metallisomething Posted February 15, 2005 Report Share Posted February 15, 2005 I am planning on making a neck-through design guitar and i have a piece of flatsawn maple i am planning on using for the neck and center section of the body. I know Strats all use flatsawn necks with truss rods, but these are all, of course, bolt-ons. My concern is that the guitar will be weaker past toward the bridge, past the truss rod. Does flatsawn have the strength? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eddiewarlock Posted February 15, 2005 Report Share Posted February 15, 2005 sure it does, and if you use a good truss rod it's way better, i assume you're gonna use hard rock maple, good luck Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moreau Posted February 15, 2005 Report Share Posted February 15, 2005 I dont know how well flatsawn will work as opposed to quartersawn. in youre making a neck thru, you should have about enough room to turn the neck on its side, should you not? I understand that flatsawn is used and has been used for necks, but for all the time and trouble of building a neck thru, and having a bummed neck sounds pretty disappointing. save the disappointment and use quartersawn. If youre gonna spend the time n money, should do it rite. just my opinion... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eddiewarlock Posted February 15, 2005 Report Share Posted February 15, 2005 how about getting another flatsawn piece, glue it to the another flatsawn piece you already have, flip it on one side and you'll have a laminated, quartersawn neck? i think it's best that way Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rhoads56 Posted February 15, 2005 Report Share Posted February 15, 2005 Just use it flat sawn. It is still way stronger than quartersawn mahogany, and you wouldnt be worried about using that.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Setch Posted February 15, 2005 Report Share Posted February 15, 2005 True 'dat. I've used flatsawn mahogany for a few necks and that works fine too. Quarter sawn is preferable, but not essential. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Southpa Posted February 16, 2005 Report Share Posted February 16, 2005 (edited) I'm facing something similar. Sometimes you just have to use whats available, especially if you get the wood for free in the first place. I was given a 1/4-sawn 2X4 (eastern maple), unfortunately, 1/4 sawn the wrong way. But i got it split and with some squaring and planing I have 2 neck blanks, each 7/8" thick. Thats just a bit thin for a tele/strat style one piece so i will have to cap with a maple fretboard. The cap should provide a little extra stiffening anyway. Edited February 16, 2005 by Southpa Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fryovanni Posted February 16, 2005 Report Share Posted February 16, 2005 I prefer to laminate the necks I use ( just because I think it adds a bit more stability, only my opinion correct or not???), and they usually are quartersawn more often than not (mainly because when I laminate flat sawn wood is turned on edge making it closer to quarter). I really see no reason why flatsawn would not work Maple is very strong flat or quartered. If you get a thumbs up from Rhodes & Setch I would go for it ( I have a lot of respect for both of their opinions). Peace, Rich Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ihocky2 Posted April 12, 2006 Report Share Posted April 12, 2006 How well would flat sawn walnut work? I have several pieces of it and want to make a bolt on neck (Strat style). I have to double check, but I think they are thick enough that I can use them as is. But if I have to I will glue up some laminates. Once they would be laminated would I have to turn them on end to make them more like 1/4 sawn or would they be fine left in a flat sawn position? I think the pieces are 4"x7/8" thick, but they may be only 3/4" thick in which case they would end up too thin until I finish shaping and sanding them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hoser Rob Posted April 14, 2006 Report Share Posted April 14, 2006 I think you could use flatsawn no problem as long as the wood is seasoned enough. The truss rod has little effect past the point where the neck thickens as it gets near the body. I'd probably use a scarf joint and a headstock truss adjustment with a good double action rod. That way if the rod ever breaks (well, it does happen) you stand a chance of getting it out without removing the fretboard. You could also inlay graphite bars into the neck. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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