Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by David McQueen on June 6, 2014 at 12:22am

I have used black ash and maple. Both make nice necks. I used birch for the fret board with the ash. I coat it with mineral oil. It needs lots of coats so it won't soil.

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Permalink Reply by Uncle John on June 6, 2014 at 1:01am

I really liked ash the time I used it.  Maple is good, but seems to get looking dirty with play.   I have had success with pine or spruce.  I have used a light weight so called Hickory from Menards.  

I'll tell you, the old vids recommend poplar. I am not convinced.   It is light and works easy- almost too easy.   I don't always like the color of it. 

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Permalink Reply by Dan Sleep on June 6, 2014 at 4:25am

I'm with Uncle John on poplar, I don't like the looks of it either. I use maple almost exclusively. You can put the frets directly into the neck, or add a fingerboard on. It is fine grained, and doesn't bow and warp like red oak does. And, it is available at most home improvement stores.

If you pick through the pile, you can often find nice pieces of tiger or birds eye figuring if you are lucky.

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Permalink Reply by David McQueen on June 6, 2014 at 6:58am

I have had boxes that were poplar ply on top and bottom. I have also used poplar for the head veneer. My issue has been putting a finish on poplar. The grain does not want to lie down or take a stain. This has led me to stay away from it as neck material.

I have used red oak on a lot of necks. It was worked well for me. However, I have gone from acoustic to electric strings, putting a lighter load on the necks. It seems easier and a whole lot cheaper here to get straight oak than to get straight maple.

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Permalink Reply by John Sawyer on June 6, 2014 at 1:28pm

I've used maple, poplar, walnut, and alder...

If you stain poplar with a nice light brown stain, it is less green looking.  I generally use Danish oil as a finish, or boiled linseed cut with mineral spirits...

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Permalink Reply by The Phrygian Kid on June 6, 2014 at 3:45pm

I'm on the other side of the world. What you call vanilla I call exotic. And vicky vercko..

But I'll give you this tip. Flooring. Decking. Glue a couple together, turn it on its side, plane it flat. That shit won't move.

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Permalink Reply by John Sawyer on June 6, 2014 at 6:34pm

Brilliant!

I have an old pallet aging in the sun, and a 3-pack of uke tuners just arrived... Methinks it's time to make a few!

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Permalink Reply by The Capo Kid on June 8, 2014 at 12:01am

 Thanks for your reply's , but it seems nobody has used these timbers for necks , but I bought it any way as part of a bundle of 2 necks ( 1 beech and 1 white ash ) and 4 finger boards ( 2 walnut and 2 mahogany ) , £12.99 + p/p , not very pleased with my last lot of finger boards I bought , so i'll try this guy .

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Permalink Reply by Andy K on June 8, 2014 at 6:30am

Hi I used beech and ash for my first two builds as they were the first two pieces of hardwood that I came across for free. As they were my first builds I didn't bother with fretboards and quite liked the patterns of the grain on the beech neck.

CBG beech neck pic 1

CBG beech neck pic 2

The piece of ash wasn't the best quality - it was very easy to work but splintered quite easily. Had to use purfling strips along the edge of the frets or would have ended up with a neck about half an inch wide from constantly sanding it down!

CBG ash neck pic 1

CBG ash neck pic 2

Sounds like a good deal you got there. Would be great to hear how you get on.

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