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This is a really stupid question, but has anyone built an all PLAIN rock maple guitar? I got about 50 board foot of rock maple in my shop, with lots of time and a capable bandsaw, and I thought I could build prototypes without costing much at all (I bought those maple very cheaply). Will it be too heavy, stiff? I know acoustic guitar necks are usually mahogany but to match the color I wonder how does flatsawn rock maple work as acoustic guitar neck?

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Cat-gut strings are made from kitten guts, stretched out to near breaking point and then hardened with grue saliva. As a result these give a feeling of Pain and anguish whenever played, and often end up playing themselves backwards as part of satanic rituals.

Typhoon Guitars
http://www.typhoon-guitars.com

If you build larger body sizes (dreadnoughts and jumbos) I don't think you will notice the additional neck weight being a problem.

I have played a number of dreadnaughts with hard maple necks, and no, the weight is not an issue. As long as your neck is not bulky to begin with, it would be a perfectly fine choice.

You are not using it for the top, though, are you? When I think of an "all maple guitar", I think of the "all mahogany guitars" that I have seen, complete with mahogany tops. While this works for a lighter, more resonant hardwood, I wouldn't bother trying to make a maple-topped acoustic.

Of course it will be spruce topped... I doubt maple top would work, it might look interesting however.

The only problem is, the rock maple I have are all flatsawn or riftsawn.

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Cat-gut strings are made from kitten guts, stretched out to near breaking point and then hardened with grue saliva. As a result these give a feeling of Pain and anguish whenever played, and often end up playing themselves backwards as part of satanic rituals.

Typhoon Guitars
http://www.typhoon-guitars.com

I have used all maple for more than 2 dozen acoustic guitars with great results. I guess I should mention they were archtops. But maple is a great wood for flat tops as well.

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http://www.cushmanguitars.com/.

A man who carries a cat by the tail learns something he can learn in no other way.
Mark Twain

I have seen plenty of archtops with maple tops!

Lots of koa and mahogany flattops so why not maple soundboards?
Just haven't heard a good reason yet.

Jay

Tai, Maple guitars with maple necks are done all the time, I've done a few myself. The Flat sawn wood does present a stability issue however, how bad depends on the wood though.
For necks however, you can laminate two flat sawn pieces together on edge creating a "quarter sawn" laminated neck.

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Jim Watts
http://jameswattsguitars.com

I know Fender uses flatsawn maple and never had any issue with stability... but another fun thing I was thinking of is maple fingerboard (just like Fenders) and maybe maple bridge...

_________________
Cat-gut strings are made from kitten guts, stretched out to near breaking point and then hardened with grue saliva. As a result these give a feeling of Pain and anguish whenever played, and often end up playing themselves backwards as part of satanic rituals.

Typhoon Guitars
http://www.typhoon-guitars.com