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Hey all,

I am considering building a maple laminated neck with a cocobolo center strip/stringer. Has anyone else here tried that? If so, did you have any joint failures or issues. I have seen some acoustic builders use it before, but I am concerned about the longterm.


Thanks,
Rob

Main problem with cocobolo is getting a good glue up. It's very oily. To be safe wipe down the surface with some acetone just prior to gluing to remove any oils. Other than that I don't know why cocobolo would cause any other issues with stability.

I've used Cocobolo in a few neck layups. I usually glue with fish and have never had an issue. I do not wipe with acetone, but usually make sure the cocobolo has been freshly sanded. No known failures so far.

The bigger issue for me is carving a neck like this. Especially a maple/cocobolo neck. I did a maple/ziricote neck last year and it was a pain to carve (compared to Mahogany). The rasps I normally use to carve mahogany and such just skated over the ziricote and didn't work near as nice on the Maple either. Maybe you have some experience with this (I think you might be making electrics and already use maple?), but if you are used to carving mahogany and than try a maple laminate be prepared for more work.


Josh

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Josh House

Canadian Luthier Supply
http://www.canadianluthiersupply.com
https://www.facebook.com/canadianluthiersupply?ref=hl
House Guitars - Custom Built Acoustic Instruments.
http://www.houseguitars.com

Hey Filippo,

You are right that my rasps probably are on the dull side. It is one of those things I guess I don't really notice since I'm mainly working Mahogany and they still work great for that. But it sure shows up with other woods. They are Nickolson rasps. A few new rasps have been on my wish list anyway...

Josh

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Josh House

Canadian Luthier Supply
http://www.canadianluthiersupply.com
https://www.facebook.com/canadianluthiersupply?ref=hl
House Guitars - Custom Built Acoustic Instruments.
http://www.houseguitars.com

Thanks Filippo,

I've had these rasps for a while and I'm pretty sure they are pre-Brazil. I have been eyeing up some of those other ones you mentioned. Should probably make that investment sooner than later.

I also use one of these http://www.leevalley.com/en/wood/page.aspx?p=44838&cat=1,130,43409,43424 and just bought one of these http://www.leevalley.com/en/wood/page.aspx?p=71098&cat=51&ap=2

They help to speed up the neck carving process especially in some of the tougher woods. You just don't want to slip!

Josh

_________________
Josh House

Canadian Luthier Supply
http://www.canadianluthiersupply.com
https://www.facebook.com/canadianluthiersupply?ref=hl
House Guitars - Custom Built Acoustic Instruments.
http://www.houseguitars.com

I bought two Iwasaki rasps a couple weeks ago and they are the bomb. I'm using them on a maple/walnut/curly maple neck and they are effortless. You have to approach the curly at nearly a 70° angle or else it tears out, but because of how sharp they are they allow for a great deal of finesse as well as fast material removal. I also find filing the neck smooth is much faster than with a traditional toothed rasp.

Well those tools do look like they may speed up the process. I do use rasps but on my last two necks I have switched to doing most the of the cutting with a LN Boggs spokeshave. My life has gotten much easier.

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http://www.Harvestmoonguitars.com

My flat sole Boggs, a gift from my wife, has become one of my dream tools, so much that I even put it back in it leather case after I use it. I find it very well balanced and comfortable to use.

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http://www.Harvestmoonguitars.com

If you can find a Shinto saw rasp, it works very well...

I have also discovered maple doesn't work nearly as well as mahogany, I've just did a laminated maple/purpleheart neck. The only issue I have is one portion of the lamination did not close up like they should... I'm hoping it will not be shown on the final product.

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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

I've used cocobolo in many neck laminations and also have never had any gluing issues.

I too use the cocobolo immediately from the thickness sander and glue up using fish glue.

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http://www.bobmatthewsguitars.co.uk

Do you use fiber veneer sheets for the purfling like lines on the neck in the 3rd picture ?



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Nope, not fibre sheets, I use real veneers and these are Indian rosewood and maple.

Bob

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http://www.bobmatthewsguitars.co.uk

Thanks. Looks great.


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