Official Luthiers Forum!

I have a customer who wants a new neck built for a strat type guitar. He was asking about the use of spalted maple for the neck wood, which I did not think was a good idea stability wise.

The goal is for a streaky look to the maple. I think ambrosa would work for the looks, but what about stability?

Thanks for you input!

Louis

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- Louis Freilicher

Oh No! Not another learning experience!

You could use weaker wood, just epoxy in some graphite on either side of the truss rod and you'll be fine. I used Graphite in two 5 String Bass Necks and wow, I can jump up and down on those necks.

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http://www.dickeyguitars.com

Both maples can have soft spots and tiny cracks not visible till ya work the wood.
I've done a spalt neck after inspecting it very carefully for defects and everyone who sees it just flips.
I use allot of Ambrosia for rosettes and fine lots of defects like the beetle holes(Ambrosia beetle) and soft punky spots not at all usable for a rose so I'd be very carful using it for a neck!

Mike

www.collinsguitars.com

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Mike Collins