Hi folks just ordering what wood people think is best for the neck and fret board? Have to buy one soon so wanted to get some informed opinions.

Thanks

Views: 10218

Reply to This

Replies to This Discussion

I prefer maple for the neck, and either rosewood or cherry for the fingerboards. The lighter neck complements the darker fingerboard nicely in my opinion.

You can also use red oak, poplar, or most other hardwoods.

Thanks dan. Do you ever have any issues with the wood and fret board wood expanding and contracting at different rates with heat?

I don't know if it is heat related or how dry the wood is, but yes. Even commercially made guitar necks can have the fingerboard or neck shrink, thus exposing a bit of the fret wire. Usually you want the wood to be as old and dry as you can. Green wood will likely be a problem.

If you want to hedge your bets, you can always file the ends of the fret wire just a teeny bit to allow for shrinkage without affecting the playability.

If both woods are dried then it won't be a problem.

Quartersawn maple is traditionally the preferred wood for instrument necks, mahogany and poplar are also common. But really you can use pretty much any hardwood or even a softwood like yellow pine (which is harder than some hard woods). Fretboards are traditionally ebony or rosewood but both are expensive; preferably you'd want something very hard and oily or just hard and smooth.

If you are making your own guitar neck, the best wood is the wood that costs nothing, I can't pass by a skip (dumpster) without looking for old furniture. There's really no absolute "best", it a very personal choice.

Maple with oak center strip, oak or ash fretboard. Works great and I have a crap load of this wood on hand which might creat a bias.        Cheers Ron

 

For cigar box guitars, I like maple and maple. The reason is that the box is a warm sounding cedar wood and also a hollow chamber. The maple is a hardwood with a crisper, glassier sound. They go well together.

I've done rosewood and granadillo fretboards too. They're fine too. On regular guitars I actually prefer them, but for CBGs, maple has won me over.

Pine has a neat warm growly sound, but it can be kind of unstable. If you laminated several boards together I think that would help.

Like the others are saying, there is no "wrong" answer, it's just what you prefer or can get your hands on if your budget is limited.

1st,   I start with precut:  1.5 x 3/4  inch wood for the neck, its in this price range:

$1.30 ft,  tennessee red cedar

$1.20 ft, poplar,  kinda soft,  I test wood by sqweezing it, with my finger nail

$1.65 ft, red oak,  good for fret board

$1.70 ft, ash,  they make baseball bats with this stuff

$1.80 ft, alder

$1.90 ft,   birch,  is very hard

$2.10 ft,  maple,  fender stuff

$2.60 ft,  cherry

$2.65 ft,  african mahogany

$2..95 ft,  walnut

my 1st build,  I used, poplar for the neck and red oak glued to it for the fret board. It worked fine.

my 2nd, in process build, I am using birch for the neck, I did some wood carving on it, its harder stronger and heavier than poplar,

so far so good, will send you a pic of the carving if you like. I am going to use red oak again for the fretboard, but only because I can get it precut, and it worked fine the first time.

remember, first drill the fret dots, thenn, cut the fret slots, and in that order, OK,

CAM: OUT  1/5/13

 

I know in the end there is no right and wrong, but that they make baseball bats (and axes and hammers which are getting beaten even more) from Ash doesn´t make it good wood for stringed instruments, it,s though but to flexible, the traditional instrument making book i`ve got it says good for the sides and the bindings which you both don´t need on a CBG.

Where are you getting all those wood choices?

Thanks lads some good info there. I think I am going to with the maple for the neck and cherrywood/rosewood for the fretboard.

What thickness would be best for the fretboard? Just a little bit more than the tain on the fret wire? Or is it personal preference?

RSS

The Essential Pages

New to Cigar Box Nation? How to Play Cigar Box GuitarsFree Plans & How to Build Cigar Box GuitarsCigar Box Guitar Building Basics

Site Sponsor

Recommended Links & Resources


Forum

crossover guitar.

