NG&ND

[GuitarDoc]

Just put together my latest guitar. And since people have shown an interest in flame maple necks, I also included a pic of a neck. The body to that 2nd neck is finished but still needs final wet sanding and polishing...it is green burst flame maple (like the headstock)


Bocote fretboards on both..

 

[PFDarkside]

That’s cool, and that neck is awesome!

How did you come up with that shape? Does it balance really well on the knee?

 

[Mincer]

Now I dig that neck! And I love that blue color, too.

 

[GuitarDoc]

That’s cool, and that neck is awesome!

How did you come up with that shape? Does it balance really well on the knee?

Thanks for asking.

The shape has evolved over the past 10 years or so. My objectives were to create a body that was small and manageable, light weight, and had good balance, standing and sitting. This shape meets all of those criteria.

 

[GuitarDoc]

Now I dig that neck! And I love that blue color, too.

Thanks.

I've got a few others nearing completion that I'll post soon...a figured exhibition grade claro walnut body with a torrified birch neck; an ambrosia maple body with maple neck; and a cottonwood burl body with maple neck.

 

[Mincer]

Thanks.

I've got a few others nearing completion that I'll post soon...a figured exhibition grade claro walnut body with a torrified birch neck; an ambrosia maple body with maple neck; and a cottonwood burl body with maple neck.

I've never heard of birch for a neck...that sounds great!

 

[GuitarDoc]

I hadn't heard of using birch for a neck before either. It's lighter than maple and in its "raw" form not quite as stiff or stable as maple, but after it's been baked it becomes more stable and stiffer than maple but still remains lighter. The biggest problem with it is that it's a very dark wood and makes a horrible dark brown powdery sawdust that is like powdered stain...really messy to work with.

 

[Mincer]

Did you roast the wood yourself?

 

[GuitarDoc]

Did you roast the wood yourself?

No, bought it that way.

I doubt if I'll ever use it again even though it is a great wood. It's just too dang messy.

 

[Mincer]

I remember sing wenge, which would come off in flakes that really irritated my skin.

 

[GuitarDoc]

This roasted birch is way messier than any wenge I've ever used (and I've used a lot over the past 15-20 years).

 

[Mincer]

This roasted birch is way messier than any wenge I've ever used (and I've used a lot over the past 15-20 years).

Well, ewwww. No thanks, then! (unless someone else builds it).

 

[GuitarDoc]

Yes, exactly. As good as it is functionally, and as beautiful as it is, and as warm and full sounding as it is, I don't think I will ever make a neck out of it again.

 

[GuitarDoc]

Well, Dave, it looks like this thread ended up being a chat session between us.

 

[Mincer]

Hey man, that's cool! It is an awesome build!

 

[GuitarDoc]

Thanks