| Neck through body construction on an RGT320Z | 
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Neck-thru or neck-through (or in full form neck through body) is a method of electric guitar construction that involves extending the piece (or pieces, in a laminate construction) of wood used for the neck through the entire length of the body, essentially making it the core of the body. The strings, fretboard, pickups and bridge are all mounted on this piece. So-called "ears" or "wings" (i.e. side parts of the body) are glued or laminated to the central "stick". The body may be covered with an extra wood veneer.
Usage
Ibanez has produced several neck-thru models since the 1970s. Early original guitar models such as the Musician models featured a neck-thru construction using laminated necks. Modern neck-thru guitar models are the RGT models (T for 'thru') and several X series guitars such as the DTT700, ICT700 and XPT700.
Controversy
Recently, there has been some confusion with what is considered a Neck Thru guitar due in part to some misleading advertising as well as some changes in build techniques (such as multi-pieces of wood, or laminate construction). And while debate over some of the issues continue, it should be noted that there are also necks that are called, set neck, long set, and set thru. Sometimes these guitars have a smooth heel, which is when the body/neck joint is sanded to give the appearance of it being a one piece neck thru, instead of having an obvious neck joint.
Regardless of how the remaining issues play out to create an eventual industry standard definition, the two constants are:
1. A neck thru guitar involves the neck running the entire length of the body.
2. While the others involve a neck that is glued to the body.
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