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How many of you feel that brazillian cedar would make suitable necks for a steel string?

i know that it is often used on classicals, but is it strong enough for steel strings?

Thanks

Jonny

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"Anything that happens, happens. Anything that in happening causes something else to happen, causes something else to happen. Anything that in happening happens again, happens again. Though not necessarily in that order." Douglas Adams

I've never seen any wood for sale with that name!
Is this from a known supplier?

mike

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Mike Collins

Must be about "Spanish cedar" - cedrella odorata. I read once read that it is imported from Brasil too.

I (and others) would say that if you insert two small graphite rods either side of the trussrod you are good to go. Actually the same discussion has been here a while ago, and i think I remember reading some large companies are using it as well.

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Build log

Yes he means spanish cedar (which does not grow in spain but in brazil and south american hence the confusion)
it works well for smaller guitars that will be using light strings but you can get excess back bow with heavy strings.

it has a very simalar strength to weight ratio as mahogany but you have to bare in mind that its alot lighter than most mahogany so the strength will be lower.

all in all though its a good neck wood and not to soft as some people seem to think.

there is a simalar wood called guano (cederella guano i think) which is very simalar but much cleaner and with less gum deposits than the standard and gets mixed in with cederella oderata which i have been getting recently which i think is superior to the standard oderata type cedar.

anyway i digress spanish cedar is from south america and not related to the "real" cedars in any way.
spanish cedar is a hardwood and western red cedar is a soft wood and the two are in no way related which can often cause confusion.
i think gained the name cedar becouse of its smell but thats just speculation and i have no evidence for this theory.

Joel.

I've used it on a steel-string with no reinforcement other than a truss rod. It worked fine for me with no stability issues, but I use light strings on it. I used an ebony fingerboard which also helps. Generally it's maybe a little less bright than mahogany because of the lower strength and mass. I love the smell, especially combined with rio back and sides - that's what all guitars should smell like..

Cheers,
Bri