Looking for Bigleaf Maple neck blanks

[CedarHill]

I have a few older back and rib sets from John Tepper's tonewood supply of Shady Grove, Oregon. I'm looking for neck blanks to match for a couple violas and violins. I believe they are no longer in business, as my phone call and emails have gone unanswered. Cascadia does have a neck blank, but they are fairly wide-grain. Maple Flame Violin Neck Blank, Highly Figured, 16.3" x 2.5" x 2.6" Thick - Stock #41530

If anyone has any bigleaf maple neck blanks they'd be willing to sell, please let me know. Thanks!

Edited August 2, 2025 by CedarHill

[Sean Couch]

On 7/30/2025 at 7:03 PM, CedarHill said:

I have a few older back and rib sets from John Tepper's tonewood supply of Shady Grove, Oregon. I'm looking for neck blanks to match for a couple violas and violins. I believe they are no longer in business, as my phone call and emails have gone unanswered. Cascadia does have a neck blank, but they are fairly wide-grain. Maple Flame Violin Neck Blank, Highly Figured, 16.3" x 2.5" x 2.6" Thick - Stock #41530

If anyone has any bigleaf maple neck blanks they'd be willing to sell, please let me know. Thanks!

Check with Old Standard Wood in Missouri. They sell Red Maple and Big Leaf Maple. I bought my wood for violin #1 from them. The website I have saved for them is:

 https://www.adirondackspruce.com/orchestral-wood

[Evan Smith]

I'd bet John Tepper is out of business by now, I was at his place decades ago.

Wide grain in big leaf is by far the most abundant, as it is a fast growing tree. But it can also range in color from bright white to chocolate brown.  The texture can appear like red maple, or some bright white tight grained euro species, though less common.

There is nothing wrong with the wide grain per say, as it can be strong enough. At times, but not always,,,it can lack some longitudinal strength, especially the shell, or bubble big leaf, which can be quite soft. A carbon fiber insert will remedy that if one is determined to use it.

It you put up pictures of what you have, a suitable match might be found. The choices are just too great to hazard sending something blind.

[ernym]

I had alot of bigleaf maple hand picked from The Wood Well but sold all of it except one set which I'll finally get to use on my last 5 string Sultana. The Wood Well is no longer in business but there is a seller on Ebay from Olympia WA who sells very nice big leaf billets that you could resaw into neck blocks. I don't know anyone else in my area selling bigleaf. Bruce Harvey had tons of it but he is also out of business. Happy hunting.

 

[CedarHill]

On 8/2/2025 at 6:43 AM, Sean Couch said:

Check with Old Standard Wood in Missouri. They sell Red Maple and Big Leaf Maple. I bought my wood for violin #1 from them. The website I have saved for them is:

 https://www.adirondackspruce.com/orchestral-wood

Thank you for the tip on Old Standard. I found this site once before but lost the link.