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| An all maple guitar? http://luthiersforum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=10101&t=41578 |
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| Author: | Tai Fu [ Sat Oct 05, 2013 5:28 am ] |
| Post subject: | An all maple guitar? |
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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| Author: | Clay S. [ Sat Oct 05, 2013 7:10 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: An all maple guitar? |
If you build larger body sizes (dreadnoughts and jumbos) I don't think you will notice the additional neck weight being a problem. |
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| Author: | Lincoln Goertzen [ Sat Oct 05, 2013 9:16 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: An all maple guitar? |
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. |
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| Author: | Tai Fu [ Sat Oct 05, 2013 9:20 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: An all maple guitar? |
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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| Author: | Cush [ Sat Oct 05, 2013 9:28 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: An all maple guitar? |
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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| Author: | Jay Strite [ Sat Oct 05, 2013 10:24 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: An all maple guitar? |
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 |
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| Author: | Jim Watts [ Sat Oct 05, 2013 10:43 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: An all maple guitar? |
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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| Author: | Tai Fu [ Sat Oct 05, 2013 10:49 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: An all maple guitar? |
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... |
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