Needing Advice-My first Acoustic Neck

[Kim Hillard]

https://photos.google.com/photo/AF1QipO ... tChtu3_lky

[Kim Hillard]

https://goo.gl/photos/9wfDiA8xm7t3ZQKm7
I've cut the 5 pieces to create my new neck blank. Is there a distinct reason to glue up the outside pieces in this orientation (see pencil lines on endgrain ) or should I consider reversing the two outside pieces? I like this one as it somewhat follows the form of the heel when it is finished.
Thanks for any comments.

[ken cierp]

Nice!

We have made and sold many with that configuration.

PS -- the way you posted the first photos is far better than having sign in to the google album which is a PITA

[Kim Hillard]

Ken, Thanks, I did see an earlier post that was made about "KMG Maple Neck" and liked the pattern. Do you have an opinion on the grain orientation in the photo? I am curious to learn if one way has benefits over the other. I'm wondering too if you would comment on the center Maple stripe. I've dimensioned it to the exact width of my truss rod, thinking it would be easy to offset the stripe just deep enough to allow the truss rod to sit into the resulting cavity so as to eliminate routing a truss rod slot. Finally I would ask if you would recommend installing a pair of carbon fiber rods alongside the truss rod or not? What would govern using CF or not.

[ken cierp]

Your truss rod slot idea will work OK. Grain pattern alignment is good. My view is that CF is a waste of time and $$, I sight millions long lived awesome sounding guitars with no such feature as my evidence. Its likely that a Maple laminated neck will stay straight under pitch tension with no truss rod at all, for that reason a two-way rod is recommended to assure some relief adjustment.

[Tim Benware]

One caution on leaving space for TR - because you probably won't be able to get the top of the neck blank perfectly flat upon glue up leave the TR slot deeper than you need and then add a strip over the top of the TR upon installation to make it flush again. For me, I think it would be easier just to rout the slot on a table if you have one.

[Kim Hillard]

Ken and Tim, thank you both for your input. My intent is to use the M/T bolt on method to attach this neck. I have read about using threaded steel inserts along with SHCScrews and Belleville washers vs brass or steel threaded crossbars with a large headed bolt. I'm also aware that some even use hanger bolts but I'm not to keen on that last method.