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I got this Khaya neck blank from LMI today, and it's really light compared to any Khaya I have worked with. In fact it's much lighter than the heel block I will be putting on it. I'm concerned about a significant color mismatch...

In the picture is the neck blank, and behind it is the khaya back I ordered along with it. Note the significant color difference.

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Cat-gut strings are made from kitten guts, stretched out to near breaking point and then hardened with grue saliva. As a result these give a feeling of Pain and anguish whenever played, and often end up playing themselves backwards as part of satanic rituals.

Typhoon Guitars
http://www.typhoon-guitars.com

It wouldn't bother me in the slightest. a neck that is a bit lighter than the back just looks to me like an aesthetic choice. For my eyes, those colors don't clash. Think of all the rosewood guitars with mahogany necks.... preference is a personal thing, but I'd build with it. Finally, if you're looking to match them I suppose you could stain the neck with a light stain to darken it.

Dye them both and you won't have a problem.

I guess the bigger problem is that the heel block I will use to build the heel up is probably going to be much darker than the neck itself. I hate staining wood because I tried repairing stained finish, it's hard!

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Cat-gut strings are made from kitten guts, stretched out to near breaking point and then hardened with grue saliva. As a result these give a feeling of Pain and anguish whenever played, and often end up playing themselves backwards as part of satanic rituals.

Typhoon Guitars
http://www.typhoon-guitars.com

Tai,
I guess what I would do then is either send it back and request they match the woods (which I am sure they will do) or keep the neck blank for something else and order a new one (again requesting they choose one with a darker color).

Or you could use what you have and paint the back of the headstock and the bottom of the heel black and fade it into the center of the neck. I have seen this done on a lot of guitars and it makes for a very nice looking neck.



Like this:


Bob

Hi Tai,
Set it out in the sun for a few hours. I bought some rough sawn Khaya that had the typical mahogany color on the surface. When I cut and planed it, it was practically white. I'm sure it will darken in time. If you are in hurry paint it with a dilute solution of potassium permaganate (available at some pool supply places) and it will darken almost immediately.

I guess I will try and build with it and see how it turns out. Perhaps when finished it will darken to the same golden brown color that mahogany is known for...

_________________
Cat-gut strings are made from kitten guts, stretched out to near breaking point and then hardened with grue saliva. As a result these give a feeling of Pain and anguish whenever played, and often end up playing themselves backwards as part of satanic rituals.

Typhoon Guitars
http://www.typhoon-guitars.com

I have seen some very expensive classical guitars where the heel build up is a much darker wood than the neck.

Were the neck and heel stock in the same order?

I mixed dark amber and light yellow dye and applied it directly to the Khaya to achieve a golden color.
The body and neck ended up with a good color match.

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wah
Wah-wah-wah-wah
Wah

No, they weren't the same order. I just ordered the neck shaft because LMI does not have a 4" x 3" x 3" heel block in Khaya, only honduran mahogany. I already have a heel block of that size with me so I didn't need another one.

_________________
Cat-gut strings are made from kitten guts, stretched out to near breaking point and then hardened with grue saliva. As a result these give a feeling of Pain and anguish whenever played, and often end up playing themselves backwards as part of satanic rituals.

Typhoon Guitars
http://www.typhoon-guitars.com

Khaya is all over the place color and density-wise. Live and learn. Like others have said if you need the heel to match then staining is the way to go. The lighter stuff is much much easier to carve if that's any consolation.

i used to get mismatched stuff from lmi -fret boards and bridge blanks. then i just asked them to color and grain match if they could, and haven't had a problem since.