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Non-quarter-sawn neck?
http://www.luthiersforum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=10101&t=49834
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Author:  sdsollod [ Fri Oct 20, 2017 5:31 pm ]
Post subject:  Non-quarter-sawn neck?

I have always used quarter-sawn necks on my builds. I'm working on a maple OOO 12fret and I was thinking of possibly using a maple neck and I have a non-quarter-sawn and highly figured maple neck blank that I could do a scarf joint and stacked heel. Would that be a mistake? Fender does non-quarter-sawn maple neck all the time with no issues... Also, I was going to use a non-quarter-sawn cocobolo fingerboard. Am I asking for trouble?

Author:  Haans [ Fri Oct 20, 2017 7:59 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Non-quarter-sawn neck?

Gilson used to do it on F5's because the flame was better flatsawn than quartersawn.
.You may be asking for trouble with heel glue joints on a maple neck. Dyed or sunburst is a different story

Author:  Clay S. [ Sat Oct 21, 2017 7:17 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Non-quarter-sawn neck?

"You may be asking for trouble with heel glue joints on a maple neck."

+1
You might do a block heel - probably still be noticeable, but less distracting than a bunch of small pieces.
My gut feeling is that quartersawn or flatsawn would both be o.k. but I would avoid tangential grain lumber. Again this is a "gut" feeling and others with more experience may know better.

Author:  jfmckenna [ Sat Oct 21, 2017 8:30 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Non-quarter-sawn neck?

Trouble becasue you will see the glue line in a stacked maple heal?

I've been using flat sawn mahogany more and more lately. I have a lot of it in stock and while I could make 3 piece necks that are vertical grain I don't really find it necessary. Mahogany is very stable in any direction. There are pluses and minuses to anything we do in this craft it seems. QS wood is less expansive between the annular rings but a neck is only about 2in wide too so there won't be a huge amount of movement. On the other hand an FS scarf joint might be better since it's not end to end grain joint. It's still generally the case that most people, guitar makers too, believe QS is stiffer and stronger than FS but it's simply not true. Some will argue that QS is better for tone, I find that dubious.

Like you said, Fender has been doing it for... How many years?

Author:  sdsollod [ Sat Oct 21, 2017 8:43 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Non-quarter-sawn neck?

That is a good point about visible glue joints on a maple stacked heel... I have looked all over for a piece of figured maple in 3"x4"x30" dimension and I just can't find it. gaah Anyone know where I can get one?

Author:  StephenW [ Sat Oct 21, 2017 9:55 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Non-quarter-sawn neck?

Dunlap Woodcrafts here in northern VA probably has what you are looking for. They supply flamed maple neck billets to some banjo makers. I purchased one from them some years ago that's 32.25" x 4+" x 3.75". I don't know about shipping because I'm local. Their website leaves a bit to be desired, but it does supply their phone number.

Author:  printer2 [ Sat Oct 21, 2017 10:38 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Non-quarter-sawn neck?

I am using a flat sawn maple for a ukulele that I am building. I stacked the heel and you have to be looking for it to see the joints. Might be more apparent when it gets finish on it though but with it being flat sawn the grain lines are on the same plane as the joint it doesn't look too bad.

Author:  Pmaj7 [ Sat Oct 21, 2017 11:21 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Non-quarter-sawn neck?

printer2 wrote:
with it being flat sawn the grain lines are on the same plane as the joint it doesn't look too bad.

Makes sense!

Side billets are usually around 2in thick but sometimes you can find them 2 1/2 - 3. Usually quarter-sawn, but the ones that are quilted are typically Flat sawn from what I've seen.

Rockler had some of those curly 2x2's for $5. I just cut 2 one piece soprano NEX from one of them.

Author:  Bryan Bear [ Sat Oct 21, 2017 6:42 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Non-quarter-sawn neck?

I think laminating the heel or a heel block will be really noticeable in any neck made with figured woods. I have avoided this by laminating two halves long way with a contrasting strip in the middle, if the board is wide enough to provide the heel depth. I’m doing something a little different on the neck i’m working on now. It is maple but not figured. I have three center strip lines in the middle but didn’t have enough depth for the heel so I glued in a piece to match the outer layers of the lamination between the shaft and the heel block. Hopefully when it is carved that piece will make a nice “U” shape as well as servings as a termination for the center stripes that don’t go all the way down the heel.

Author:  JRE Productions [ Sun Oct 22, 2017 1:52 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Non-quarter-sawn neck?

From a players standpoint, I enjoy a flat sawn or rift sawn neck much better that quarter sawn. Quarter sawn necks are very stiff and I personally feel reduce the amount of vibrations they transfer to the body. I have made around 700 guitar necks of all wood grains. The necks I get the most customer compliments from a musical standpoint are rift sawn closely followed by flat sawn. While the necks with the most compliments for looks is quarter sawn.

Author:  Mark Mc [ Sun Oct 22, 2017 2:28 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Non-quarter-sawn neck?

Regarding the problem of a stacked heel - the visible joins - one of the contributors to ANZLF recently posted a nice little parlor guitar with the lines in the heel deliberately accentuated by adding thin black layers. You can see it here: http://www.anzlf.com/viewtopic.php?f=25&t=7912. It suits his instrument which has lots of fancy ornamentation, but wouldn't be your choice for every job.

Author:  phavriluk [ Sun Oct 22, 2017 8:30 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Non-quarter-sawn neck?

My personal opinion is that I'd ignore trying to disguise the layers of a stacked heel and make the best of the wood I had and do the tightest gluing job I could between the layers. Nice work needn't be hidden, says me.

Author:  Mark Mc [ Sun Oct 22, 2017 10:42 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Non-quarter-sawn neck?

"Nice needn't be hidden, says me."

And so say all of us!

Author:  DennisK [ Sun Oct 22, 2017 11:47 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Non-quarter-sawn neck?

As always, I recommend vertical heel lamination instead of stacking to make the glue lines look nicer.
Attachment:
HeelGrain.jpg

Not sure it would look good enough with highly figured maple, though. How about a completely different figured wood like mahogany for the heel, with a layer of black-white-black inbetween to give some contrast? Especially if you give the headstock a matching backplate.

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