Got some padouk and some wenge

[guitman32]

So I have a padouk board (37.5x6x1) and a wenge board (72x4x1), and I need to make a neck. Im not quite sure what to do. Initially I had planed on making a 3 piece laminate of maple and bubinga, but I would have to wait to get these woods, and I am tired of waiting already.

So the way I see it, if I am to make due with these woods, here are my options:

1. A 1 piece, straight headstock, padouk neck, with maybe a wenge fb

2. A laminate of padouk and wenge, and get some rosewood (or other wood) for the fb, angled headstock

3. 1 piece wenge neck, straight headstock

--any other crazy combo, suggestions welcome----

Would you all ditch these woods (which are quite the odd combination for guitar necks), or make something of it? Ohh and one more thing, I originally wanted an angled headstock, but unless I go laminate, Ill have to settle with straight. That presents another problem, cause im making it a JEM body style, and a strat style headstock would look weird with that body

[Primal]

I would definately not ditch the wood. Personally I would do either #2 or #3.

[gwm]

if you wanted to, you could get an angled head using just one board and a scarf joint. i believe this is what ibanez does to achieve the angle.

be careful with the wenge. that stuff can give some nasty splinters.

[skibum5545]

I'd go with a p/w/p lam neck. wenge fb, angled headstock (scarf or otherwise).

[guitman32]

I am not doing a scarf joint, as I do not like then very much...no real reason, they just dont look as nice, In my opinion.

Right now I am leaning to a p/w/p laminate, with an angled headstock. I am still considering a one piece padouk, though.

Has anyone done a neck with a straight headstock (using a 1inch or 3/4 inch board), and NOT made a strat or tele style headstock?? I think I could do a prs or warmoth construction shape and not do an angle...what do yall think??

[A_M]

Another p/w/p vote here.

Also, a question about something I've thought about before. I've always thought it would look cool to split the center laminate of a three piece neck vertically, and cut the truss rod slot out of the lower piece, then glue them together again. And then glue on the outer pieces to hide the seam. I'd then use the whole thing w/o a separate fingerboard. So do you more experienced builder think it would somehow be a bad idea to use a laminate for a fretboard like that? I personally think a padouk/wenge/padouk neck built like that without a separate fingerboard would look awesome, but perhaps better suited for a custom designed neck-thru than a JEM.

[Primal]

I've actually always liked the look of scarf joints. You could always do something like what Warmoth does with their bass necks:

[litchfield]

Go W/P/W with Wenge fretboard

[Curtis P]

if it is thick enough, then you can take a fe cuts on the trusty band saw and turn that thick straight headstock into an angled one, thats what i did on mine and it turned out fine

Curtis

[guitman32]

Well, if were to make a 1 piece out of padouk or the wenge, it wouldnt be thick enough for an angle (at 1 inch thick). I dunno how thick yours was Curtis, but at that 1 inch, the angle would be pretty small no? I If I were to laminate it though, then it would be no problem.

So ive been checking out pics at warmoth, and I kinda like the look of the W/P/W laminate...the red down the middle looks prettty sweet, like in the pic Primal posted.

I see what youre saying A_M...so since I am using pretty hard woods for the neck anyways, make it so you can see the laminate without a separate FB. Interesting idea, but that whole truss rob scheme could get a little hairy....