Curly Maple Fretboard

Quartersawn curly maple fretboard is combined with quartersawn figured cherry neck in this multi-scale headless guitar design: Nineteen. Making good progress here at the little guitar shop in Frenchtown, New Jersey.

The figured cherry bodies of this matched pair of guitars began as an exceptionally wide 5/4 plank nearly 10' in length. As you can see from the photos, at least 14" in width. I mapped out the template to maximize the cherry's light curl, segmented the board, and glued body blanks while layering 3/16" quartersawn cedar between the cherry face and back as a visual accent.

Cedar will make tonal contributions, as well.

Selecting quartersawn cherry for the neck blanks, I chose to emphasize the striking transition between heartwood and sapwood, centering the light (treble) vs. dark (bass) line along the length of the neck. Necks are a matched pair, also from one piece of 12/4 figured cherry. Curly maple fretboard is bookmatched and will span the entire length of the set in neck.

The 24.5" vs. 26" multi-scale neck is reinforced with a Toone & Townsend aircraft grade 7075 aluminum neck core. The 23.5" vs. 25" multi-scale neck is reinforced using titanium. Both of these metals are much more stable, resonant and tone enhancing than conventional adjustable trussrods.

Waterproof Gorilla Glue is exceptionally strong and binds the assembled neck. Note foam from the polyurethane glue. Clean precise fretboard to neck wood glue joint line. Note also the paper template that is invaluable for designing and laying out a multi-scale (fanned fret) fretboard.

Comments

[Mark]

Rick, cherry seems to be an unusual choice for a neck wood - Does the aluminum neck core free you up to choose just about anything for a neck wood, or would cherry work just as well without that level of reinforcement?

[Rick Toone]

Mark — I have not used cherry except with variations of fixed (non-adjustable) truss structures. I am very pleased with the sound and performance of cherry as a tone wood.

You are correct regarding the Neck Core. The "D" profile aircraft grade aluminum frees you up to choose nearly any neck wood because it is so strong yet lightweight.

[Buy Guitars Online]

It seems to me it is more of an art in making a guitar than playing one. Well done Rick.

[Tiago]

WOW!! Beautiful woods for a beautiful design.
What kind of finish will you use for "Nineteen"?

[Rick Toone]

Tiago — thank you for your comment. Both guitars will get a clear finish that reveals the colors of the woods. Cherry turns deep dark red over time, with exposure to UV light. The contrast between the maple and cherry will grow stronger every year.