Wood grain in maple necks

[Michael-GnL-Michael]

A couple of questions regarding neck wood:

1. I prefer interesting wood grain patterns in the neck and headstock. I have read that V grain patterns are the strongest or least prone to warping (strictly speaking of maple). Should I avoid the more rhythmic/scrolling patterns or is it safe to conclude that the range of grain patterns one might see available in a neck have already passed inspection. IOW, should I be concerned about such things in an assembled guitar?

Case in point, I saw a guitar in a shop and liked the wood grain of the neck. It was so interesting and unlike the common straighter grained hard rock maple I asked if it was birdseye maple. It was not. I would like a guitar with this neck. Should I be concerned about the grain at this stage when the guitar has made it to a showroom?

2. I have seen a significantly shortened warranty offered on birdseye maple necks. Is it prone to warping?

Thanks,

Michael

[guitar_ed]

Michael,

#2: Yes, birdseye maple is very prone to warpage.

edg

[sirmyghin]

I wouldn't worry about gain pattern on your neck. The "V" grain pattern, as you style it is generally attributed to a laminate neck, as you reverse the grain when you laminate the wood, it is much less common on a 1 piece neck. The headstock grain isn't going to be an issue either way, hard rock maple is quite strong. But yes, Birdseye is much more prone to warping.

[Ahryn]

the real question Mike is, flat sawn or quarter sawn? but in all seriousness there isn't a G&L neck I have seen that I haven't liked the wood grain pattern.

[Michael-GnL-Michael]

The flat sawn / quarter sawn option was one of the things I was going to price out when I ordered a guitar but I just came back from buying one a local dealer had in stock. It does have interesting neck wood grain which I was immediately attracted to when I saw it.

Thanks everyone for all of the replies.

I have learned plenty.

[sirmyghin]

Quartersawn is inherently stiffer, the reason it costs more is that the method which it is sawn has a lot more waste than flatsawn.