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I'm just about ready to start bending the sides on my first, so i rummaged through my wood pile to see if there was anything i could use for a neck block. The only thing i had that i would trust to be stable enough is the leftovers from making the neck.this is maple with bw veneer strips.
I'm working with Michael's plans as guides for this build,but i've looked long and hard at some pictures of Colin's solution for attaching the neck, and i really like his way of doing this.



So do you have any thoughts on this. suggested dimension?
and is this wood and its jointed configuration even usable?
(my skin is thick so word yourself as you see fit)

Thanks,

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Frank

Most neck blocks that I see are 1 1/4 thick about 3 inches wide ,with the grain running that same as the side. It is hard to see the thickness of your piece. I have seen a number of woods used , spruce is ok and mahogany. I would avoid resinous woods . The block is carring alot os stress so don't shortcut this important part.
john

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John Hall
blues creek guitars
Authorized CF Martin Repair
Co President of ASIA
You Don't know what you don't know until you know it

forgot to include my dimensions, the part that is to be glued to the top is 19mm thick, the part that goes against the sides is 22mm thick and is laminated to keep the grain running paralell to the sides the spanish heel is about 12mm thick and all of this is 70mm wide. Back and sides are also maple i thought gluing maple to maple would be good? yhis is also intended as a butt joint.

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Frank

My dimensions for this block are 80mm wide, by 30mm thick for the main block, grain parrallel to the sides, 18-20mm thick for the top block and 12mm for the Spanish heel part, grain longditudinal (both about 80mm long according to the guitar design). I usually use mahogany or cherry according to which I'm using for the neck. I'd be a little circumspect about using the laminate that you show as you're going to drill it for the bolt holes. Maple should be OK, I just wouldn't use those bits. The neck block to me is a critical part of the guitar, every major component attaches to it, the sides, top, back and neck, this is not an area to try and use anything but premium quality wood.

I've made more than 20 guitars using this neck block system and on none has the geometry changed over the years, but choose the wood carefully.

Colin

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I don't believe in anything, I simply make use of a set of reasonable working hypotheses.

thanks for the replies, this is one thing i don't want to skimp on, so i guess i'll have to get in contact with one of the suppliers.

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Frank

just a little update on my om build for those interested

i've been dreading this step for quite a while, but figured tonight i'd just go for it.



i haven't dared to open up the clamps yet so i don't know how it looks, but i didn't hear any cracks or any other troubling noises while bending, so i'm hoping they're ok.

at least the bending jig worked beautifully.

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Frank