Official Luthiers Forum!

I have the opportunity to acquire some old (50 yrs seasoned) Dark Red Meranti. O was wondering wht any of you think about it as a neck wood. I haven't seen it yet so don't know how it is sawn. Not a true mahogany for sure but sometimes known as Phillipine Mahogany. Much harder than Light Red Meranti or Luan as far as I have learned from my research.

Craig

Never heard of it, so I did a search.

http://www.wood-database.com/lumber-ide ... d-meranti/

If it's like luaun, I wouldn't touch it for instruments.

_________________
"Act your age, not your shoe size" - Prince

There's quite a bit of dark red meranti (including the neck) in this instrument. Now about 4 years old and no problems with it at all. The dark red stuff works and behaves very similar to Honduras Mahogany (swietenia macrophylla). Well, this stuff, at least, did! The sides are dark red meranti, too, and I had no difficulty bending them, though I wouldn't have fancied trying to bend the light red meranti I've come across (very brittle).

Meranti of various types is frequently used for necks in Asian built guitars. I've seen some DOA on import with the head snapped off, mainly due to bad piece selection rather than it being a poor species choice. Given the numbers made, it seems to survive quite well.

_________________
Trevor Gore, Luthier. Australian hand made acoustic guitars, classical guitars; custom guitar design and build; guitar design instruction.

http://www.goreguitars.com.au

You ever try to drill it?
It's like old chewing gum.

_________________
"Act your age, not your shoe size" - Prince

I've had quite a bit of it. I have never used it in an instrument so can't advise you about that. However, the material I've had is strong, very lustrous and machines beautifully. Yes, I've drilled it, sawn it, planed it, scraped it and sanded it. The quartered faces on my stock are especially beautiful. I have not tried to bend it. I used it in furniture and have never had a problem. Of course, that's a different set of design issues than instrument building.

Can you obtain a sample piece first? I think your own experimentation would quickly tell you whether you will like it.

Dark red meranti? Stepped tuner holes, bolt on double tenon neck joint - drills fine. Routed truss rod slot - no problem. Planes easily. Carves a lot easier than some woods I've tried. Light red meranti is a different beast, but usable. As ever, it depends a lot on the piece selected.

_________________
Trevor Gore, Luthier. Australian hand made acoustic guitars, classical guitars; custom guitar design and build; guitar design instruction.

http://www.goreguitars.com.au

I've used it for guitar necks. It works O.K. Moderately heavy for a neck, and a little "stringy" to mill. It is a bit coarse textured. South american and African mahoganies are a little easier to work with and finish nicer in my opinion, but dark red meranti is quite usable and usually less expensive.

Waiting to hear back from the owner, looking forward to seeing it.
He also has some genuine Mahogany but is "holding out for the best price".

http://www.unclehildes.com/products.asp ... stoAdd=532

The second entry down lists a 1X4X2' piece for $0.25/pc. That would be a pretty cost effective guitar neck.