One or two piece maple necks

[WindsurfMaui]

I couldn't find a way to do a search so I'm going to ask a question that must have been debated already. Maybe some one has a lionk to that thread, otherwise let me ask.

One or two piece maple necks. What do people think? Is one more stable over time? Is one easier to maintain? Are two piece necks heavier than one piece necks irrespective of the truss rod?

Personally the sight of the seam between the back and fretboard has always bothered me for some unknown reason so I always buy a 1 piece neck. But I am thinking of buying a 24 3/4 conversion neck which is only made in two piece so I thought I would ask what people think about two piece necks. I'm afraid I will see that seam and just dislike the neck and never feel comfortable with it. Maybe I think the seam on the neck is a weakness and that eventually it will separate?    :rock-on:

 

[bagman67]

Modern glues are likely stronger than the wood parts they join together.  Unless you apply an unreasonable amount of heat to the joint, it has an almost infinitesimal chance of failing in normal usage.  And by "unreasonable," I don't mean leaving the guitar in a hot car, I mean leaving the guitar in an actual oven at temperatures that will cause serious burns to your body. 

A two-piece neck is arguably more stable because whatever natural tendencies to warp or curve are arrested by a second piece of wood whose natural tendencies are likely not to cooperate with the first piece.  So the two pieces keep each other in check.  But modern truss rods do a good job of holding a neck steady in any event.

Weight will be the same for two-piece necks as for one-piece, assuming the same truss rod is used, subject, of course, to natural variations in density that you can always expect from one specimen to the next.

 

[musicispeace]

Bagman67 has excellent points. Remember that people often repair broken Gibson head stocks with glue and people continue to play those guitars. I think you will be just fine. The 24.75 necks and most (if not all) of the exotic wood necks have to be done as two piece as far as Warmoth works. I have an all Bubinga neck that is two piece as is the 24.75 I have standing by for another project. No issues with the Bubinga.

My own aesthetic thing is that I prefer two piece necks anyway because I don't like the skunk stripe on the back of one piece necks, unless its roasted maple. Then I love it. We are a flawed species......