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Hello All,

I make Selmer style guitars and have noticed that on the originals, the grain of the neck and tail blocks (Euro Walnut) is at right angles to the grain on the sides.. Most Selmer's have laminated Back/Sides but the grain orientation is the same even on the few models with non-laminated sides.. I am wondering if any of you do it this way? Seems this way, the neck and tail blocks would be oriented the same as the side supports (cross-grain) but might be more susceptible to splitting top to bottom. Any ideas?

Also, do any of you use Spruce for neck and tail blocks? If so, how much (if any) thicker do you make them than a mahogany neck-block? Is there really any net weight savings?

Thanks, Peter

My biggest issue with that orientation Peter is that then you are gluing the top and back onto the end of the blocks, that is not the best! As for spruce for these blocks. There are a few flat top makers that use it, or laminate it with maple or mahogany. But it is widely used in the Archtop Guitar world as that is what Benedetto recommends in his book. Peter Hopkins, a high end Archtop builder, has told me that he has never had a problem with spruce neck block in any of his guitars.

Shane

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Canada

Come on people! Give Peter some help here.....there must be more experience out there on this issue!

Oh ya....BUMP

Shane

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Canada

Peter: Think most folks have the grain running the same way as the sides.This helps to prevent stress in that both the sides and blocks will move in the approx. same amount during variations in RH. Running the blocks vertical I think leads to weaker construction due to susceptibility to splitting and weak glue joints as Shane mentioned. On the tail blocks I go against my own logic and put a vertical strip on the inside of the block with grain running at 90 degrees to the block. This is to prevent breakage if the guitar is dropped on the tail pin.The neck block is left as is.

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A person who has never made a mistake has never made anything!!!

I was taught by Al Carruth (and also Tom Knatt as I recall)to run the tailblcock grain perpendicular to the sides. They explained all the tradeoffs and settled on perpendicular. Now I have tried it the other way on occasion, mostly because I like how much easier it is to shape it to the top and back. And I good shape is worth something. But, in the end, I find it hard for me to go against something Al taught me without having a really really compelling reason to do it.