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I am gearing up to start a scratch build out of Black Walnut and was curious whether or not it would be wise if I constructed the guitar with Walnut Neck and heel blocks. I know that it is accetable to use it for a neck but haven't heard it mentioned for neck or heel blocks. Anyone with experience?

I don't see why you couldn't use walnut for your blocks. The biggest things you want to consider is the grain direction (with the sides) and the weight. I say go for it.

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Walnut makes good necks too.

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Steve Smith
"Music is what feelings sound like"

It will work fine for blocks and makes nice necks.

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Aaron Craig

The ghost of C.F. Martin will rise up fro the floor and tell you that mahogany is cheap and plentiful, and therefore you shouldn't bother using anything else. Then put all your guitars slightly out of tune, and return to his slumber.

Other than that, it works about as well as anything.

I have used it for blocks, and it works great.

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John

I use Walnut for blocks and necks and like it alot. It's a plus for me because i have tons of it.

Just finishing one with black walnut sides, back, neck and tail blocks, kerfed linings, and neck. It's a little heavier than mahogany, but otherwise is fine.

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Great! Thanks All! Just what I wanted to hear.

I will probably laminate a few pieces for the Neck block ( I know, it will add some weight), but it I were to use a solid piece, I would hanker a guess that rift sawn would be better than quarter?

Thanks,
Scott

Here's one with walnut back, sides, and neck. Also used a walnut bridge, stained black.

I've made two necks from walnut. While it goes a little slower than Honduras mahogany I found it a pleasure to carve.

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Tim Allen
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Love it!

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Rift sawn would be ideal, but most of the blocks I have used were QS, with no problems.
I don't think laminating will add much weight, unless some of the laminations are some other denser wood.

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John

Well I just made a guitar with a black walnut back, sides, AND top. and it sounds marvelous. But I've never made a neck with it before; it's something I plan to do tho.