neck cutouts

I'm building a couple of CBGs with poplar necks. The blanks are the usual 3/4" 1X2 stock from Lowes. How deep should the cutout in the neck inside the box be? I've cut back about 3/8", or half the thickness of the wood. Will the neck be stable enough, or am I risking snapping the neck once I get the strings on?

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  • Sounds right to me... let us know how it goes...
    thebest,

    Sam

    Vincent Cuenca said:
    Wichita Sam said:
    If your design requires that much material to be removed, I'd suggest you think about oak or hard maple.

    the best,

    Wichita Sam

    Design? Isn't that the pretty artwork on the cigar box label? *grin*

    I'm winging this sucker! I'm planning a couple of three-stringers anyway, as I get confused easily.

    No, seriously, 3/8" was the minimum depth of cut on the rotary saw I was using. I figured I'd save myself some time and effort. Guess I should have broken out the old pocketknife and wood rasp... Seriously though, I'm laminating on a 1/4" red oak fingerboard which will strengthen the neck somewhat, and I can just glue some more to the unexposed portion. This is why they call it a prototype!

    Thanks to everyone for the wise counsel!
  • Wichita Sam said:
    If your design requires that much material to be removed, I'd suggest you think about oak or hard maple.

    the best,

    Wichita Sam

    Design? Isn't that the pretty artwork on the cigar box label? *grin*

    I'm winging this sucker! I'm planning a couple of three-stringers anyway, as I get confused easily.

    No, seriously, 3/8" was the minimum depth of cut on the rotary saw I was using. I figured I'd save myself some time and effort. Guess I should have broken out the old pocketknife and wood rasp... Seriously though, I'm laminating on a 1/4" red oak fingerboard which will strengthen the neck somewhat, and I can just glue some more to the unexposed portion. This is why they call it a prototype!

    Thanks to everyone for the wise counsel!
  • 3/8" is a lot to remove from a popular 1X2. I'd get nervous with more than a 3 stringer, and even there I"d choose a "slack" tuning. Why so much? Even a fairly thick top isn't going beyond 1/4"...

    If you're looking to a really high string set above the body for "pickin' and grinnin", next time think about adding a seperate fretboard and leave more material for strength. If your design requires that much material to be removed, I'd suggest you think about oak or hard maple.

    the best,

    Wichita Sam
  • Thanks, Mort! I'm laminating on a red oak fingerboard, so I'll use some of the extra inside to brace up the neck. See, this is what I get for using power tools. *grumbles* durn raggum fraggum rotary saw...
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