Maple Neck with Frets as One-Piece? (no fretboard)

[Michael Murray]

Maybe this is a radical thought. My understanding is that Sugar Maple (A. saccharum) can be used for both necks and fretboards. So can we simply construct a neck with notches created for frets and the fingerboard portion extending beyond the heel joint? Thus, all carved from a single piece of wood. Maybe this actually more complex than doing 2 pieces separately. Can't work with a truss rod? How about with smaller instruments that don't have rods like ukeleles?

Also, has anybody tried carving Sugar Maple necks or other components with CNC? I wonder how well they work together.

Thanks for feedback.

[Mario Proulx]

There's a million or two Telecasters built just that way....

[Mark Swanson]

In fact the older, most desirable telecaster and stratocasters, as well as Fender basses are all made that way. The trussrod goes in from the back, giving you the "Fender skunk stripe" that is always seen.
So if you want to see how they do it, do some searching on Google for fender neck construction.

[Mario Proulx]

Some of those earliest teles have no rod at all. Leo Fender originally didn't think the necks needed a truss rod at all, and argued against it, but gave-in to public opinion, the story goes.

[Peter Wilcox]

It seems to me that if you're talking about an acoustic SS neck with the usual heel configuration (since this is in the flat top acoustic forum), fitting the truss rod might pose a few problems without a separate fretboard. I suppose you could cut the truss rod slot in the back of a flat neck before you glue on a heel block, but then it's not a one piece neck anymore. Ditto if you use a scarf joint at the headstock.