Alder wood for neck blocks ?

[daveb]

I have some solid pieces of Alder I can use for blocks, or I have some mahogany that I will need to glue together to get the thickness.
Any comment on what would be best. I am a little scared about using two pieces of mahogany.

Thanks,

Dave

[Spruce]

Alder could work for blocks in lieu of mahogony....
It would certainly work for the corner and tailblock, as would any of the conifers...

[Jeff Hildreth]

Bruce.. is Alder considered a "conifer" ?

Martin guitar uses it for neck blocks on their 16 series according to their customer relations dept

Jeff

[Bill Snyder]

Alder is in the same family of trees as birch.

[whistler]

The alder tree has female catkins which resemble cones, but it is most definitiely not a conifer.

[daveb]

Well, Im not going to risk it, I am unsure about glueing two pieces of moghany together to get the needed thickness so I found a source for a solid block. I'll just wait for it to come in.

Thanks,

Dave

[Chris Baird]

You can glue two pieces together as long as the seam runs horizontal. Some good builders actually make their own ply/wood composite blocks for added strength and dimentional stability.

[Chris Burt]

I've used alder for both mandolin and violin blocks--including neck blocks. It is stable; strong; light; easy to carve with knives, chisels, and planes; and provides a good surface for a glue joint. I know many professional luthiers who use it. I'm using it in my next mandolin.