A setback

In the photo below, you can see what was quite a let down. In one side of the walnut I was using for making necks, several tiny separations had formed over the past couple years. These little separations didn't look like much of anything. I thought I could seep some glue in through the end grain, and it would be solid. But upon further inspection, I discovered that on one of the necks, these separations were more like pockets. The wood had pulled apart, but the fibers stayed in tact. When I ran a razor blade across the top of the separation, it opened up into a sizable hole. So 2 of my necks are unusable. At some point I will patch them up with some filler strips. But they will for ever be for my use only. I can't justify taking all this time, and wanting so much for a guitar, that has had the wood patched together. Down the road, these necks will be built up for personal, experimental guitars.

Let's keep in mind my ethical stance on building/ repairing guitars. I don't want to waste wood. And when it comes to building, I try to use as much North American wood as possible. I don't want to participate in the demand of clear cutting our rain forests. There are fights between industry and environmental the time about forestry, but at least stuff harvested here, I know was done under environmental regulations. At least it is supposed to be.

So this morning I went out to shop for wood. I needed more walnut to complete the bodies, and to make up for the loss of 2 out of my 4 necks. I have gone to Youngblood Lumber (Minneapolis) in the past, and bought 3" thick walnut. That's what my necks have been cut from. But they no longer carry that size. So it was a wasted trip. I have spent the past couple hours searching the net, for another option. It gives you a sinking feeling when you shop for something particular in wood. It's just not around anymore. I did find a company in Canada that has some nice pieces. I should be able to have all the structural wood for my guitars for another $120. So that' not bad at all. I still need fingerboard wood. When it comes to fingerboard wood, exotic is about your only choice (aside from having maple fingerboards, which I don't want to do). I will most likely go with Indian rosewood. It's somewhat common, and completes a nice neck. However, on a wood suppliers website. I saw some wood called Mun Ebony (from Laos). Mostly black, with green strips in it. Very cool looking. I asked if it would be possible to get that for fingerboards.

So back to making templates. It's not as fun, but needs to be done. I still need to draw out my peghead outline.