astrozombie
KatyPerryologist
if the neck is all maple, why is there a stripe of darker (rosewood?) wood on the back?
Why do some maple necks have skunk stripes?
- Thread starter astrozombie
- Start date
Chris of Arabia
Desert RATT
Re: Why do some maple necks have skunk stripes?
The skunk stripe is usually found on one-piece necks to put the truss rod in. For those with a separate fingerboard (two-piece), the truss-rod can be fitted with out having to machine the back of the neck, hence you don't get the stripe.
The skunk stripe is usually found on one-piece necks to put the truss rod in. For those with a separate fingerboard (two-piece), the truss-rod can be fitted with out having to machine the back of the neck, hence you don't get the stripe.
J
Jessie's ghost
Guest
Re: Why do some maple necks have skunk stripes?
Some guitars with multi-piece necks have skunk stripes, like the Ibanez guitars with rosewood fretboards and two separate pieces of maple in the back. They have a skunk stripe of some darker, contrasting wood, but for different reasons.
Some guitars with multi-piece necks have skunk stripes, like the Ibanez guitars with rosewood fretboards and two separate pieces of maple in the back. They have a skunk stripe of some darker, contrasting wood, but for different reasons.
Quencho092
New member
Re: Why do some maple necks have skunk stripes?
I like those multi-lam exotic guitar porn necks.
I like those multi-lam exotic guitar porn necks.
the guy who invented fire
Fuzzy. Guitars
Re: Why do some maple necks have skunk stripes?
On one piece Fender necks the skunk stripe (which is walnut BTW) was donw to cover the channel they used to out the truss rod in.
I have seen skunk stripes on Fender necks with RW boards and even on maple cap necks...no idea why it was done bt I have sen it done...
Things like Ibanez necks with the big stripe of different wood is almost always done for extra strength...
On one piece Fender necks the skunk stripe (which is walnut BTW) was donw to cover the channel they used to out the truss rod in.
I have seen skunk stripes on Fender necks with RW boards and even on maple cap necks...no idea why it was done bt I have sen it done...
Things like Ibanez necks with the big stripe of different wood is almost always done for extra strength...
Re: Why do some maple necks have skunk stripes?
One piece maple necks have the stripe because that's where they put in the truss rod. I guess it looks better than having another maple stripe in it and that's why. Funny enough, if you check your Strat (same model as mine), it's a rosewood board WITH a skunk stripe. I read something about some necks during Fender's dark ages (CBS) having that peculiarity...or I saw a pic of a CBS Strat with one...although I could be wrong. Early 60's slab boards, and mid-late 60's round lam boards don't have skunk stripes.
Jessie is right, old Ibanez necks have those thick bubinga skunk stripes, I guess it's for the same reason they use walnut fillets in the current Prestige models and use 3 piece maple for non-prestige stuff: stability. Same reason why they reinforce the Super Wizards with titanium rods.
Edit: I didn't read TGWIF's post, and he said exactly the same thing I said ha!
One piece maple necks have the stripe because that's where they put in the truss rod. I guess it looks better than having another maple stripe in it and that's why. Funny enough, if you check your Strat (same model as mine), it's a rosewood board WITH a skunk stripe. I read something about some necks during Fender's dark ages (CBS) having that peculiarity...or I saw a pic of a CBS Strat with one...although I could be wrong. Early 60's slab boards, and mid-late 60's round lam boards don't have skunk stripes.
Jessie is right, old Ibanez necks have those thick bubinga skunk stripes, I guess it's for the same reason they use walnut fillets in the current Prestige models and use 3 piece maple for non-prestige stuff: stability. Same reason why they reinforce the Super Wizards with titanium rods.
Edit: I didn't read TGWIF's post, and he said exactly the same thing I said ha!
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ItsaBass
New member
Re: Why do some maple necks have skunk stripes?
The skunk stripe and head plug are (or originally were) walnut, I believe. Take a minute and I'll bet you can think of why they are used. As for why a darker wood is used, it is just cosmetic.
So "all maple" is almost always not the case. Some prototype Esquires had necks without truss rods; they were all maple. And Fender made necks with separate maple fretboards for a while too, so they were all maple, but two pieces instead of one.
