Guitar Neck

[ZacJM]

I was viewing through this:
viewtopic.php?f=20&t=1581

and I saw that he made the body out of two pieces of wood, can this same idea be used to make a guitar neck? If I took two or more pieces of wood that aren't bit enough on their own to be a neck and glued them together? Just curious, the idea came to me today when I found a huge pile of wood in my dad's garage that he will probably never use.

[TerryTNM]

Making necks from smaller pieces to me is more desirable. The laminating process makes the neck stiffer and stronger than a single piece. Laminated necks are seen often on higher end instruments but there is more to it than just gluing up multiple pieces. Grain orientation and other influences are critical. I suggest you do some research before diving in.

good luck - Terry

[ZacJM]

What would be a good thing to look up if I want to do research on it?
All the wood is the same type, its a big stack of wood of the same type. I'll check out some stuff on it and see if I have what I would need to pull it off.

[TerryTNM]

Try the Musical Instrument Makers Forum http://www.mimf.com/

All woods are not equal for making necks. Maple and Mahogany are the most popular.

[oipunkguy]

also watch the video on you tube of semie working in his factory. if you reverse the grain on two pieces of wood it tends to help a lot. a lot of mosrites had a 4 piece neck, my ovation from the 70's is a five piece. often times you will also see several laminates in a neck through design for the same reason.

[ZacJM]

Would it be better to glue it all before shaping it or shape then glue? Reason I ask is because the saw I was going to use, a scroll saw I believe, didn't have a big enough area to cut it. I may just have to use something else if it needs to be cut up after being glued.

~Zac

[oigun]

You can roughly cut it and than glue. The final shaping you have to do when the wood is glued anyways. Make sure that the glueing surfaces are perfectly flat, You can use a plane or long sanding blocks. And.... don't forget to put the trussrod in

[ZacJM]

Alright thanks for the tips, I'll show you guys some pictures when I get this thing finished.

[oipunkguy]

often times two planks of wood is glued together first for the neck, then cut. then two more pieces are added on the headstock for the "ears". this is a pretty common construction technique for martin, gibson, mosrite, etc. usually fender necks are all one solid piece. but really you can do the gluing before or after, it really all depends on your situation. if you have limited work space, gluing after cutting is a logical approach. can't wait to see pictures

[ZacJM]

Its more of an assistance kind of thing. I've only got a scroll saw to use, we have a table saw but I don't have anyone else to help me work it. The Scroll saw would be fine but it can't fit all the wood together when its all glued. I think I may piece it in two parts then that will attach. I'll get some photos when I got what hopefully will be a finished product neck wise.