What would be a good test of pieces of timber..to determine suitability and best use for a neck and fretboard?
I have three great large pieces of timber (planks) from which I can mill and machine a few necks and a few fretboards.
Now I have many options from these:
1. One piece neck and fretboard.
2. Laminated neck. Same timber or mix timbers
3. Laminated Fretboard to neck. ...so...which timber to choose for neck and which for fretboard?
All have passed my "fingernail densitometer" test.
All have passed my "knuckle tap" resonator test. Confirmed by a wood to wood tap.
All have passed by "eye-ometer" on the end grain test.
Conclussion - I think they are all relatively dense hardwoods with fine straight grain. All are stable and dry. All are warp free.
I have no way of identifying these woods!
So how do I choose what is best for what?
Any other tests I can do?
Tags:
Craig,
You might post some pictures here and we can see if we can help identify it. It sounds like it should make good neck/fret boards from how you have described it.
Dan
Sandpaper... If 100 grit does little to it, it must be Maple.
Poplar is one of the softer hardwoods, but still works great with or without a laminated fretboard...
Hi Craig.
I think you may be over-thinking it. If they are all hard hardwood, then any one of the three should make a fine neck. If you are using hand tools to build your necks, then a softer hardwood might be good to start on. I would think about what other woods you are planning to use in the project and pick woods that "go together" well. For instance, laminate together a neck using contrasting colors, or match the neck (or contrast the neck) from the color wood used for the fretboard (and/or sound box). I like to save the piece with the nicest grain pattern for use as the fretboard. I have used softer hardwoods to laminate together necks, and then in similar instruments used a "solid core" of hard hardwood, and I found the "solid core" necks sound better (sweeter sounding), but that's my subjective opinion. I do a "solid core" neck because I build "paddle-box" style stick dulcimers by gluing on two much longer sapelli (or cherry) wood slats (0.5cm thick) to either side of the solid core neck (&headstock) and these slats also form the sides of the roughly triangular sound box.
-Rand.
Thanx guys for all replies.
Thinking..thinking...
It s because I cant identify them...they are unknown "qualities".
I am sure they will all do the CBG job. I aint buildng a Steinway Grand Piano after all. Ha.
like you say, you aint building a Steinway.
I try to bend it over my knee. If it wont bend, I figure it will work.
Stating the obvious, why not learn how to identify the wood? It's knowledge that does come in handy over the years. There's plenty of resources on the internet - a lot of timber is quite easily identifiable by its color and grain pattern.
The red mahogany type timbers are good for necks,generally close straight grained and easy to work.Pale harder woods,maple and sycamore,are good for fingerboards and contrast well with the mahogany types.Try the timbers together and if you like the the combination make it.
Started by J. D. Woods in Performances, How to Play, Lessons, Concerts. Last reply by Southern Ray 7 hours ago. 8 Replies 1 Like
Started by Southern Ray in Other stuff - off topic, fun stuff, whatever. Last reply by Southern Ray 7 hours ago. 6 Replies 0 Likes
Started by J. D. Woods in Performances, How to Play, Lessons, Concerts. Last reply by BrianQ. yesterday. 4 Replies 0 Likes
Started by Rich Butters in Building Secrets, Tips, Advice, Discussion. Last reply by Crazed Fandango on Tuesday. 4 Replies 0 Likes
Started by Nomad Jack in Performances, How to Play, Lessons, Concerts. Last reply by J. D. Woods Apr 17. 7 Replies 2 Likes
Started by Moritz Voegeli in Building Secrets, Tips, Advice, Discussion. Last reply by Southern Ray Apr 14. 6 Replies 2 Likes
Started by Timothy Hunter in Other stuff - off topic, fun stuff, whatever. Last reply by Timothy Hunter Apr 10. 14 Replies 3 Likes
Started by Tom T in Building Secrets, Tips, Advice, Discussion. Last reply by Southern Ray Apr 9. 9 Replies 0 Likes
Started by Southern Ray in Building Secrets, Tips, Advice, Discussion. Last reply by Southern Ray Apr 4. 7 Replies 1 Like
Started by Timothy Hunter in Building Secrets, Tips, Advice, Discussion. Last reply by Southern Ray Mar 27. 1 Reply 2 Likes
Started by Taffy Evans in Building Secrets, Tips, Advice, Discussion. Last reply by Southern Ray Mar 10. 1 Reply 3 Likes
Started by Cigar Box Nation in Feature Articles. Last reply by BrianQ. Mar 9. 4 Replies 3 Likes
Started by Ghostbuttons in Building Secrets, Tips, Advice, Discussion. Last reply by Timothy Hunter Mar 9. 5 Replies 1 Like
Started by Justin Stanchfield in Building Secrets, Tips, Advice, Discussion. Last reply by Taffy Evans Mar 8. 6 Replies 0 Likes
Started by Ken I in Building Secrets, Tips, Advice, Discussion. Last reply by Brian partington Mar 8. 8 Replies 0 Likes
Started by Southern Ray in Cool gear discussion - that's not cigar box related. Last reply by Southern Ray Mar 6. 5 Replies 0 Likes
Started by Taffy Evans in Other stuff - off topic, fun stuff, whatever. Last reply by Taffy Evans Mar 5. 4 Replies 2 Likes
Started by Justin Stanchfield in Building Secrets, Tips, Advice, Discussion. Last reply by Carl Floyd Mar 1. 15 Replies 0 Likes
Started by Joe in Performances, How to Play, Lessons, Concerts. Last reply by Carl Floyd Feb 29. 13 Replies 0 Likes
Started by Chance in Building Secrets, Tips, Advice, Discussion. Last reply by Southern Ray Feb 22. 12 Replies 1 Like
Posted by Vlad on March 31, 2024 at 11:48pm 0 Comments 1 Like
Posted by Vlad on March 6, 2024 at 2:32am 5 Comments 2 Likes
Posted by billy jones bluez on February 28, 2024 at 2:09pm 0 Comments 0 Likes
Posted by billy jones bluez on February 17, 2024 at 11:00pm 0 Comments 0 Likes
Posted by Vlad on February 11, 2024 at 1:06am 1 Comment 1 Like
May 11, 2024 from 11am to 8pm – Speakeasy Grill
0 Comments 0 LikesMay 30, 2024 from 6:30pm to 10pm – The Casual Pint of Huntsville
0 Comments 0 Likes© 2024 Created by Ben "C. B. Gitty" Baker. Powered by
Cigar Box Nation is presented by C. B. Gitty Crafter Supply, your one-stop-shop for Cigar Box Guitar parts and accessories!