Guitar Neck: Chambered? Bubunga?

[Scrappy_Squirrel]

Why do some basses come with the option of a chambered neck? Do the chambers just reduce weight? How would a chambered neck effect a 6 string guitar? I was considering using square carbon-fiber tubing (instead of solid stock) for neck supports and realized this might create a chambered effect... Also, why aren't there more guitars, besides basses, that use Bubinga as a neck? How does Bubinga sound as a guitar neck? Is there any reason to not use Bubinga as a guitar neck? What about as a stiffener for a Limba neck, will it add some bright midrange, more bass, more sustain?

[killemall8]

well bubinga is extremly hard, and stiff, it works great for necks. i think the problem is finding a good straight grained piece. im guessig since it is so hard, it will create a maple like sound, or even more extreme.

[fookgub]

Never heard of a chambered neck... you sure you got that right?

[Scrappy_Squirrel]

Oops... It looks like I misunderstood what I was reading. When I did a keyword search for "chambered neck" it came up as "chambered neck through" but all of the links were for bass guitars, hmmmm... Although, I did find several references to Lap-steel guitars and some aluminum neck Travis Beam guitars as having chambered necks. So, what purpose does the chambered neck serve in a lap-steel. The Travis Beam, I imagine, is chambered for weight but I'm not sure. Anyone have any thoughts as to what effect small chambers, if any, would have on an electric?

[orgmorg]

The Travis Beam, I imagine, is chambered for weight but I'm not sure.

Most likely it is a cost issue. With aluminum, the neck would not have to be solid, and aluminim is expensive.

Anyone have any thoughts as to what effect small chambers, if any, would have on an electric?

On a wooden guitar neck? they would probably weaken it considerably. All the tone in the world won't make up for that.

[Hector]

weisenborns has hollow necks, not exactly. the are an extension of the body itself, so they are hollow, just like the body of a acoustic guitar.

on lap steel guitars you can hollow the neck to make it ligher, since it's one FAT neck. but on a regular electric, it wouldn't be a good idea.

I never saw anyone making chambers on a neck. it just doesn't make any sense for me. I think it would weaken the neck too much.

[Scrappy_Squirrel]

Well, I'm not really talking about chambering it in the conventional sense. I'm going to use carbon fiber rods from LMI on both sides of my truss rod. I was price shopping carbon rods and found a better price on square stock carbon fiber tubes: http://www.cstsales.com/carbon_square_tubes.html & http://www.hobby-lobby.com/carbonfiber.htm

I feel certain these would be strong enough as neck supports but I was considering what it would do to the sound having those carbon fiber channels running into the body of a chambered or hollow-body electric. I know the carbon fiber chambers would be minuscule but it seems that it would transmit something since the carbon fiber usually has direct contact with the fretboard.

Here are a couple more links for reasonably priced carbon:

http://www.acp-composites.com/acp-cr.htm

http://www.hobbylinc.com/prods/rf.htm

[Hector]

I was considering what it would do to the sound having those carbon fiber channels running into the body of a chambered or hollow-body electric.

I don't know if you could notice any difference at all.

the only thing you could do is try it.

I wouldn't do it, but that's just me.

[Setch]

Dude;

-Chambered neck-through

not

-Chambered-neck through.

Ya?