I've been using Poplar for my necks. How about Oak? What is the best if I have a choice?
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I've been using Poplar for my necks. How about Oak? What is the best if I have a choice?
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I posted this in another thread but, seems like it works here:
"I haved picked up several cast off bed head and footboards(solid wood, not pressboard) I believe most are maple but I'm no expert on wood identification. The boards are usually 3/4" thick and stable."
I often go to Woodcraft and get different hardwoods in board foot measurements, also get the fretboard material there .. They have all kinds of different selections, I got African Mahogany last week. Made three necks from it for less than $20. Look around. There are deals everywhere. I looked up where you live and there is a Woodcraft in a nearby town 20 miles away from you called Hurst. Believe me it's worth the short trip. Plus it's cool to wander around and window shop. Happy building.
Any hard wood will work if you get the right grain. Having said that some have properties that recommend them more than others. A fine grain helps for fret slots (Unless you use a separate fret board) and with the ease of finishing to give a good feel to the neck. Without a truss rod a stronger wood like ash or maple doesn't hurt. Well dried wood is important to keep it from shape shifting on you later. I have used maple, mahogany rosewood and walnut. My favorite is curly (fiddleback or tiger) maple. Oak would work, but has large open grain and may not give as smooth a feel as you slide up and down the neck. But with enough TLC during finishing, you can overcome that. The biggest thing is to get absolutely straight quarter sawn grain. If you are taking the time to make a guitar, your wood should match the effort.
I think maple is my favorite so far. It is pretty easy for me to find very figured pieces I've used poplar, oak and mahogany as well.
I like to take 1x2 sticks from Lowes or Home Depot and glue two pieces on the 2" face together making a 2x2 stick. I orient this with the two 1" edges pointing vertical and plane it smooth finally decking it flat with a 36" long strip of sandpaper from a cut belt. 120 grit or so. Then I glue on a fretboard to the flat edge so you get something like quarter sawn lumber. It is supah strong.
If I can't find 1x2 sticks then I'll buy planed 1x6 or whatever is available and rip them down to width.
I love the fact that "any hard wood" works! I've made them with Poplar, Walnut, Maple and yes, Red Oak. All have been very successful, and yes, poplar is the easiest to work with.
John
Thank you everyone for your replies. You all have been very helpful.
I get quartersawn wood from a Amish cabinet builder...heres a good read from fender
http://www.fender.com/news/quartersawn-necks/
I like just about any hardwood. I've been using a lot of oak lately, but I also like mahogany and maple. Poplar isn't bad for a painted neck, but I'm not much for it stained or lacquered/varnished/urethaned. I'm going to be branching out into other woods this year. Already have some walnut that's just screaming to be made into a neck.
As to sourcing materials, just a suggestion here, so take it with as many grains/pounds of salt as you see fit. Try a local cabinet shop, and ask if you can buy some of their scrap. Lots of folks use 3/4" X 1 1/2" stock for guitar necks, and that happens to be one of the standard sizes for cabinet face frame material. Stock that's 3/4" X 2 is a bit more common, but if you have a table saw or planer, it's no big deal to trim it to width. Most shops will gladly sell you pieces of scrap around 3' long or more, and many of them will just give it to you to get rid of it. Especially if it's something that's been hanging around for a long time. I find that I get a lot more offers to just "take it - get it out of here" if I offer to buy than if I just ask if I can have it. Even when buying stock, the most I've ever paid was around $1 for a 4' long piece of pecan. Most will gladly sell you long sticks of 3/4" X 1 1/2" of stock if they have it to spare. It's worth asking. I mean the worst they can say is no, right?
OH - and if they give you permission to root through their scrap to see what they have, please don't make a huge mess, and clean up after yourself if you do. They'll appreciate the effort and be more willing to let you come back for more down the road.
I have a cabinet shop that has a "burn pile" Help ur greedy self is mostly what I hear ,, if u can use it they want u to have it as it less trouble for them. I strongly suggest u hunt one up in ur area .. surprise ,, U'll always get good grade wood ,, as it's a cabinet shop!!!
Agree wholeheartedly with Rusty
I am lucky that the Home Depot by me has maple 1x2s available. I don't really care for poplar due to the coloring, but it is easy to work with. The oak I find is usually warped or bowed, so I have to do some work on them if I want to use them for a neck.
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