Maple

A hard, dense, light-coloured hardwood used for necks, and with a hard figured variety also for caps, tops and acoustic backs and sides.

Its stiffness and stability make it the default neck timber on countless instruments, since a maple neck resists string tension and stays straight. Tonally it is bright and articulate with a pronounced upper midrange, which is why a maple cap over a warmer body adds cut and definition. Two broad types matter: the hard rock variety used for necks and the softer species used for figured tops; and the wood may be plain, flamed or quilted.

Example: a maple neck on a bolt-on design contributes much of the snappy, immediate attack that design is known for.

Maple

See also