Woods for neck

[Biohazard]

Hi, I was wondering if I could get some help of people here about woods for guitar necks. I was going to have a neck built from birdseye maple. However, I think I remember once someone or somewhere mentioning how the birdseye maple will not be as good as plain rock maple. Can anyone give their input on this please. Thanks.

[Scott Rosenberger]

Birdseye Maple and Rock Maple are the same species. Birdseyes just appear in some of the lumber.

[GuitarMaestro]

As Scott wrote both woods come from the same tree. There are people claiming that birdseye maple has more tendency to warp and is less stable then plain maple. I myself think it works perfect, although I did not build aa neck out if it yet.

Why would companies like Musicman and Warmoth sell birdseye maple necks if there were any serious issues. As long as the wood was properly dried and select it should work great.

[hyunsu]

hi..

birdseye maple is difiicult to make neck..

i make 2 birdseye maple . and in use spokenshave.. remain 2~3mm or more..

i experience birdseye maple 's birdseye falls out.. ^^

hole's depth 2mm .. T_T

so i use spokenshave for rough, and use sandpaper #80 #150 #220 #320

use sandpaper is safety..

in make neck.. curly or birdseye is difficult than normal wood.

but rough spokenshave, and use sandpaper is good

remain spokenshave at least 3mm or more and use sandpaper..

[Devon Headen]

Would you need to leave the 3mm with figured maple too? It makes sense to in birdseye maple if the "birdseyes" fall out, but if you need to in figured maple what's the reason? I've never worked with it before for a neck, so forgive me if this is obvious.

[Scott Rosenberger]

Power tools can tear the wood out in big chunks, I've never used a spokeshave so I can't comment on this. The reason you would route/shape the neck larger is so in case the wood tears out you can still sand it to final shape and get around the tearout.

[JohnJohn]

I've never used a router for neck shaping,spoke shave or rasp.

[Biohazard]

Thanks for the input. Much appreciated.

[GuitarMaestro]

Would you need to leave the 3mm with figured maple too?

Yes....I definately recommend that. I built three curly maple necks so far using a spokeshave. Would I not have left about 2mm and sanded the rest there would have been no chance to get a flat surface, as the tear out is yuite heavy.

[Guest Litchfield Custom Gutars]

I think you are remembering when I said quilt isnt strong or stable enough for a neck. Everything else is fine, at least to my knowledge