GUITAR Necks
"YOU DREAM IT, I BUILD IT"
-Rafael Barajas
NECK WOODs
In making your custom made guitar, I strive to build you a breath-taking instrument. That being said, it is important to note that different woods will give your instrument a variety of qualities. Browse through these commonly requested woods and send me your questions and concerns via the comment box at the bottom. Woods selection may vary based on availability.
MAPLE
Maple is the most common wood used on guitar necks. Since it is a hard wood, it makes for a reliably solid and stable neck. Maple is less affected by climate change thanks to it's firm composure, and it resists string tension well. Maple typically provides a brighter, more defined sound.
MAHOGANY
Mahogany is another commonly used wood. Unlike maple, mahogany is softer. This means that things like string tension and climate will have a different reaction on mahogany than they would on maple. Naturally, since mahogany is softer than maple, you may have to adjust the truss rod more frequently. A string breaking will have a more drastic result than on maple. On the good side, a softer neck provides for easier maneuverability with bends and whammy bar work. Mahogany tends to have a warmer sound than maple.
EXOTIC WOODS
Upon request and availability, we also build necks with exotic woods such as cocobolo, padauk, wenge, zebra wood, snakewood, and more. Some of our popular custom guitars include bloodwood and ebony laminates, mahogany and maple laminates, and more.
FRETBOARD WOODS
Just as the neck of the wood matters on your instrument, you may want to check out the different fretboard woods
MAPLE
As mentioned above, maple's hard and solid make up also makes it very useful for the fingerboard of the neck. You may recall seeing maple fingerboard on fender guitars. Because of its brighter, more defined sound, players usually add a maple fretboard to a warm sounding guitar for balance. Maple requires a finish, and it usually tends to feel more sticky than other woods. However, to diminish this, at Barajas Guitars, we give maples fingerboards a matte finish, which feels more natural.
EBONY
Players who are looking for an even brighter, crisper attack than that of maple tend to pick Ebony. Naturally, ebony has tight grains and oily pores. This means that it does not require a finish. In addition to its bright sound, it is also very smooth. Ebony is the darker of the commonly used woods so it blends well with a black instruments.
ROSEWOOD
Rosewood is the most commonly used and requested wood for the fretboard. Unlike maple or ebony, rosewood is sought after for its warmer sound. Because it is an oily wood, like ebony, it does not require a finish. Many players combine the rich, fuller sound of a rosewood fretboard, with a brighter sounding guitar to provide a perfect balance.
EXOTIC
Upon request and availability, we also combine exotic woods for a different feel or sound of the fretboard. Some of our favorites include ciricote, and bocote. For more information or inquiries, contact us below.