High end gitfiddle: single-piece maple neck OK?

[Jabberwocky]

Travisty, a hard question to answer as it involves a one-of-a-kind. Steve Andersen, a luthier whose work I greatly respect, makes his Streamline archtops each with a solid one-piece maple neck. As do Bill Comins and John Buscarino, I believe. (Edit: Faulty recall; Andersen, Comins and Buscarino build theirs with laminated necks. Thanks to IIm7V7IM7 for the elucidation.)

How you store your guitar will also play a part in how stably the neck behaves. I recall a 2006 Gibson L7C Ebony and Ivory, a one-of-a-kind, out of the Bozeman, Montana Gibson workshop overseen by Ren Ferguson, with a maple neck that developed a slight twist in it which required re-levelling of the ebony fretboard and new frets to make playable. I don't think Ren Ferguson would choose to use green wood but despite one's best intentions, it does happen. (I had asked for Bluedawg's help to check out the guitar when Rainbow Guitars had it up for sale as a used guitar. It was previously offered for sale by Alto Music in Middleton, New York.)

Gibson Electric Guitar | 2006 L7C Ebony and Ivory | Rainbow Guitars

You rolls your dice. You pays your money. You takes your choice.

[travisty]

You rolls your dice. You pays your money. You takes your choice.

You're right, of course.

FWIW, I have seen Steven Andersen necks which were single-piece maple, and seen others which were not. Tried a Metropolitan acoustic archtop with a single-piece maple neck a few months ago which was really nice (but not quite as acoustically strong as I had hoped for).

[Jabberwocky]

I found out about Bruce Kunkel when his archtops appeared on the Gibson Custom Shop FB page. I like the 16" full-bodied non-cutaway L-5 with the "slit shark's gills" sound-holes. And the 2 L-5CES archtops with the Art Deco paintings on their backsides.

Would it be a good suggestion to contact Bruce Kunkel to ask him about the guitar that he made? He may be the best person to answer your question directly about his choice to use a solid one-piece maple for the neck. If worse comes to worst, perhaps he could advise you on what he could do if the neck proves to be unstable or to allay your concerns about its becoming unstable.

[travisty]

Thanks. I will.

[Jabberwocky]

Thanks. I will.

Cheers, and good luck. Hope to see an NGD soon. It will be a treat to see a one-of-a-kind Bruce Kunkel archtop, a luthier who is not much discussed here.

[Hammertone]

…[ ]...I recall a 2006 Gibson L7C Ebony and Ivory, a one-of-a-kind, out of the Bozeman, Montana Gibson workshop overseen by Ren Ferguson, with a maple neck that developed a slight twist in it which required re-levelling of the ebony fretboard and new frets to make playable. …[ ]...
Gibson Electric Guitar | 2006 L7C Ebony and Ivory | Rainbow Guitars ...

Despite its lovely custom specifications, this was described as having a mahogany neck, consistent with other Bozeman L-7C necks. Did you get confirmation that it was maple?

[Jabberwocky]

Despite its lovely custom specifications, this was described as having a mahogany neck, consistent with other Bozeman L-7C necks. Did you get confirmation that it was maple?

Homer nodded. And Jesus wept. A cock-up. Gibson says Hog so Hog it is.

That's a cock up your beaver.

[jads57]

Living in Minnesota we have extreme weather as well as humidity issues year round. While I've had numerous guitars w/ a single piece maple neck, I have had my share of issues w/ them. So when given a choice I always opt for laminate 3 or more piece construction. Thant's not say a single piece is bad, especially if they have graphite rods in them.

[Hammertone]

Homer nodded. And Jesus wept. A cock-up. Gibson says Hog so Hog it is.
That's a cock up your beaver.

This may confuse our American friends here, unless we stick a feather in his cap and call it macaroni.

Wee, sleekit, cow'rin, tim'rous beastie,
O, what a panic's in thy breastie!
Thou need na start awa sae hasty,
Wi' bickering brattle!
I wad be laith to rin an' chase thee,
Wi' murd'ring pattle!
Up your bum!

[travisty]

Hammertone,
In both guitar purchases and commentary...
As the wise man said...

The best-laid schemes o' both mice an men
Gang aft agley...
An' lea'e us nought but grief an' pain
For promised joy!

Chin Chin (except if you're Japanese, in which case 乾杯！)