Making Laminated Guitar Necks

Laminate back and sides.

Making laminated guitar necks.

Look for a change in grain direction at the edges of the soundhole. The example to the left shows a goncalo avles board with an east indian rosewood center stripe. In an effort to offer customers other more affordable options many builders also make guitars featuring laminate back and sides. Using solid wood for the top is still preferred by most builders because the top plays a major role in translating the initial energy of vibrating guitar strings into rich acoustic sound.

This can be as simple or elaborate as you like. Make another mark approximately 1 2 further from the headstock end than this one and cut the neck off at this mark. This will weaken the neck making it susceptible to neck breaks or the truss rod punching. This can be very important in wider necks on guitars with seven or more strings and basses with five or more strings.

Many guitars are laminate wood in their entire body construction. 1600 windsor california 95492 toll free. This gives you a little extra room for running the piece through a thickness planer. 7975 cameron drive bldg.

A keen eye can spot these tiny layers in the top if you look at the soundhole opening. Luthiers mercantile international inc. The peghead is laminated to the neck using a scarf joint referred to as a spanish luthier s joint. Extend the mark that shows the end of the neck the body join mark or if your neck will have a tenon the end of the tenon around to the underside of the neck.

If you are a beginner or you have not done much wood lamination before go for a simple design done well. The first step in making a laminated guitar neck is making the blank.