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Some have said they use flat sawn for these vertical laminations, and some have said quarter sawn (vertical grain). Probably does not matter much once the laminations are together, but why the differences?

Ed

Ruby50: Lots of builders have asserted in previous threads that there is no difference how the neck grain is oriented. They have more experience than I have, but I like a neck with vertically oriented grain. I can arrive at that orientation at least three ways, but I've decided that I prefer to cut the lams in profile from flat sawn stock, then rotate them 90 degrees into vertical orientation before gluing them up. I have built necks with stacked heels and scarfed headstocks. Those were cool, but they are no longer my preference. I like the way my current necks look, and I believe they are a bit stiffer--but just wait. Someone is SURE to argue that point about stiffness. That's cool. too.

I don't have any real data to back it up, but I also believe laminated necks are a bit stiffer, at least if the grain is oriented optimally.

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That is why they use laminated beams in construction - stiffer, and more stable. I would think that the principle would be the same for neck laminations, but by how much, compared to a one piece neck?

Alex

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