Official Luthiers Forum!

Owned and operated by Lance Kragenbrink
It is currently Thu Mar 28, 2024 12:02 pm


All times are UTC - 5 hours


Forum rules


Be nice, no cussin and enjoy!




Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 14 posts ] 
Author Message
 Post subject: Neck and end blocks
PostPosted: Sat Feb 18, 2017 7:08 pm 
Offline
Contributing Member
Contributing Member
User avatar

Joined: Sat Jul 19, 2008 11:07 am
Posts: 802
Location: Cobourg ON
First name: Steve
Last Name: Denvir
City: Baltimore
State: ON
Zip/Postal Code: K0K 1C0
Country: Canada
Focus: Build
Status: Amateur
I know it's traditional to use mahogany or another hardwood, but is there any reason, apart from tradition, to not use plywood for neck and end blocks?

Steve


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject: Re: Neck and end blocks
PostPosted: Sat Feb 18, 2017 7:22 pm 
Offline
Contributing Member
Contributing Member
User avatar

Joined: Wed Oct 08, 2008 11:36 am
Posts: 7241
Location: Southeast US
City: Lenoir City
State: TN
Zip/Postal Code: 37772
Country: US
Focus: Repair
I sometimes use 1\2" Baltic birch ply for tail blocks. I stick with mahogany for the neck block because it is easily visible through the sound hole.

_________________
Steve Smith
"Music is what feelings sound like"


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject: Re: Neck and end blocks
PostPosted: Sat Feb 18, 2017 7:48 pm 
Offline
Contributing Member
Contributing Member
User avatar

Joined: Thu May 12, 2005 5:46 am
Posts: 2931
Location: United States
Steve, I've used ply before for the end block, it can help a prevent a drop on the tapered end pin from splitting the block.
Also here's a variation I've done in the past for a bolt on neck using mahogany and ply for the head block.
Attachment:
neck block Large e-mail view.jpg


You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.

_________________
Jim Watts
http://jameswattsguitars.com


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject: Re: Neck and end blocks
PostPosted: Sat Feb 18, 2017 8:02 pm 
Offline
Mahogany
Mahogany

Joined: Wed Mar 07, 2012 5:41 pm
Posts: 96
Location: Coquitlam, BC
First name: Kerry
Last Name: Werry
City: Coquitlam
State: British Columbia
Country: Canada
Focus: Build
Status: Amateur
I use 1/2 Baltic birch for the end block and two layers of 3/4 Baltic birch for the neck block (bolt on M&T neck) .

works or me..

Kerry

_________________
My Website http://klw-strings.com
My Luthier's Blog...http://klwstrings.blogspot.com


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject: Re: Neck and end blocks
PostPosted: Sat Feb 18, 2017 8:07 pm 
Offline
Koa
Koa
User avatar

Joined: Mon Nov 24, 2008 12:17 pm
Posts: 1161
City: Escondido
State: CA
Zip/Postal Code: 92029
Country: USA
Focus: Build
Status: Semi-pro
If you laminate up 3" of ply it will definitely be heavier than a mahogany neck block. And, of course, it won't look as nice. Other than that, I think it sounds like a good idea. Stable. Consistent. Easily available.

I'm trying to get the testicular fortitude to just try it. Maybe put a thin mahogany layer on top just to calm shaky spirits of anyone looking in the soundhole.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject: Re: Neck and end blocks
PostPosted: Sat Feb 18, 2017 10:13 pm 
Offline
Brazilian Rosewood
Brazilian Rosewood

Joined: Fri Dec 14, 2007 3:21 pm
Posts: 3289
Location: Alexandria MN
No problem with plywood for a tail block, do it all the time. Mahogany for the headblock.

_________________
It's not what you don't know that hurts you, it's what you do know that's wrong.


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject: Re: Neck and end blocks
PostPosted: Sat Feb 18, 2017 10:44 pm 
Offline
Brazilian Rosewood
Brazilian Rosewood
User avatar

Joined: Wed Feb 20, 2008 9:12 pm
Posts: 6977
First name: Mike
Last Name: O'Melia
City: Huntsville
State: Alabama
Focus: Build
Status: Semi-pro
There is technically nothing wrong with using plywood in a guitar. But I think it is a cost issue. I guess it depends on what ur clients prefer. I like solid woods.



These users thanked the author Mike OMelia for the post: jack (Wed Feb 22, 2017 7:40 pm)
Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject: Re: Neck and end blocks
PostPosted: Sun Feb 19, 2017 1:11 am 
Offline
Contributing Member
Contributing Member
User avatar

Joined: Tue Mar 01, 2011 1:32 pm
Posts: 3470
First name: Alex
Last Name: Kleon
City: Whitby
State: Ontario
Zip/Postal Code: L1N8X2
Country: Canada
Focus: Build
Status: Amateur
I've got some 19mm Baltic ply scraps that you can experiment with, Steve.

