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  #16  
Old 04-30-2017, 02:02 PM
yellowesty yellowesty is offline
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I wrote, " . . . neck blocks and heel blocks are usually made with the grain running top-to-back."

To which murrmack123 responded, "And what evidence do you have for that assertion ?"

I only have evidence, and not proof, so maybe I should have written "sometimes" instead of "usually."

I wrote "usually" because my personal experience in inspecting and building guitars was reinforced by graphics at:

https://www.lmii.com/products/mostly...us-heel-blocks

as well as pictures and text in books by Cumpiano, Gore/Gilet, and Somogyi.

But that's only evidence, not proof. You certainly may disagree.
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  #17  
Old 04-30-2017, 02:25 PM
printer2 printer2 is offline
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I am a little confused. It seems to me that saying the grain runs top to back would mean the grain is roughly four inches long for the average guitar. Maybe the language is tripping us up rather than what we think is proper.
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  #18  
Old 04-30-2017, 02:56 PM
yellowesty yellowesty is offline
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Mea culpa.

It was NOT a language problem; I was just TOTALLY WRONG.

The common and recommended grain direction for head and end blocks is parallel to the grain of the sides.

Sorry about that. Really.

With special apologies to murrmac123.
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  #19  
Old 04-30-2017, 03:47 PM
murrmac123 murrmac123 is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by yellowesty View Post
Mea culpa.

It was NOT a language problem; I was just TOTALLY WRONG.

The common and recommended grain direction for head and end blocks is parallel to the grain of the sides.

Sorry about that. Really.

With special apologies to murrmac123.
No need for apologies ... IME discussions on internet forums about grain orientation inevitably lead to confusion and misunderstandings.

Although major manufacturers never do it, I would say that most custom builders would agree that a laminated neck block (and tail block as well) is a far preferable option to using solid blocks with grain running one way.

Gluing facility has to be balanced with resistance to stress.

Being in the middle of my first build at the moment, I am also of the opinion that if you are using a laminated neck block and a dovetail joint, then it makes good sense to use a good quality waterproof polyurethane glue both for the neck block laminations, and also for the immediate gluings of the top and the back to the neck block. Yes you have to work fast but no faster than if you were using HHG (which of course you might well be using anyway for gluing the top/back to the linings)
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  #20  
Old 04-30-2017, 04:25 PM
printer2 printer2 is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by yellowesty View Post
Mea culpa.

It was NOT a language problem; I was just TOTALLY WRONG.

The common and recommended grain direction for head and end blocks is parallel to the grain of the sides.

Sorry about that. Really.

With special apologies to murrmac123.
I just worded it like that to incite some friendly second thought.
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