As for why it is there sometimes even on necks with rosewood boards, I'd guess that it may be more efficient in some cases to glue rosewood fingerboards onto some necks, leave some as one-piece maple, and then put them all through the same truss rod installation procedure.
The skunk stripe and head plug are (or originally were) walnut, I believe. Take a minute and I'll bet you can think of why they are used. As for why a darker wood is used, it is just cosmetic.
So "all maple" is almost always not the case. Some prototype Esquires had necks without truss rods; they were all maple. And Fender made necks with separate maple fretboards for a while too, so they were all maple, but two pieces instead of one.
As for why it is there sometimes even on necks with rosewood boards, I'd guess that it may be more efficient in some cases to glue rosewood fingerboards onto some necks, leave some as one-piece maple, and then put them all through the same truss rod installation procedure.
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jake_xms3_punk
New member
Re: Why do some maple necks have skunk stripes?
AFAIK originally they were made from Koa not walnut
ItsaBass
New member
ParameterMan
New member
Re: Why do some maple necks have skunk stripes?
The reason it's also on two-piece necks is undoubtedly because of the construction. The classic Fender truss rod is not a stand-alone unit, rather it's a simple steel rod in a curved channel. When the rod is tightened, the neck straightens out. The neck therefore becomes part of the truss rod assembly. The downside is that you can't correct backbow.
Some people sat it makes a tonal difference. I haven't done any proper tests but it does seem to me that they sound woodier than necks with proper dual-acting truss rods.
I would bet it's easier to run all the necks through their truss rod process regardless of fingerboard. Especially since most guys seem to think the stripe looks cool.
The reason it's also on two-piece necks is undoubtedly because of the construction. The classic Fender truss rod is not a stand-alone unit, rather it's a simple steel rod in a curved channel. When the rod is tightened, the neck straightens out. The neck therefore becomes part of the truss rod assembly. The downside is that you can't correct backbow.
Some people sat it makes a tonal difference. I haven't done any proper tests but it does seem to me that they sound woodier than necks with proper dual-acting truss rods.
I would bet it's easier to run all the necks through their truss rod process regardless of fingerboard. Especially since most guys seem to think the stripe looks cool.
astrozombie
KatyPerryologist
Re: Why do some maple necks have skunk stripes?
my 2007 Fender Jaguar HH has a maple neck with a rosewood fretboard and a skunk stripe on the back. I always assumed it was also rosewood... truss rod adjustment at the top.
My 1978 Fender Mustang has a maple neck with a rosewood board.. no skunk stripe. bottom access truss rod.
how did they get the truss rod in the older neck then?
my 2007 Fender Jaguar HH has a maple neck with a rosewood fretboard and a skunk stripe on the back. I always assumed it was also rosewood... truss rod adjustment at the top.
My 1978 Fender Mustang has a maple neck with a rosewood board.. no skunk stripe. bottom access truss rod.
how did they get the truss rod in the older neck then?
ParameterMan
New member
Re: Why do some maple necks have skunk stripes?
Through the top, before they glued the fretboard on.
Through the top, before they glued the fretboard on.
astrozombie
KatyPerryologist
Re: Why do some maple necks have skunk stripes?
so that fretboard could actually... come off?
under the right (i assume nearly impossible) conditions ?
so that fretboard could actually... come off?
under the right (i assume nearly impossible) conditions ?
ratherdashing
Kablamminator
Re: Why do some maple necks have skunk stripes?
The neck was carved, the truss rod was inserted, then the fretboard was glued on.
It's not more likely to come off than any other rosewood fretboard.
The neck was carved, the truss rod was inserted, then the fretboard was glued on.
It's not more likely to come off than any other rosewood fretboard.
astrozombie
KatyPerryologist
ItsaBass
New member
Re: Why do some maple necks have skunk stripes?
It's not much different than a Gibson or any other guitar that uses a top-loading truss rod. Fender was the oddball with the rear loading truss rod and skunk stripe.
It's not much different than a Gibson or any other guitar that uses a top-loading truss rod. Fender was the oddball with the rear loading truss rod and skunk stripe.