Alex

_________________
"Indecision is the key to flexibility" .... Bumper sticker


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject: Re: Neck and end blocks
PostPosted: Sun Feb 19, 2017 6:08 am 
Offline
Contributing Member
Contributing Member

Joined: Sat Feb 19, 2011 7:44 pm
Posts: 1225
Location: Andersonville
State: Tennessee
Country: USA
Focus: Build
Status: Professional
If you don't mind..... plywood for a tail block is acceptable. I would not use it for a dovetail neck block, I'd be worried about steaming the join to do a neck set.


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject: Re: Neck and end blocks
PostPosted: Sun Feb 19, 2017 7:38 am 
Offline
Brazilian Rosewood
Brazilian Rosewood

Joined: Mon Jan 28, 2008 5:21 am
Posts: 4839
Location: Central PA
First name: john
Last Name: hall
City: Hegins
State: pa
Zip/Postal Code: 17938
Country: usa
Focus: Build
Status: Professional
Martin had used it for years on the bolt on necks

_________________
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


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject: Re: Neck and end blocks
PostPosted: Sun Feb 19, 2017 7:58 am 
Offline
Koa
Koa
User avatar

Joined: Sat Jan 19, 2013 7:33 am
Posts: 1831
First name: Willard
Last Name: Guthrie
City: Cumberland
State: Maryland 21502
Zip/Postal Code: 21502
Country: United State
Focus: Repair
Status: Semi-pro
We use 12mm Baltic birch plywood for tail blocks - more split resistant for pickup-equipped instruments and slightly lighter than the same width/height 3/4" mahogany block (Baltic birch is about about 35 lbs/cubic foot versus 28-32 lbs/cubic foot for mahogany). We use one-piece mahogany construction for dovetailed necks, but for mortise and tenon, multi-piece blocks are acceptable if the joinery is not made obvious due to grain match (we get three neck blocks from the leftover waste from each neck blank). We don't use Baltic birch for neck blocks, although that is almost solely due to appearance, versus weight or other factor. We have used spruce for linings and neck/tail blocks where weight is an issue, but with just a few lbs/cubic foot difference in density, there is less weight savings than might be expected.

_________________
We have become a civilization that elevates idiots, prostitutes, and clowns. Am I still to defend it? Yes, for its principles. Yes, for what it was. Yes, for what it still may be.

-Mark Helprin, The Oceans and the Stars: A Sea Story, A War Story, A Love Story (A Novel)


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject: Re: Neck and end blocks
PostPosted: Sun Feb 19, 2017 9:06 am 
Offline
Brazilian Rosewood
Brazilian Rosewood

Joined: Sun Mar 30, 2008 8:20 am
Posts: 5924
For bolt on necks I've made neck blocks by gluing up 2 layers of 1/2 inch baltic birch with one layer of 1/2 inch mahogany facing and veneering the sides. I like to radius the edge that is toward the sound hole to avoid stress risers and the 1/2 inch of mahogany allows me to do that without exposing the plywood. If you make a "length" of stock and cut several neck blocks from it, it isn't too much bother. I like the stability of plywood but the look of mahogany.


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject: Re: Neck and end blocks
PostPosted: Sun Feb 19, 2017 3:40 pm 
Offline
Brazilian Rosewood
Brazilian Rosewood
User avatar

Joined: Thu Jan 06, 2011 6:08 pm
Posts: 2712
First name: ernest
Last Name: kleinman
City: lee's summit
State: mo
Zip/Postal Code: 64081
Country: usa
Focus: Build
Status: Professional
I use a light mahogany plywood I purchased from homeless depot . It is some species of lightweight wood with the contrasting layers of another tropicalhdwd . I/m using it for tail and head blocks Very light, stiff. and stable. My qualm with the traditional mahogany is on the front and rear blocks , one is glueing the long grain of the top and back to the end grain of mahogany .IMHO a sketchy type of joint , that may or may not hold over time.I prefer to glue long grain to long grain for a stiffer , solid enduring joint. Ignacio fleta would glue additional long grain( following the grain line of the top and back) pieces of leftover wood for the blocks to make a solid glue joint , and he was one of the few spanish guitarmakers to use a dovetail joint.


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject: Re: Neck and end blocks
PostPosted: Sun Feb 19, 2017 5:33 pm 
Offline
Brazilian Rosewood
Brazilian Rosewood

Joined: Tue May 13, 2008 10:44 am
Posts: 6232
Location: Virginia
I like using hardwood. Usually mahogany but otherwise spruce, walnut, even oak. I just like it. Nothing wrong with plywood. I never glue the end grain to the top either. The end grain sticks out the sides of the blocks. Easy to do if you stack the blocks too. Not only is end grain a bad place to glue a joint but it's a PIA to plane it to final shape too.


Top
 Profile  
 
Display posts from previous:  Sort by  
Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 14 posts ] 

All times are UTC - 5 hours


Who is online

Users browsing this forum: CarlD, Kbore, Oliver#1 and 54 guests


You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot post attachments in this forum

Jump to:  
Powered by phpBB® Forum Software © phpBB Group
phpBB customization services by 2by2host.com