Making a maple acoustic neck

[Kevin in California]

Hey Gang,
I will be making a scarf joint, stacked heel maple neck for my next guitar project. This is what the receiver of the guitar wants.
I have made them from Honduras Hog, African Hog, and Sapele, but never made a maple neck before.
Is there anything I should be aware of or looking out for in this process? I know it will be a bit heavier.
The Sapele necks I've made were a tad heavier too but were not a problem.
I have a Fender all maple acoustic (maple neck too) and the neck weight has not been noticable to me.
Thanks for chiming in!

Kevin

[ken cierp]

I constructed a not to fancy scarf joint clamping fixture which prevents the parts from sliding in any direction (as you know that is a challenge when gluing two angled pieces). I use cauls covered with clear plastic packaging tape (nothing sticks to it). The cauls completely overlap the edges of the joint -- and this is the important part, if not clamped/capture the thin ends of the pieces will curl and lift. Getting these ends flat is paramount if you hope to have an invisible glue line on the light color woods such as Maple. --- but maybe you already knew this?

[Dave Bagwill]

About halfway down this page there are a few pix of this luthier's clamping style. I have not yet tried it.
http://www.liutaiomottola.com/construct ... kBlank.htm

[ken cierp]

There is no doubt in my mind that, that set up will allow the joint to slip if enough pressure is applied to get a "thin line" glue joint.

I machined a couple of Curly Cherry necks today I'll finish them off maybe Friday and post some pixs of the glue line -- which you won't be able to see, heel or scarf.

[Tim Benware]

Good topic to blog. I just cut the scarf joint for a maple neck (which will be my first attempt at making one) and hand planed the faces.

[Dave Bagwill]

Ken you posted this in answer to my question whether brads could be used to keep the scarf joint from slipping all around:
"Yep -- with brads is how its done, just position them near the start of the angle, apply wax or soap, drill or cut a recess in the caul to make clearance for the brad heads."

Would that process alleviate your misgivings with the method I linked to?

[ken cierp]

The brads help but I found out (the hard way) that slippage can still occur. And again its the other issue mentioned above, applying a caul that completely covers the join lines, so provisions for the brads are necessary if they are used.

Since this type neck is now part of our product line my process has evolved a little.