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I've got some rift sawn birdseye maple I'd like to use for a classical neck. I already know all the objections but it's for me personally and I don't care about the weight. I plan on ripping it down the middle and flipping 1 side end for end so the grain is opposing. Am I better off using a middle strip of ebony or just gluing the maple together and using a carbon fiber insert? If I use an ebony center strip, according to a drawing from David Schramm it shows the center strip as being flatsawn, so that in the neck the grain is vertical when looking at it from the end? For those of you doing laminated necks are your center strips flat sawn? If I go with carbon fiber instead what is an appropriate size for a classical neck? Thanks in advance, Wendy

I'd use wood, and not a very thick one as not to add weight. So rather 3 mm of rosewood rather than 6mm of ebony....

For my rosewood reinforced necks I used rift/quartersawn offcuts from thick backs or sides, making the grain perpendicular rather than vertical. No problems. Now I relegated my flatsawn ebony FBs for these and the grain will end up vertical.

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I/ve used 1/4in by 1/4in carbon fiber reinforcement on flat sawn h. mahog neck.On curly maple which is much heavier than traditional h. mahogor or sp cedar I would pass on the carbon fiber , I did one with carbon fiber.but looking back it was not necessary ,the EIR or ebony center strip gives it an extra zip, but IMHO is not functionally necessary.I/m just now making a cl gtr neck from a local flat sawn wood silver maple.It/s stringy, tears , and vy inexpensive.It/s weight and density are comparable to h. mahog. I/ve also made one from soft maple recycled from a found dresser, and it is heavier than silver maple.I plan to use an ebony headstock an fb for the maple gtrs to give it contrast.

Is your maple stock sugar maple? If so, then you do need to address the weight issues that will arise. Over the past there have been some builders who have recommended heavy necks. Overholtzer suggested rosewood and Scheider recommended ebony (sometimes at least). So, there is precedent. I'd be very inclined to run a strip of lightweight wood down the interior of the neck.

I really don't think that the maple requires any reinforcement. Your aesthetic preference may require it, but that's a different story.

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I'd like to get my chisels this sharp !! zing !



Wendy - I'd lean toward the carbon fiber 1/4"square x 1/2" - Unless the maple neck is unslightly, I wouldn't split the stock and glue it back - the carbon should be fine. Even though it is overkill - it is cheap insurance -

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