Pine As A Neck Material?

[Black Mariah]

Before I start in with the real (read: COSTLY) wood I'm going to try my hand at building an archtop out of pine to practice the techniques a bit and I was wondering about the usefulness of pine as a neck material. I want to build this prototype as cheaply as possible so being able to use one bigass chunk of cheap wood is very tempting, but if pine is so bad as a neck material it wouldn't last for very long then I'll go ahead and get some maple.

[Hughes]

pine is a really weak, sappy wood...i dont know much more other then it really sucks.

i was making a table out of pine and it kept splintering...drove me nuts

good luck

[Nitefly SA]

it may be good just for getting a feel for making a neck and a body but as hughes said it is a VERY weak wood and would bow like no ones business if put under the tension strings produce.

[fryovanni]

Before I start in with the real (read: COSTLY) wood I'm going to try my hand at building an archtop out of pine to practice the techniques a bit and I was wondering about the usefulness of pine as a neck material. I want to build this prototype as cheaply as possible so being able to use one bigass chunk of cheap wood is very tempting, but if pine is so bad as a neck material it wouldn't last for very long then I'll go ahead and get some maple.

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If you want to build a working neck that will be stable and strong enough. Don't use Pine. If this is for practise go ahead and play with cheap 2x4's. If you want to make a working guitar that you want to use don't cut corners on neck wood Maple is cheap.

[Black Mariah]

Figured as much. I'm not expecting anything except practice but if by some twist of fate I end up with a decent body I'd hate to attach a crappy neck to it. I'll probably be able to find a suitable chunk of maple cheap enough. Thanks guys.

[weaponepsilon]

Pine isn't really good for much. Except burning.

I was at the wood store and they had these boards caught my eye. I looked at the name on the sitcker and it read simply "Bloodwood". Deep crimson look about them. Has anyone worked with that on anything? I gathered some ideas on a really slick blood red bass axe quickly after I looked at some of the curly maple and other darkwoods.

[fryovanni]

Pine isn't really good for much.  Except burning.

I was at the wood store and they had these boards caught my eye.  I looked at the name on the sitcker and it read simply "Bloodwood".  Deep crimson look about them.  Has anyone worked with that on anything?  I gathered some ideas on a really slick blood red bass axe quickly after I looked at some of the curly maple and other darkwoods.

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Bloodwood reminds me a lot of Bubinga. It is strong, durable and polishes well. It is well suited for neck stringers and fretboard material. Be mindful of its weight if you use it for a body. I personally like it especially for a bass.