Sweet Chestnut - Suitable for Neck/Body?

[SamIAm]

I've been offered a block of Sweet Chestnut for my bass build.  It has been aged about 50 years and does not appear to be twisted.

 

I've searched the web but not found a lot of information regarding its suitability for use in making a guitar.

 

I'd appreciate hearing your experience, info, views relating to this.  Is it a 'sweet' choice or a highway to dissapointment?

 

S'manth x

[neepheid]

https://www.wood-database.com/sweet-chestnut/

 

It's pretty soft, but it's a little harder than basswood and that gets used for making solid bodies all the time. (Basswood for comparison - https://www.wood-database.com/basswood/)

[Random Guitarist]

For use as a body or neck? Body would be fine, neck I'd be cautious unless it's going to be chunky.

(Or put in carbon reinforcement?)

Edited September 28, 2022 by Random Guitarist
added carbon comment

[SamIAm]

3 hours ago, neepheid said:

https://www.wood-database.com/sweet-chestnut/

 

It's pretty soft, but it's a little harder than basswood and that gets used for making solid bodies all the time. (Basswood for comparison - https://www.wood-database.com/basswood/)

OMG ... I'd missed that wood-database ... awesome info, thank you!

[SamIAm]

13 minutes ago, Random Guitarist said:

For use as a body or neck? Body would be fine, neck I'd be cautious unless it's going to be chunky.

(Or put in carbon reinforcement?)

Both.  Phoenix is going to be made from a single piece of wood (Like Twiggy).

 

The neck is going to be on the chunky side, with Twiggy I freformed the neck until it felt good ... I later discovered that I'd a profile that was quite similar to the .strandberg* Endurneck ... for Phoenix I aim mindfully crafting the profile in an Endurneck fashion, I plan to have a dual action trussrod and a pair (one either side of the truss rod) 4mm square carbon fibre rods; given the asymetric neck profile I want to reduce the risk of any untoward neck bending.

 

S'manth x