Amount of figuring vs. Neck Stability

[Rumblefisher]

Does using a wood with more figuring for a neck in it result in more instability? In other words, is a 5A piece more likely to crack, warp, etc. than a 3A piece?

[Lonnybass]

Originally Posted by CFclef

Does using a wood with more figuring for a neck in it result in more instability? In other words, is a 5A piece more likely to crack, warp, etc. than a 3A piece?

In a word, no. What is of a bigger priority is the overall quality of the wood, the neck's construction and its finish.

Lonnybass

[SDB Guitars]

+1

A properly designed neck will be stable so long as the wood is of high enough quality

Figured wood doesn't automaticall equate to high quality, but there is high quality wood with figure in it

[Nelson Guitars]

If high figure wood was not suitable for necks then why is curly maple so prevalent in banjos? Long skinny necks they is with more tension on them than your typical electric bass.

I agree. You can't use the figure, or the lack there of to determine the stability of a neck blank. Hell, there is still disagreement among highly skilled builders as to whether quartered or flat sawn is most appropriate for necks. I know. I know. Everyone is going to jump my case on that one, but there are some very good arguments and quite a few high quality instruments with flat sawn necks that prove the point.

Greg N

[SDB Guitars]

I've made necks from both quartered and flatsawn woods with no significant difference in performance or stability.