Where are you getting your neck blanks?
 

I was looking in my wood room and realized that I have only have 6 Mahogany neck blanks left. I used to get mine at a local lumber yard that had a decent exotic wood selection. They would let me go through the Mahogany right when it came in and I could always find a few great quartersawn neck blanks every time. Often 3"x4" or 4"x4" pieces that I could get 2 necks out of. Anyhow, they are no longer getting it from the same supplier and the quality just isn't the same and I need to get some more in the shop for next years builds. So, where are you buying your neck blanks?

Posting your location in your profile would be helpful......

I shop in person here http://http://www.hearnehardwoods.com/ So do LMI and other trade suppliers you know.

Mail order?
http://http://www.lmii.com/products/...ds/neck-blanks
http://http://rctonewoods.com/RCT_St...bcb81cqqimf8q2
http://https://www.hibdonhardwood.com/

I laminate my necks... It is much easier to find good looking 4/4 stock than 12/4 or 16/4 stock..

There’s a very good hardwood store in Stockton CA called Macbeath. They also have a location in Indiana.

http://www.macbeath.com

I get mahogany from them and it’s always very good quality even when I have it shipped. Selecting wood in the warehouse is a pleasure.

right, and by flipping some pieces (think mirror image) if the boards aren't perfectly quatersawn, the warping fights itself and the neck stays straighter

A plus with laminating is you can easily buy flatsawn wood, that when you glue it up puts the grain in a favorable direction...

I no longer worry about the grain direction of mahogany as long as it is either QS or flat. Flat sawn mahogany necks are perfectly fine and as mentioned if one really wants vertical grain you can just rotate and laminate it. I actually like how the QS stripe comes right along the edge of the fretboard on a flat sawn neck.

But anyway I've almost always bough mahogany boards and sawn necks from that but have also purchased from LMI, West Penn and Hibbon. There are quite a few good options out there

How much per bf for mahogany in your parts?

I got real lucky a few years ago when I found a guy on my local Craig's List selling mahogany that his father, who was a sawyer, cut in the 1950's for $8 b/f.

But my regular local supplier is more like $12.50. And that's SM Mahogany.

I shy away from using mahogany because it is $28 bf here and it isn't even great wood.

Thanks for the responses.

I'm in rural Massachusetts and am looking for mail order although a good local supplier within a couple hours would be fantastic. I'm aware of the usual places, just looking to see if there was anyone else.

Not looking to laminate.

I haven't had to buy neck wood in a while since I had stocked up locally when they were getting the good stuff. I think I was paying $16/bf the last time I bought it but I'm sure it's more now and they just don't have wood I want to use for necks anymore.

The Hampton brothers (Nathan and Matt) have some really nice mahogany for necks.
Texting Matt is the best way to contact them.
(606) 627-4873

Thanks John. I didn't realize they were suppling anything other than Red Spruce. The sets I've bought from them have been excellent! I'll definitely check out their Mahogany

Dang! Where is 'here?'

Here is a partial list of the woods the Hampton brothers have supplied:
Red spruce
Torrefied red spruce
Locally grown Norway spruce (Picea abies)
European spruce
Bearclaw Sitka spruce
Engelmann spruce
Plum pudding mahogany sets
Quilted Mahogany "The Other Tree" sets
Indian rosewood
Florida rosewood (Dalbergia sissoo)
Figured eucalyptus
Brazilian rosewood
Guatemalan rosewood
Madagascar rosewood
Cocobolo
Brazilian kingwood
Quilted sapele
Black walnut (both figured and plain)
Curly red maple
Birdseye maple
Sassafras
Quarter sawn sycamore (American lacewood)
Quarter sawn white oak (tiger oak)
Persimmon
Black locust
Cherry
Osage orange