Zebra Wood Neck

[Mahelcaya]

What do you think of a lamineted ZEBRAWOOD / MAPLE or ZEBRAWOOD / MOHOGANY neck for a 7 string, I never saw one but was planning to make it, anybody ever experience that one one of your creations?

[skibum5545]

IIRC correctly, there was some concern in a previous topic with zebrawood cracking too easily; however, I also believe the consensus was that it could be done given that the wood was straight, unwarped, and totally crack free.

Wait for some confirmation though!

[RGGR]

I have seen Zebrawood as fineer or thin wood layer on body, but never on a neck.

Aren't you looking for stable, dense woods for a neck?? Not highly figured, or spalted type woods????

Any pics of that Zebrawood????

[Devon Headen]

I believe (not from experience) zebrano is pretty dense stable stuff, but it's a bit brittle. I don't see why it wouldn't work. Especially if you laminate it.

[tdog]

I would not recommend Zebrano for use in a neck. It is a fairly dense wood, but it can be brittle.....It is surprisingly stable, but can develop small, almost microscopic checks or cracks, even after a finish has been applied. I've worked with Zebrano for about 10 years and it would make a great top for your project, but experience tells me to stay away from it as a neck material......There are many other better choices available.....I just would not run the risk of those tiny checks.....only 1 could compromise the integrity of your neck. I'm sure you could build a laminated neck with Zebra, combined with other proven woods, and it would work well......but why take the chance.........The is a lot of mechanical force working on the neck.

......my 2 cents

[Mahelcaya]

Thanks guys,

I think I'll just use Maple with Mohogany laminated for the neck,

I'll post pisc of the Zebrano soon

[bigdguitars]

zebrawood sucks. its really brittle. It does develop small cracks, so if your environment changes a lot expect some problems.

I glued up a top that I thought was stable, turns out that after I cut the piece in half micro cracks developed that turned into larger cracks... was a large pain.

[truerussian558]

if used it for a fretboard, it came out ok (wood wise (apretty big bomb construction wise)), but i had several concerns.

1. The fine brown dust gets everywhere and takes forever to get out, most importatntly it clogs up and can dull the saw you are using to cut it wirh

2. Even though it is actually denser and "stronger" then maple, it is much more brittle, I used some offcut as a clamping caul and the direct pressure from a small (like 1.5" c clamp) actually broke it clear into 2 pieces. In my ex[perinece ( I actually broke several zebrano cauls) The breaks where actually along the grain line (almost dead on)

[Hotrock]

Reading this thread is a bit worrying because I've built a maple:zebrano:maple neck. It's not attatched to the guitar yet but I've built it. The only problem I've had with it is the end grain just goes shiney when I was trying to sand it, the stuffs like granite

It keeps getting moved around my house and I live in England so obviously the conditions it's kept in keep changing - humidity, temperature, cat sitting on it, etc and I haven't had any problems.

BUT - If the experts say don't use it then go with them, I'm an egit.

I will say that I got the wood out of the neck laminates section of the woodstore so.......... hmmm

[Mahelcaya]

Well, I am actually planning in making only the solid body completely in Zebrawood, and bolt on with a laminated neck like in my Last Project. It's reacting very well that wood, thanks for the suggenstions everyone

[truerussian558]

odd the grain on my zebrano turns satin after sanding.