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I have three classicals I'm working on now and realized I don't have a piece of quartersawn spruce large enough for the endblocks. Do you think it would be ok to take 2 pieces of scrap soundboard material and laminate them together so I have a piece of wood thick enough to make an endblock? Also, what are your thoughts on alternative endblock material such as cedar or even rosewood, or a laminate of both?

Thanks!

John

Heck yeah! In fact I know there are a lot of us that use baltic birch for end blocks. One thing you might think about doing is making it three layers thick and alternating the grain orientation in the middle lam. That thing will be rock solid like that.
Alternative material is usable. Rosewood will be pretty heavy. Cedar is good and mahogany is good. But keep in mind that spruce has the highest strength to weight ratio of any wood.

I don't see why you couldn't do pretty much anything you want with them. If it is strong and light enough, should be fine. I have seen some laminations that looked pretty cool - even if nobody really gets to see it once the box is closed.

Donovan

Mario Does this. Look here . I've started doing it too - works like a champ!

-Mark

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John, that's what i did on my no 2 and ditto what Mark said!

1/2 inch baltic birch ply - 15 buck sheet makes about 40 !!!

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Tony Karol
www.karol-guitars.com
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I do what Tony does. Much lighter and stronger, and less hassle than making your own.
Tracy

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Tracy
http://www.luthiersuppliers.com

[quote]One thing you might think about doing is making it three layers thick and alternating the grain orientation in the middle lam. That thing will be rock solid like that. [/quote]

Yea! It's called plywood!

     If you can lam a neck block, one can surely do it to a end block! Probably everybody should be doing it!

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Billy Dean Thomas
Covina, CA

"Multi famam, conscientiam, pauci verentur."
(Many fear their reputation, few their conscience)

Laminated spruce end blocks are so easy to shape too!

John,

Fleta would laminate his endblocks...his had a top and bottom strip with a tongue and groove joint (like flooring) that ran with the grain of the side and the center core was at 90 degrees running top to bottom. I dont know what his reasoning for such an elaborate end block but he swore by it. He also laminated his headblocks the same way.

Because he came to guitar building after already being well established building violin family instruments his guitars were unusual in that he used a dovetail joint for the neck instead of the traditional spanish foot (unusual for a Spanish builder).

He used 9 fan braces, built on the heavy side and the angle of the head, neck and bridge of his guitars was higher than most other builders. But what matters in the end is not the choice of the endblock, it is the sound and there were many that appreciated the tone of his guitars. I do not have a Fleta in my collection yet but compared to the price of some, Fleta's are still very reasonable, so maybe some day.

Now you have a historic precident for making your classical endblock laminated. Shawn38917.9641782407

Yep
I use baltic birch for my tail block!!!!!!
I use mahog for my neck block since it is more visible

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Andy Z.
http://www.lazydogguitars.com

[QUOTE=Billy T] If you can lam a neck block, one can surely do it to a end block! Probably everybody should be doing it!
[/QUOTE]

Does anyone have experience with a laminated neck block? I usually find myself without a piece of mahogany that is the right size, but I hesitate to laminate a stack of smaller pieces. I make a bolt-on style neck joint, so I am worried about the strength of the joint.

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[QUOTE=WayneC] Does anyone have experience with a laminated neck block? [/QUOTE]

Wayne, I don't personally have any experience with it but I was looking at Howard Klepper's web site yesterdayand saw his, you should go over and take a look at his neck blocks.

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Dave Rector
Rector Guitars

Thanks! I will do that.

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I don't know if it counts as laminated but I always use three piece headblocks. In fact I glued one on last night.    My headblocks use both a top extension to bolt the neck extension on to and a Spanish heel so I use three pieces to get the grain orientation I want. This is the partially shaped one I put on last night. Made from Cherry to match the neck.



ColinColin S38919.4592013889

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Colin,

Thanks! A picture is worth 100 words. I can see exactly what you mean about the grain orientation; end grain gluing surfaces are minimized. I may use this style on the next one.

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53% of all statistics are made up on the spot
http://driftwoodguitars.blogspot.com/

[quote]but I was looking at Howard Klepper's web site yesterdayand saw his, you should go over and take a look at his neck blocks.[/quote]

    Howard goes into the how's and why's pretty well, if I remember right! I think he uses 6 blocks?

Billy Dean

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Billy Dean Thomas
Covina, CA

"Multi famam, conscientiam, pauci verentur."
(Many fear their reputation, few their conscience)