Started by Timothy Hunter in Other stuff - off topic, fun stuff, whatever. Last reply by Timothy Hunter Mar 21. 11 Replies

Tune up songs

Started by Ghostbuttons in Building Secrets, Tips, Advice, Discussion. Last reply by Timothy Hunter Mar 9. 5 Replies

Duel output jacks

Started by Justin Stanchfield in Building Secrets, Tips, Advice, Discussion. Last reply by Taffy Evans Mar 8. 6 Replies

How to Get Your Own Music on Spotify

Started by Cigar Box Nation in Feature Articles. Last reply by Southern Ray Feb 21. 2 Replies

CB Bass Guitar

Started by Mi Rankin in Building Secrets, Tips, Advice, Discussion. Last reply by Justin Stanchfield Jan 27. 5 Replies

Latest Activity

A.D.EKER commented on Dar Stellabotta's video
Thumbnail

A Cigar Box Guitar Six Stringer Built by Louie Lamanna

"i See Your ready to Blow away the GRAND STADIUM ! tree strings more of DAR DELIGHT !! Shine Girl !…"
3 hours ago
A.D.EKER commented on A.D.EKER's video
Thumbnail

Im Troubled (Tribute) Mc K Morganfield by BCB - A.D .Eker 2024.

"Thank you for the kind comments Doug! Glad you liked the Picture !"
4 hours ago
BrianQ. commented on Dar Stellabotta's video
8 hours ago
BrianQ. liked Dar Stellabotta's video
8 hours ago
Southern Ray commented on Southern Ray's photo
Thumbnail

Project Punch!

" Thank ya again Keith!"
10 hours ago
Southern Ray commented on Southern Ray's photo
Thumbnail

Punch Project!

" Thank Ya Keith!"
10 hours ago
Doug Thorsvik commented on AGP #'s photo
Thumbnail

AGP #527 - ''Led-Zep 2''

"This build really strung you along Alan! Reminded me of all my fishing line experiments; a lot of…"
12 hours ago
Doug Thorsvik commented on A.D.EKER's video
Thumbnail

Im Troubled (Tribute) Mc K Morganfield by BCB - A.D .Eker 2024.

"Diggin’ the slow blues. I like that last pic Andries! Look at all those cool guitars. Yeah!!!"
12 hours ago
Dar Stellabotta posted a video

A Cigar Box Guitar Six Stringer Built by Louie Lamanna

This video is the unboxing and the demonstration of a beautiful, six stringer built by Louie Lamanna. Join Louie and I June 15 at the second annual Pittsburg...
13 hours ago
Doug Thorsvik commented on Doug Thorsvik's video
Thumbnail

Hail the Resurrection Day: 2-String Violin Chugger Cigar Box Guitar

"Happy Easter to you too Andries! The passion is definitely in full swing. Turns out I’m…"
14 hours ago
A.D.EKER commented on Doug Thorsvik's video
Thumbnail

Hail the Resurrection Day: 2-String Violin Chugger Cigar Box Guitar

"Happy Easter Doug ! the Passion is in full swing !"
14 hours ago
A.D.EKER commented on Ricky D's photo
14 hours ago

Music

© 2024   Created by Ben "C. B. Gitty" Baker.   Powered by

Badges  |  Report an Issue  |  Terms of Service

\uastyle>\ud/** Scrollup **/\ud.scrollup {\ud background: url("https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/963882636?profile=original") no-repeat scroll 0 0 transparent;\ud bottom: 25px;\ud display: inline !important;\ud height: 40px;\ud opacity: 0.3 !important;\ud position: fixed;\ud right: 30px;\ud text-indent: -9999px;\ud width: 40px;\ud z-index: 999;\ud}\ud.scrollup:hover {\ud opacity:0.99!important;\ud}\ud \uascript type="text/javascript">\ud x$(document).ready(function(){\ud x$(window).scroll(function(){\ud if (x$(this).scrollTop() > 100) {\ud x$('.scrollup').fadeIn();\ud } else {\ud x$('.scrollup').fadeOut();\ud }\ud });\ud x$('.scrollup').click(function(){\ud x$("html, body").animate({ scrollTop: 0 }, 600);\ud return false;\ud });\ud });\ud \ua!-- End Scroll Up -->