Suitable wood for one piece necks?

mowcheeba · February 5th, 2008, 07:11 AM

I am about to build a T style guitar from native wood here in Chile.
Only problem is no maple or rosewood.........could always
order some rosewood for the fretboard but it would be from Brazil or Bolivia.

There is a mahogany like wood here called "lingue" but I have never
seen a one piece mahogany neck so I am not sure what to do. Why
are mahogany never used in one piece necks?

Basically two options at the moment, Lingue(Mahogany)/Rosewood two piece neck or a Lingue(mahogany) one piece neck.
Any ideas?

eryque · February 5th, 2008, 11:26 AM

I don't see any reason why a wood that's strong enough for a 2 piece neck wouldn't be strong enough for a one piece neck. Mahogany is pretty strong stuff, I don't think you'll have a problem.

reddogbass · February 5th, 2008, 02:12 PM

I assume when you say "one-piece neck," you mean with integral fingerboard. Mahogany is a plenty strong neck material (lots of them out there), but not necessarily hard on the surface, so fingerboard wear could be an issue. Add a rosewood board.

jwells393 · February 5th, 2008, 02:51 PM

Why do you want a one piece neck? Do you want to use the one piece neck building method. If so glue a rosewood fretboard on your mahogany neck blank and proceed as if it were one piece.

Robert(og) · February 5th, 2008, 02:53 PM

one piece mohogany necks are more prevalent(sp?) than you think
many archtops are flat sawn mohog(high end archtops)
i had heard from someone that for a period of time gibson used a scarf joint not becuz the wood wasn't big enough but rather becuz it created the angle that they wanted.
and besides if you are shaping the neck with spole shaves/draw knives/ rasps mohog is MUCH easier to work with rather than maple.

mowcheeba · February 5th, 2008, 06:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jwells393

Why do you want a one piece neck? Do you want to use the one piece neck building method. If so glue a rosewood fretboard on your mahogany neck blank and proceed as if it were one piece.

It doesn't necessarily have to be a one piece neck but I have no idea
where to order rosewood her in Chile. Also seem to
prefer the feel of one piece necks with lacquered fingerboard. The plan
was building a guitar with Chilean wood but maybe I can get hold of some
Bolivian rosewood which I could accept without losing the "idea".

February 5th, 2008, 07:11 AM	#1 (permalink)
mowcheeba Tele-Holic Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Norway/Sweden-Temporarily Age: 31 Posts: 721 48 Photos	Suitable wood for one piece necks? I am about to build a T style guitar from native wood here in Chile. Only problem is no maple or rosewood.........could always order some rosewood for the fretboard but it would be from Brazil or Bolivia. There is a mahogany like wood here called "lingue" but I have never seen a one piece mahogany neck so I am not sure what to do. Why are mahogany never used in one piece necks? Basically two options at the moment, Lingue(Mahogany)/Rosewood two piece neck or a Lingue(mahogany) one piece neck. Any ideas?

February 5th, 2008, 11:26 AM	#2 (permalink)
eryque Poster Extraordinaire Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: albany, ny [not chicago] Posts: 7,126 44 Photos	I don't see any reason why a wood that's strong enough for a 2 piece neck wouldn't be strong enough for a one piece neck. Mahogany is pretty strong stuff, I don't think you'll have a problem. __________________ my blog: eryque.blogspot.com Updated 9.17.08! Subscribe_____________________

February 5th, 2008, 02:51 PM	#4 (permalink)
jwells393 Doctor of Teleocity Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Albuquerque, USA Age: 64 Posts: 12,247 101 Photos	Why do you want a one piece neck? Do you want to use the one piece neck building method. If so glue a rosewood fretboard on your mahogany neck blank and proceed as if it were one piece. __________________ Jack's Disclaimer: When I say something.... always ask yourself ..... "What the hell does he know?" _ Guys - learn to disable the flash on your digital cameras.

February 5th, 2008, 02:12 PM	#3 (permalink)
reddogbass Tele-Holic Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Portland, Oregon Age: 62 Posts: 603 5 Photos	I assume when you say "one-piece neck," you mean with integral fingerboard. Mahogany is a plenty strong neck material (lots of them out there), but not necessarily hard on the surface, so fingerboard wear could be an issue. Add a rosewood board.

February 5th, 2008, 02:53 PM	#5 (permalink)
Robert(og) Tele-Meister Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: crawfordsville In. Age: 22 Posts: 128	one piece mohogany necks are more prevalent(sp?) than you think many archtops are flat sawn mohog(high end archtops) i had heard from someone that for a period of time gibson used a scarf joint not becuz the wood wasn't big enough but rather becuz it created the angle that they wanted. and besides if you are shaping the neck with spole shaves/draw knives/ rasps mohog is MUCH easier to work with rather than maple.