Figured VS normal neck wood?

[GuitarMaestro]

There are many people that recommend to only use wood with as less variation in the grain as possible for necks, because in theory this should allow the fastest transfer of tone and therefore the best responsivness and tone. I like figured wood for necks very much and used nothing else so far. For bodies many people think that figured wood adds more "character" and "variation" to the overal tone. I wonder what you think. Do you hear a difference between figured and unfigured neck woods? For example regular hard maple and curly maple?

[Scott Rosenberger]

I think the grain has more to do with stability than tone. I think the density and porousity of any particular wood has more to do with it. This is just my opinion, I'm sure others will disagree

[guitar_ed]

Hi GM,

The issue is this: Figured woods tend not to 1/4 sawn, thus the wood is less stable. And a truss rod can only do so much. I suspect that a good solution to this issue is carbon fiber rods inserted into the neck. Although, I have not tried this nor do I know anybody who has.

Guitar Ed

Advice worth what you paid for it. Nothing.

[GuitarMaestro]

Thanks for the answers. You got me wrong though. I know about the stability problems of figured woods. Therefore I built all my necks so far from laminates of figured wood and bubinga stripes. They all work great. I am not asking about stability, etc. I am just interested in the tonal difference....

[Scott Rosenberger]

I am just interested in the tonal difference....

I don't think there is any as long as the species of wood is the same ie, Eastern Maple vs Eastern Figured maple

[badasstommyboy]

The difference, if there is one, will be extremely small. I doubt you'd be able to tell the difference.

[Devon Headen]

The difference, if there is one, will be extremely small. I doubt you'd be able to tell the difference.

ditto