Purpleheart Strat Neck?

[Gatesy]

I'm starting my first build, and have decided that I'll be doing a white Strat with some black artwork.  I just started looking into neck woods and stumbled upon Purpleheart.  In my head, a Purpleheart neck with an Ebony fretboard would look pretty awesome with a white body. But how does it sound?

Anyone have any experience with a Purpleheart/Ebony neck?

 

[Cagey]

I'd do it. I don't have a Purpleheart example here, but it's supposed to be moderately bright. Mating it with Ebony will tighten it up even more. Still, even though the neck is important, your pickups are going to have more to do with the sound than anything else. Thing is, if it's too bright for you, you can always EQ it back. But, if you have a neck that's absorbing all the highs, there's no way to get them with EQ. So, better to have them and not need them than need them and not have them. Plus, I think you're right - that would look awesome. Other than a black body, I don't know what else you'd put Purpleheart on. Also, don't forget to order stainless frets. Best thing to happen to guitars since tuners, and for $20 it's a no-brainer.

 

[greywolf]

I've got a purpleheart guitar I built, it is very dense and should make an Excellent neck .  I'd go for it!

 

[Jumble Jumble]

I've got a plan for a guitar involving a purpleheart neck at some point. However I really want the purple to stay vivid, so I'm thinking I might want to put a clear gloss over it to stop oxidation. I was thinking Ebony for the fingerboard too.

 

[crash]

I always though purplehart with a kingwood fingerboard would look cool.

 

[Gatesy]

Thanks for the input everyone.  I just ordered a Warmoth Pro CBS Strat neck with Purpleheart and Ebony with 6100 Stainless frets from the showcase.  I'll make sure you all see it when I'm finished!

 

[Jim_H]

Purple Heart isn't 'my thing', but a lot of people like it.

Just remember, over time, it changes color dramatically from bright purple, to deep muddy brown.  You might want to find some pics of aged Purple Heart and see if you still like the color matched with Ebony and the rest of your build.

 

[AprioriMark]

A few things:
1) I use a purpleheart/ebony neck on a '51 mod I did, and it's one of my favs.  Mine has the Warmoth headstock, but it's on a Strat-style body.  It feels and sounds great.  Bright, but not as bright as maple/ebony on the same guitar.

2) My purpleheart has not faded.  I do play it quite a bit and rub it down with burlap, including the headstock when I change strings.

3) You really, REALLY need to (as Cagey has suggested in other threads) take the time to sand/polish the neck from 400-2000+grit.  I went to 4000, and it feels amazing.  Absolutely amazing.

-Mark

 

[Cagey]

Polishing raw necks

 

[DangerousR6]

I kinda went the other direction, my Billy Bo has a purpleheart top... :icon_biggrin:

Awesome stuff, I shoulda got a purpleheart neck to, but I went with wenge instead.. :dontknow:

 

[tubby.twins]

My purpleheart neck has barely faded at all.  I rub it down with a light coat of Carvin's lemon oil every year, and it's held up nicely.  It feels like nothing else...

 

[Jumble Jumble]

Brownheart more like, judging by Doug's pic. I want BRIGHT purple like those pictures Wyliee posted. Can it be done?

 

[Cagey]

If you Google Purple Heart Color Change there's a lot of discussion about the stuff, much of it conflicting. But, just going by the numbers and a gut feeling about the veracity of some of the sources, the general understanding seems to be that fresh cut PH is a brownish-gray and exposure to oxygen turns it purple. Then, exposure to UV light will eventually darken it to a maroon shade. How purple or maroon it gets depends on the tree and where the piece comes from. Finally, trying to finish it with a UV-blocking coating only changes the amount of time it takes for the color change to occur. But, it still happens.

For whatever that's worth.

Sounds like the life cycle of a fashion model. Starts out an ugly duckling, turns briefly beautiful, then ages out. No much you can do about any of it.

 

[Jumble Jumble]

I think Kate Moss is getting more attractive as she ages, but no doubt just as she's about to peak she'll have everything all tightened up again and ruin it all. Her fashion photos are still photoshopped to make her look like she did when she was 18 which is a real shame because, in the flesh, as she approaches 40, the complexity in her face is doing her great favours. I thought she was pretty boring looking back then.

Anyway, looks like if I want a reliably purple neck, I just need to paint it purple and be done with it. Or stain some maple perhaps.

 

[DangerousR6]

Brownheart more like, judging by Doug's pic. I want BRIGHT purple like those pictures Wyliee posted. Can it be done?

Actually it's just the lighting, it is really purple in person. I did use some danish oil on it, but all that did was just make it a darker purple. It was a little too bright raw for the look I was after. I wanted a deeper color.
This is an outdoor shot with the danish oil on it.

This was just after i got it, before any oil..