Walnut Neck, Maple Body, good choices?

demc · 05-02-2006, 04:56 PM

Just finished building a cabinet fro a school project. I've a good bit of wood left, and a bit of spare time over the summer. Also, I am tired of electric guitar and want a bass, but don't have too much spare money.

So judging by the sizes of the wood I have, my only option is to make a walnut neck and a maple body. What are your opinions on these woods? Ideally it should be a maple neck (thats ok) and walnut body (I'd have to glue two planks together to make one big one, would this be ok for a guitar?)

Thanks a lot. Also is there much work involved in putting in a truss rod?

moghes69 · 05-02-2006, 05:14 PM

i think it would be really neck heavy. its more common to have a walnut body and maple neck.

neatobassman · 05-02-2006, 05:18 PM

it would be fine to glue the planks together. That's how most bodies are made. Good luck though. It may be a little hard making it thought, because you don't already play bass, so you don't know what you like.

hellonearth07 · 05-02-2006, 05:26 PM

make it neck through DEFINATELY, that is if you have enough to make the neck full scale and what not. also, i'm not sure on the length of woods you have, but i'd make it a laminate neck (alternate wood types back and forth between walnut and maple) if that option is there.

Make sure you post pics and keep us all updated

Peg Dizzler · 05-08-2006, 03:16 PM

You can make the body 2 piece, or even 3 or 4 piece. Hell, use as many pieces as you want. But imo, 2 piece is best, because you have a centerline to work from.
Don't bother glueing together pieces that are an inch or so thick to get the right thickness though, that's not a good approach at all. Glue the sides of pieces that are thick enough together, always.

mike-o · 05-08-2006, 03:30 PM

Sonically, a one piece body is the same as a 5 piece. The problem comes if you're doing a transparent paintjob. If your paint job is opaque, just go for it.

mnemonic · 05-08-2006, 04:36 PM

what kind of glue works good for attaching body parts together in a guitar or bass? is just regular wood glue strong enough?

Peg Dizzler · 05-08-2006, 09:48 PM

Yes, Titebond glue is good stuff. Technically, it's stronger than most wood.

So if anything were to break, it'd be the wood itself, not the glue joint.

hellonearth07 · 05-09-2006, 09:13 PM

just make sure when gluein, the pieces are clamped together tight, and allow enough time for the glue to cure properly

also, dont fill holes or gapes with wood glue, make sure your pieces fit together nice tight and evenly

05-02-2006, 04:56 PM	#1
demc Registered User Join Date: Dec 2003 Posts: 9	Walnut Neck, Maple Body, good choices? Just finished building a cabinet fro a school project. I've a good bit of wood left, and a bit of spare time over the summer. Also, I am tired of electric guitar and want a bass, but don't have too much spare money. So judging by the sizes of the wood I have, my only option is to make a walnut neck and a maple body. What are your opinions on these woods? Ideally it should be a maple neck (thats ok) and walnut body (I'd have to glue two planks together to make one big one, would this be ok for a guitar?) Thanks a lot. Also is there much work involved in putting in a truss rod?

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05-02-2006, 05:14 PM	#2
moghes69 finally... 3 gav points Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: montville new jersey Posts: 1,640	i think it would be really neck heavy. its more common to have a walnut body and maple neck.

05-02-2006, 05:18 PM	#3
neatobassman MX secret Veteran Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: 4 GP Slovah!! Posts: 5,150	it would be fine to glue the planks together. That's how most bodies are made. Good luck though. It may be a little hard making it thought, because you don't already play bass, so you don't know what you like.

05-02-2006, 05:26 PM	#4
hellonearth07 Dont let this be ur music Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Somerset County, PA Posts: 812	make it neck through DEFINATELY, that is if you have enough to make the neck full scale and what not. also, i'm not sure on the length of woods you have, but i'd make it a laminate neck (alternate wood types back and forth between walnut and maple) if that option is there. Make sure you post pics and keep us all updated

05-08-2006, 03:16 PM	#5
Peg Dizzler look I'm a TBF wannabe Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: still in the luthier's workshop... Posts: 5,065	You can make the body 2 piece, or even 3 or 4 piece. Hell, use as many pieces as you want. But imo, 2 piece is best, because you have a centerline to work from. Don't bother glueing together pieces that are an inch or so thick to get the right thickness though, that's not a good approach at all. Glue the sides of pieces that are thick enough together, always.

05-08-2006, 03:30 PM	#6
mike-o 6>7 Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 1,395	Sonically, a one piece body is the same as a 5 piece. The problem comes if you're doing a transparent paintjob. If your paint job is opaque, just go for it.

05-08-2006, 04:36 PM	#7
mnemonic Drink Water Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: and Alcohol Posts: 10,316	what kind of glue works good for attaching body parts together in a guitar or bass? is just regular wood glue strong enough?

05-08-2006, 09:48 PM	#8
Peg Dizzler look I'm a TBF wannabe Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: still in the luthier's workshop... Posts: 5,065	Yes, Titebond glue is good stuff. Technically, it's stronger than most wood. So if anything were to break, it'd be the wood itself, not the glue joint.

05-09-2006, 09:13 PM	#9
hellonearth07 Dont let this be ur music Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Somerset County, PA Posts: 812	just make sure when gluein, the pieces are clamped together tight, and allow enough time for the glue to cure properly also, dont fill holes or gapes with wood glue, make sure your pieces fit together nice tight and evenly