I am sure this has been discussed to death, but I was wondering what the best materials to use for CBG necks are.
I have used in the past, to good success, the 1" x 2" poplar boards you can get at Lowe's pretty cheap.
But is that really the best?
There has got to be some other options that you could recommend I explore.
I know some people believe in using only reclaimed materials, and I agree that is a wonderful way to go.
But I am more interested in places to go (store names or types of stores) and buy select pieces of quality lumber (having a decent selection) at frugal prices (I am not looking to buy luthier-grade woods; I am keeping things economy and utilitarian), as well as any other wood types you'd recommend (other than poplar).
thank you for your help!
Replies
Hit up a local cabinet shop or two. Cabinet makers settled on 3/4" X 1 1/2" as standard face frame stock years ago, and any shop that builds face frame type cabinets will have plenty. It never hurts to ask if they have some to sell - heck, some will even let you rummage through their scrap pile and take what you want just to get rid of it. As long as you don't make a mess in the process, of course.
There really isn't a "best" wood for necks. That's kind of like asking which is better - day or night. Some woods are better for necks and such, and others aren't very good candidates. I've seen everything from maple and walnut to mahogany in factory made guitars. CBG makers use all of the above and just whatever else they can get their hands on. Cherry is a good candidate, as is birch, ash, or just about any hard wood, really. Soft woods, not so much. They're better for making boxes with rather than necks.
Well if your on a budget i`d say lowes has pre-cut poplar and oak. But if you have some extra cash and want a great neck wood go with mahogany.
I'm only on my second build right now, so I probably don't qualify as an expert. But the first build was a short-scale (18") fretless 3-string with high action, meant to be played with a slide. I used the poplar 1x2 everyone's talking about for the neck, and used the 1/4" x 2" "project poplar" or whatever it's called for the fingerboard. It came out great, and the poplar was a compete joy to work with.
My second build is modeled on a Greek baglamas, which is basically a "trichordo" bouzouki, except tuned up one octave, i.e. a three-course instrument with 6-strings tuned Dd-aa-dd. Even though the scale length is only 375 mm (about 14.75"), I thought this would be subjected to much higher tension than the first project, so I opted for the maple 1x2 for the neck, rather than the poplar, and still the same 1/4"x2" poplar for the fretboard. Due to factors I won't go into, my "shop" is currently my kitchen table and a Workmate in my living room. I work with non-electric hand tools exclusively, except for an electric hand-drill, and I have to say that the maple has been a total pain in the neck (no pun intended) to work with. Working maple with hand-planes, etc, without a proper workbench, is pretty challenging. \
Since starting this project, I've decided that using maple was definitely overkill - I read that traditional baglamas were carved as one piece (the neck and body, that is), from a single block of a wood like basswood (lime) or butternut, both of which are much easier to carve and work with hand tools than maple is, and those traditional instruments held up just fine.
So I guess the answer is, it depends on what you're doing. A full-scale 6 string guitar probably does better with a wood like maple for the neck, and may even need a truss rod to keep it from being pulled up. But a lot of the 3 and 4-string instruments that we tend to make probably don't need that much strength in the neck - lightness and workability are more important. And, of course, if you've got a fully equipped power-tool shop, it probably doesn't matter all that much what you use, other than that, if you make it too heavy, it'll be a pain to play it...
ok mike here's the thing I'm in a situation where I not only build c.b.gs, but i like you design and build out side of the cigar box lo i've got a beauty of a walking dulcimer that has better sound than some of the professional models that I've listened to and the reason is simple l take as much time as it takes to get the job done right . not that all of my builds have come out like this one although I've been doing this off and on for a while I still make mistakes ,the trick is to never be in a rush to get it done no matter what as soon as i start to go faster my wife tells me to slow down and if i don't well there goes some more fire wood out the door and on to the wood pile have fun with it and don't worry about what anyone one else thinks if you think you can do it odds are you can . among other things I am a painter mostly watercolor though lately I've been getting into the acrylics and i'm finding that I'm having fun with them too mostly i'm doing nature scenes but i do some abstract stuff too mostly I paint when i'm in too much pain to work at anything else . this sometimes produces some very strange peaces of "art" like one series I've been painting for the last 15 years or so called "fierce fish" matter of fact I recently started one that I will be putting on my motorcycle's gas tank , one on each side of it both of the "fierce fish" are totally new ones so it should be interesting .more later my wife just got up from her nap, so it is backgammon time see yah s.oldwolf
I live in Canada so the wood available here may not be the same, or priced the same as other places. Poplar, maple, red and white oak are readily available and not too expensive. My personal favourite combination is a maple neck with a red oak fingerboard. I choose this mostly for cosmetic reasons. Any of these woods are strong enough.
Padauk and ebony.
Stephen oldwolf here let me tell you real quick the best bet is still poplar and red oak from Lowes /home depot that is the combination I've been using from day one. also after doing some research I've discovered that some of the larger companies are using lime wood and that has about the same basic properties and workability as poplar ,(poplar is however cheaper)there are a great many things that can be done with this often ignored wood for example I know of one company who is using it for harp sides for full size entry level instruments and there not at all shy about telling the customer that ,that is what is being used .as to the sound ... yes there are some species of wood out there that, blow poplar away sound wise ,but all in all it has a very warm ,clean clear tone that carries very well when used in a well built instrument . when used with red oak it only gets better in that regard. think about this , for me to buy 1 piece of cherry wood that is 19"x30"it will cost me $35.00 not including shipping the piece of music ply wood to make the front of the thing is the same . so there goes $70.00 bucks before I even get started never mind the red oak 1/4"x1/4"x36"from lowes /home depot, go to hobby lobby for your small wood they generally have a better selection, including maple, that I know can be worked by hand and glued up with epoxy etc.to build necks and some of the maple I've found there was/is very nicely figured and once sanded and lacquered looks like it came out of a professional shop . I'm not a pro by any means I'm just like most of you guys ,a disabled vet with more time o my hands than I care to have and a need to do something to keep from going nuts . I'm building cbg's and walking dulcimers I repair old guitars and I have a shop that is located in one half of the living room of the house , I've been blessed with a very understanding wife who knows how to keep her man happy . I have very few power tools and I do most of my work by hand , this makes for longer build times and all that goes with it , but I think I end up with a better product in the long run either way I'm having fun doing it and isn't that what it is all about? good luck and i hope I've managed to answer some of your questions along the way Stephen Oldwolf
Wow - another hand tool guy who's using his living room as his shop! I thought I was the only one... I'd be really interested in hearing more about your set-up, tools, etc.
rear well mike the way I see it my wife works 6 days per. week and what the gov. gives me is a crime s.s.d. is no better and between them they were trying to drive me out of what was left of my mind .then I met my wife ...we have been together for just over a year and have been married for the last8 /9 months during that time I have managed to get myself involved in working with a local church group who help out folks who need more help than we do . I use my talents such as they are to bring smiles to the faces of folks who would not usually have anything to smile about.....ok enough preaching...lol I have my shop set up in the back half of the living room because the temp.here in fl. can get just a little bit warm, and its hard to work when you cant see for the sweat pouring down your face. I use almost all hand tools many of them old school and more than a few home made by me when i need to do something and I don't have the tool for the job i usually just make something to get it done and move on to the next thing ... i'm nothing special i am just trying to help my wife to pay the bills and have a bit of fun in the process ill share more with yah later when i'm feeling better go ahead an add me to your friend list and we can chat back an forth .I remain S, oldwolf
For more selections try Woodcrafter supply its a chain go to the web site and find nearest location.
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