Acoustic Guitar Construction

If no adjustability planned into the project, I could easily see where CF would be a suitable material to incorporate into lighter neckstock.
Have not done any comparison between stiffening materials (CF vs. metals). Maybe the CF might come out ahead in the strength-to-weight department?
It does make me wonder why CF is incorporated into the finest race cars, and even fine model airplanes and other areas where greatest strength or stiffness paired with lowest possible weight is paramount.

Spanish cedar long thought of as weight reducer with plenty of strength available for lower-tensioned instruments (nylon), but I wouldn't have a problem using it for higher-tension stuff by "beefing it up".
Then again, there's probably lots of folks out there who've used Spanish cedar without CF irregardless of instrument requirements. They just used a truss rod, and were more-than-pleased.
Conversely, there are probably at least more than a few builders out there who "always" use CF in their necks irregardless of project requirements and type of materials (wood) used.

I can easily see where the same concept "carries over" to bracing the top.

Don't all SS guitars need neck relief for optimum action? If so, how do you adjust for it if there is CF in the neck?

deadedith wrote:Don't all SS guitars need neck relief for optimum action? If so, how do you adjust for it if there is CF in the neck?

With the truss rod the neck still bends it is just stiffer.

Ok.

My two cents on this issue, I use carbon fiber on all my necks. I use truss rods from Allied and was using solid carbon rods that I get from a batten manufacture, their off cuts. Recently I found a supplier who has 1/4"x1/4" square carbon rods that are hollow and are lighter and pretty stiff. I use two per neck, one on each side of the truss rod. I also use unidirectional carbon fiber vacuumed to the bottom of the fingerboard before it's glued to the neck, this caps the carbon rods. I've used this system on more than 50 guitars and have not had any issues with twisted necks. I can still use the truss rod for setting the relief, the neck is stiffer and the adjustment is much less and once it's set it stays stable.

I guess it would not hurt anything to do the CF thing. I'm not convinced that it's something I need/want to do but I understand why some choose to do so.

The CF don't take a set. It's not like wood that eventually take on the shape of it's bend. The CF has a memory of it's original shape and always wants to return to that shape. I have only used rods in necks so can only offer opinion on that and not on laminated braces. I think with CF laminated braces one could build lighter. Not from the stiffness factor but just that it would not continue to deform as the same lightly built wood only braces. Have seen pictures of Mario Proulx's bracing(his web site) and his laminated braces are very light. All just my opinion of course.
Tom