One topic several folks have written about is coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) of the TOONE & TOWNSEND Neck Core:
"I am going to start building a 6 string electric and recently stumbled across your website.
"I was curious if you could shed some light on how your neck core reacts to temperature changes.
"I am aware that the thermal expansion coefficient of aluminum is generally greater than that of hardwoods so I was wondering how your necks with the aluminum neck core reacted to mild and moderate temperature changes in regards to flex and relief."
Curious myself, I have tested neck core CTE extensively, subjecting cores to extended time in the freezer then the oven, to measure movement.
From below 0 Fahrenheit (-18 Celsius) to about 220 Fahrenheit (105 Celsius) there is zero measurable difference using a ruler and viewing with human eye.
Dimensional stability is unchanged.
PLEASE NOTE: 220 Fahrenheit is above the boiling point of water, and almost 100 degrees hotter than the inside of a car parked in the sun.
At 400 Fahrenheit, an 18" neck core will extend by almost 1/16" (1.6 mm) in length. However, wood will easily flex that much, without any concern. Just watch trees moving and bending in a wind storm.
Of course, if your guitar has heated to 400 Fahrenheit then the guitar is probably the least of your worries. Because at 400 Fahrenheit, the plastic in your guitar, case, car, and clothing will have melted, leaving you with a gooey mess. You could cook a beef roast at those temperatures.
Instruments I've built with neck cores always surprise me because — unlike a conventional truss rod — I often remove the guitar from a case months later and discover it still plays perfectly in tune. Seasonal changes do not affect the neck.
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