State of the Ark technology #3 – neck carving

Necks can now be shaped by CNC routers.  These necks will be absolutely consistent and identical one to another.

Hand carving a neck takes much longer, especially in a hard and uncooperative wood like Wengé.  But hand carving tells me a lot about the particular piece of wood the neck is made from.  And the profile can be adapted to suit the wood used, to suit the fingerboard and also the preference of the player.

There are companies who could shape necks for me, but mine are all individually hand carved to suit the guitar they are part of, and always will be.