Official Luthiers Forum!

I remember Grumpy posted not so long ago that he has used Sapele, and says it makes a good neck.
Also is not so much heavier than Mahogany.
Wood data base gives 655 kg/m3 for honduran mahogany vs 670 kg/m3 for sapele.
As long as the wood is properly dried and seasoned, I don't see why you couldn't use it for a neck. In have several I'm planning on using for SS.
http://www.wood-database.com/lumber-identification/hardwoods/honduran-mahogany/
http://www.wood-database.com/lumber-identification/hardwoods/sapele/

_________________
The name catgut is confusing. There are two explanations for the mix up.

Catgut is an abbreviation of the word cattle gut. Gut strings are made from sheep or goat intestines, in the past even from horse, mule or donkey intestines.

Otherwise it could be from the word kitgut or kitstring. Kit meant fiddle, not kitten.

Sapele is all I use now. I can't find any reason to go back to mahogany. Almost half the price and I've never had a problem with it.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Terrance those three necks are superb. Would love to see the rest of your work as well. Yes I'm having jealous parties about your shop as well.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Flat of rift saw turned sideways is quartersawn. I also have a hefty pile of Maple and it is a little harder to carve but can yield some nice results. I'm just finishing a Wenge guitar with a very blond Maple neck. I'm looking forward to seeing it all together.




Same with lumber yard Mahogany. I look for as flat sawn as possible but rift is fine. If you get wide enough wood you can get 2 necks out of one lay up. I like this one because it's a simple look and you can use it with a lot of guitars.

DannyV,

That flamed Maple guitar is well beyond amazing!

Do you balance out your Maple necks with weight in the body? I have been going through my stack of maple and have been pulling out some of the nicer looking pieces. I have had them stacked in the back of my garage for about 10 years now. It isn't humidity controlled there but they have stayed nice and dry so I am going to bring some of the select stuff into my shop which is 45% humidity. I may very well try and build a neck out of it. My wife has been after me to build a TV stand for a while now so that is why I am pulling the wood but I see at least one neck in there...

Bob

For the flattops I use mostly one piece Honduran mahogany. I buy mine from a local exotic boat lumber place (M.L.Condon-White Plains NY)

I buy large 3" thick flatsawn boards ,so the wind up quartesawn when the necks are cut.If you can find a place like this you will pay less than half of what the guitar suppliers sell it for.

For the archtops I use flatsawn 1" curly maple stock with dyed black veneer (costello) laminations.

Ha ha. I have a nearly finished dresser that's been sitting for two years. Hey, I'm a guitar builder, not a carpenter! Sorry, this excuse does not work, especially since my wife bought me a bunch of hardwood.

_________________
wah
Wah-wah-wah-wah
Wah

Not really Russ. I was just looking on the Database. It claims Hondo is a little heavier than Big Leaf which is what grows in my neighbourhood. They are pretty close but Mahogany is mush easier to carve. Don't let that scare you off though. I find it can take a little more work to get the perfect neck to body fit and I'm OK with that. On a smaller guitar or lighter back and sides I like to go with a lighter tuner.