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Why is maple not more popular in the acoustic guitar world? Does it too bright? Doesn't sustain as long? With mahogany getting more expensive I tried walnut on the last one. Not sure if it was the walnut neck or my first try with hickory,but it did sound brighter. I'm thinking of using walnut sandwiching a piece of 1/4" maple. Clinton

Clinton,  I am patiently waiting any responses for this too! I wondered this myself when I bought a flamed maple neck blank intended for an acoustic, and want to add maple necks to future ones as well. 

A friend has a beautiful EIRW dread with a flamed maple neck, so if its good enough for Grit Laskin to build with, its good enough for me!

 

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The Osage orange guitar I just built has a figured maple neck on it. I dont know how much the maple added to the sound of the guitar, but it sure does sound good!

Maple is a LOT harder to shape and work than mahogany. I dont know if this could be the reason that it isnt used as much for acoustics.

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Reguards,

Ken H

Maple is not really that uncommon on acoustics. I would guess it has
to be the second most popular choice behind mahogany. All the soft
maple necks on old parlors and so many Chicago instruments, all of
Gibson's maple necks in various eras and models. There are still a good
many builders using laminated maple necks today.

It does strike me as ironic though, that I have no problem finding 12/4
mahogany at my lumber mill, but have a hell of a time finding any maple
thicker than 6/4. Could very well be another example of supply
influencing usage in our trade, and that historical usage in turn shaping
our modern predispositions and preferences. Like flatsawn maple necks
on Fenders - it's only what people want now because that's what they're
used to and have learned to call good. Then that's only because 4/4 flat
sawn maple was what Leo could find suitable, cheap, widely available, and
easy to finish.

And like Ken said, it's easy to work with. It's usually quite a consistent
wood with a relatively low chance of finding flaws and knots and pits as
you are shaping. It's stiff enough to do the job, and look good too. I'm
not saying there's no tonal reasons for mahogany over others, but I doubt
that's the main reason it became popular. While we have a habit of
looking for more inspiring reasons as to how standards like this develop
in our trade, there are usually much more simple business decisions
behind it.

Cherry is fast becoming a popular alternative as well. Easier to work than
maple, a mellow color more akin to mahogany, yet requires no pore
filling. Seems like an obvious choice for me. I'm not a big fan of walnut
though, which is probably just because I associate it so much with
dulcimers.

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Eschew obfuscation, espouse elucidation.

Besides all those Fender (and knock-off) necks, maple is of course the standard in all violin family necks, as well as most arch top guitars and arch top mandolin family instruments. It is certainly a 'tried and true' neck wood! The unfigured pieces are quite stable and strong, more figure generally means less stable. I don't think maple is difficult to shape, at least not the plain stuff, the only real downside I can think of for an acoustic is the weight.

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Rian Gitar og Mandolin

Never thought about the weight! Good point. I haven't thought about using cherry either. To tell the truth, I'm a bit ignorant of cherry. No hidden surprises when you start shaping cherry? My local wood sources carry mahogany but not quartered sawn. After sorting through their stock I found 4/4 QS maple,where I would scarf the neck. I'm using walnut now because,well, it's what I got. Clinton

Kiln drying thick maple in the USA is a very expensive proposition and it is very easy to case harden and /or sticker burn. Air drying for a mill is a economic non-starter. Use flat sawn and put on edge to get a laminated 1/4 sawn, even more stable this way.

Dean

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Dean

While cherry is not as buttery or consistent as mahogany, it still is fine for carving and machining with few surprises. It is closed grain, too, so finishes well without any pore filler. It can have an occasional dark line running through it, but I like that.

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"Building guitars looks hard, but it's actually much harder than it looks." Tom Buck

I don't think there is a problem with using maple or any other types of woods for necks . I have a 12 string jumbo thats all maple and it sounds great. I think when it comes down to using woods like mohogany which is tried and true and has proven to be a great tonewood over many years its all about traditions and traditions are hard to break.

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Guitars, guitars and more guitars.

cherry seems more stable than maple as well. I haven't built with cherry yet...but I have a couple boards hanging around just in case...

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