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| Ash for necks, endblocks? http://w-ww.luthiersforum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=10101&t=18674 |
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| Author: | Frei [ Fri Sep 05, 2008 7:08 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Ash for necks, endblocks? |
I have heard Ash is very stable, and I know it was used in Lutes alot. Anyone use if for neck-blocks and or necks? |
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| Author: | joel Thompson [ Sat Sep 06, 2008 9:46 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Ash for necks, endblocks? |
i have heard people using it for electrics but not acoustics. it can be quite heavy or very light depending on where its grown but its not very pretty unless you get the figured stuff or olive ash (that said the curly stuff takes a lovely mahogany stain). this may be one of the reasons its not used much. it can be very stable (like any wood if its dried properly etc) but i am not sure of its strength to wieght ratio. i would need to look that up. if your thinking of using it i would suggest a test instrument for you personal use and leave strung up and play regulary for at least two years to see if it stands up to the our exacting demands before offering it as standard neck on your comisions etc. I have sold alot figured (english) alder for electric necks recently and i would have thought ash would slightly more suitable. give it a go you get some lovely figured materiel very cheap these days. Joel. |
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| Author: | Laurent Brondel [ Sat Sep 06, 2008 12:26 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Ash for necks, endblocks? |
If you want to get old school, willow or basswood look much better unfinished. Cherry is great, and very stable. I am not sure ash is particularly stable, its main property is flexibility. Swamp ash tends to be lighter, Northern ash is quite heavy. It's the best firewood I know, dries fast, burns hot and steady and leaves plenty of coals. It has huge pores. I use it for rods in my go-bar deck and in the woodstove. |
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| Author: | Todd Rose [ Sat Sep 06, 2008 12:37 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Ash for necks, endblocks? |
White and black ash are both plenty strong, in the vicinity of cherry, maple, and walnut for bending strength (all of which have been used successfully for steel string guitar necks). Personally, I think plain, straight grained, quartersawn ash is a very handsome wood. Not showy, but neither is plain mahogany. The golden color is lovely... beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Downsides: 1. Heavy 2. More difficult to carve than other neck woods (but certainly not insurmountable in that regard) 3. Deep pores in light colored wood means it's easy to accidentally get dark dust in the pores that will not come out easily and that will look bad under finish (don't ask me how I know this!). So, you must be careful, THOROUGHLY blow out all the pores with compressed air before finishing, and THOROUGHLY check and recheck to make sure all the pores are clean as a whistle. |
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| Author: | Todd Rose [ Sat Sep 06, 2008 1:38 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Ash for necks, endblocks? |
Ash is plenty stable. As with all woods, a lot depends on the selection and proper drying of the individual piece. |
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| Author: | Mark Groza [ Sat Sep 06, 2008 8:27 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Ash for necks, endblocks? |
I have built many flutes with it and it has been real stable.It also has given me some of the best tone you can get from any wood.I have also thought of useing for necks as well although it might not be very good under tension as it can be bent very easy.I'm using it for sides and back on an acoustic i'm building right now.I like the the volume and tone i get on my flutes and hope this guitar does the same. Mark |
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| Author: | douglas ingram [ Sat Sep 06, 2008 9:08 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Ash for necks, endblocks? |
I've found that Ash responds VERY differently to air vs. kiln drying. Air dried retains its flexibility much better, kiln is more brittle when bending. I use it for canoe building. I have pulled, for tonewood, some lovely Ash from locally grown trees. Nicely quartered and very fine grain due to the northern growing conditions. Its not like what I get from my hardwood supplier at all! I have found that Birch is more stable,lighter, and of a finer grain texture, than any Ash. Cherry still likes to move, but it's stable if you cut it oversize and then work it to final form. I love Cherry, but I'm also becoming a fan of Birch, its very under-rated. |
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| Author: | Steve Kinnaird [ Sat Sep 06, 2008 9:22 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Ash for necks, endblocks? |
I was wondering if my bro would chime in here... Since he hasn't (yet) I'll post one of his pics. He used curly ash for the trim out on a ziricote guitar, and paired that with a curly ash neck. I admit I would not have thought of this combo, but I like it!  Steve |
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