Do You Need Carbon Fiber To Reinforce A Guitar Neck?

[DrMurdercock]

It's like asking if you need electricity.

Of course you do because we have found that to be better than not.

All ima say is, I live in Indiana, we go from no humidity and cold temps to full humidity and high temps day to night, my Schecter C-7 Silver Mountain was in it's case before I had my AC going while the humidity did it's ups and downs fore about 2 weeks, got it out and it was in perfect tuning. Never had a guitar this stable in my life. it has the 3 pc mahogany neck with 2 carbon fiber reinforcement rods. So yes, you 100% NEED them.

[homebuiltshop]

I've moved to using the carbon fiber rods on all of my necks. Its not a ton of extra work and I feel it makes all of them just that much more stable. Excellent vid!

[fabienbourdier]

beginner guitarist here, dont think i'll ever build a guitar but it was super intersting to listen, instant sub !

[TrueBlueYou]

I want the DragonPlate AND the carbon fiber rods lol—I’m sick and tired of a truss rod

[MayorMcCheese]

I really love your videos as a reference material. I watch them over and over anytime I need to be reminded about specifics or dive back down some rabbit whole and try and remember what I was thinking a year ago when I wrote something down. I deeply appreciate the value that you continue to bring to the entire instrument building community as well as the content creation community!

[terrygoss]

My main basses for 26 years are Zons - carbon fiber composite necks with no truss rod. They're just as perfect now as they were a generation ago. \m/

[eyeofamon]

Dan Erlewine did a repair video on an old guitar (Kay or Silvertone, I can't recall exactly) that didn't have a truss rod — he pulled off the fingerboard and installed carbon fiber rods, but still no truss rod. Driftwood Guitars uses the D-Tube — an interesting side note is the hollow ringing noise it generates. Anthony at Lucky Dog uses Purpleheart rods instead of carbon fiber, says they're even more rigid.

[Bloodysugar]

It is true Vigier's necks do not need a truss rod, but...
1- How they select, and stock woods for 3 years before use, makes their stash only filled with the most stable wood on the market.
2- The carbon rod is HUGE. It takes 10% of neck's total volume.
3- Neck's flatness is dead straight with a margin of error of a hundredth of a millimeter. Witch is pretty important as the neck will never ever bend.

[bohs]

I have built four or five telecaster and Stratocaster necks using quarter sawn rock maple with no trust rod or stiffing rods at all. I like a very thick neck so I use a 1 inch router bit to shape the back of my neck. It’s basically flat from the heel to the head of the guitar on the very bottom centerline.I’ve never had one of them move even an iota. Best Playing necks I’ve ever had.

[JoeKyser]

I use two rectangle rods 2mm x 8mm along with a truss rod. It has worked out pretty good. I still have a few years of testing to go but it has been beneficial.

[murraycrawford]

Just bought a Yamaha Revstar Pro and had to adjust the neck slightly as it was a bit too streight (convex). I found it took some effort to adjust (loosen) the truss rod to get a bit of relief (for the reasons you stated) but can't believe the results! Best neck in my rather extensive collection of guitars! Thank you for this very informative video!

[xoxoJoelle]

Just wanted to mention, carbon fibre actually has an elastic modulus 18x higher than hard maple! (228 vs 12.6 GPa)

[JC-wrmu]

Great video. I began using CF strips in the same size shown in video in my electric 12 strings. My necks are rock maple as well. They are rock solid when it comes to staying in tune. The neck never moves from where it's set whatever the climate may be, even with Pyramid light gauge flatwound strings.

[robertshorthill]

Back at the Flatiron mandolin factory before the '96 move, I had to put steel truss rods into each neck. They were just straight rods that didn't have a curve bent into them. I do not know how efficient these TR were straight, but for the years I built all the necks, maple or mahogany, I never heard someone reporting any problems with underbow issues that couldn't have been corrected. Now, some luthiers feel there is totally no need for TRs what so ever. My mahogany A-5 neck has never needed tightening, so maybe there is truth to not needing a TR. Bob Shorthill. Neck assembly Flatiron Mandolin, Belgrade, MT, 1989--1996

[edadpops]

Every guitar I build has had CF strips from day one. Funny the only neck that back bowed so bad I had to pull the finger board and add the strips, was Honduras Mahogany wirhout CF strips. . Great info, great video.

[bleh]

I'd love to hear more of your thoughts on laminated necks, especially ones with carbon fiber installed. I've always considered them very attractive with some builders making truly stunning 11+ ply necks

[onpsxmember]

Thx for the metric measurements. I'm looking forward to your how to video building reinforced necks. Lot of necks get messed up, especially bass necks making a wavy mountain road. A luthier I know sets the rods slightly off center based on string tension. Battling string tension with 'string' tension like in the first Fly guitars was a nice idea for reduced space.

[electricladyguitarsdevonuk]

I use 2mm x 6mm strips on their edge either side of the truss rod on slab cut Necks. So cheap & very effective

[shadowminister]

Great video. You've answered a number of things that I was wondering about. Thanks.

[rondelio]

Your videos are always food for thought, and often times helpful. I usually build from kits, so the neck is already done, but it does offer the idea of making my own necks, which if I decide to do, adding carbon fiber is at least a consideration. Thanks for the healthy meal to chew on!! :-)