Quartersawn neck
- Thread starter esandes
- Start date
Ashurbanipal
Well-known member
Know of at least one luthier who thinks that, in the case of maple, flat sawn sounds better than quarter. Certainly Fender necks since the beginning of time have been flat sawn, or at a slight angle, and other makers seem to have followed suit.
Technically speaking, the quartersawn maple is a bit stronger against flexing. But not realistically/practically very much more when considering the neck as a whole. And I wouldn't say that it is more "stable". Like Fender, I have been using flat sawn maple necks since I have been making guitars. I haven't noticed any flex in my necks. But all of them have a laminated center strip (of at least three pieces of very hard wood), a separate laminated hardwood fret board, and a truss rod. In my opinion, flat sawn is much more aesthetic. So, with the better aesthetics and the engineered strength, it's a no-brainer to me.
I can't think of any negative aspects to quartersawn maple other than the aesthetics, but I've also seen some mighty pretty grain in some quartersawn necks.
You pick. I don't think you can go wrong with either.
I can't think of any negative aspects to quartersawn maple other than the aesthetics, but I've also seen some mighty pretty grain in some quartersawn necks.
You pick. I don't think you can go wrong with either.
Maybe it would matter a lot if there wasn't all that steel and graphite jammed into today's modern necks.
Soundwise it is like everything else, a combination of all the elements. I'm sure it makes a difference but to which one is better would depend on all the other stuff going on, not the least of which is the choice of pickups.
Soundwise it is like everything else, a combination of all the elements. I'm sure it makes a difference but to which one is better would depend on all the other stuff going on, not the least of which is the choice of pickups.
It does feel really great to play on.
Demanic
PenultimateTone Member
From what I understand, properly done, roasting drives out moisture and tightens up the grain of the wood. I don't see that as being a bad thing, or purely cosmetic.
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eclecticsynergy
Well-known member
Stronger and less susceptible to flexing = stiffer. That has an effect on both the playing feel and the liveliness at volume.
Not a night-and-day difference but noticeable to some.
Many have commented that their familiar/favorite gauge strings feel a hair stiffer on a quartersawn neck.
Not a night-and-day difference but noticeable to some.
Many have commented that their familiar/favorite gauge strings feel a hair stiffer on a quartersawn neck.
nexion218
New member
Exactly my thoughts! By the time the double action truss rod and two graphite rods are installed in a, say, Soloist or Wizard neck, it's almost less wood in there than steel and graphite.
Ashurbanipal
Well-known member
The original Wizard necks were flat sawn and didn't have any extra reinforcement. So yes, some have warped over time, and quite a few develop cracks around the locking nut bolts.
In the mid-90s they started making them three ply, with a central bubinga strip (they still do this sometimes), and these days they are often 5pc (maple with walnut rails), with a volute and top mounted nut. The reissues of the oldies in the Genesis range also have these multi-piece necks, maybe a bit of a concession to current times, but better in the long run.
Some Prestige, J Custom and extended range models have also come with KTS titanium rods for increased stiffness.
In the mid-90s they started making them three ply, with a central bubinga strip (they still do this sometimes), and these days they are often 5pc (maple with walnut rails), with a volute and top mounted nut. The reissues of the oldies in the Genesis range also have these multi-piece necks, maybe a bit of a concession to current times, but better in the long run.
Some Prestige, J Custom and extended range models have also come with KTS titanium rods for increased stiffness.
eclecticsynergy
Well-known member
John Suhr won't even use double-action truss rods in his guitars, because they affect tone and liveliness noticeably.
At least that's his excuse. It's a lot of extra work to put truss rods in a neck. I use double action truss rods in all of my necks and there is absolutely NO loss of tone or liveliness...that means it also isn't noticeable.
GuitarStv
Sock Market Trader
I have a very traditionally constructed quarter-sawn single action heel-adjust oiled maple neck and a very modern constructed quarter sawn double action maple neck with similar neck profile . . . they sound very similar, but one is a hell of a lot easier to adjust relief on.
