the neck. The challenge with changing the neck angle is it will always change the instruments scale length, and always changes the tuning of the guitar if it's attempted when the guitar is tuned to pitch. This also makes for a nasty re-adjustment, which is typically suited for an experienced acoustic technician.

My new Continually Adjustable Neck addresses all this, and more. This is achieved by allowing the neck to slide up or down, with the turn of an ordinary Allen key, on command, by the musician, for the first time. When you lift the neck up or down to adjust the action, you are essentially adjusting the neck to the string height instead of the other way around. You are not re-pitching the neck, so a simple height adjustment does not affect tuning (pitch) or scale length. Another benefit of the new patented neck is that it is much like an electric guitar neck - because it is continuous, meaning that there is solid wood under the fret-board past the body that is integral to the neck itself. This offers extreme stability and sustain in the upper register. The dreaded fret-board 'drop off' past the body becomes extinct. The soundboard can vibrate more freely because the neck/fret-board is not attached to the top of the guitar like on conventional acoustics. Heavy upper bout bracing is unnecessary and eliminated. The height of the bridge's saddle never changes for the life of the guitar. High action warrantees are a non-issue.

As for the musician - there is a new level of performance. For example: if a player wants very low, tight, "electric guitar" action, and he or she is plugging in - just turn the key. Great for higher volumes with a light touch. If a player wants high action for finger picking or flat-picking - just turn the key. Even higher action for "Slide guitar"- just turn the key.

Lateral Compression Soundboard

Torque Reducing Split Bridge

Introduction