www.KitGuitarsForum.com

I found two of these pieces of padauk at my local wood store and I got a crazy idea for a funky four piece back. I used one piece for the sides and one for the back. Heres how I did it.

It took a few hours of contemplation to figure out how I would cut and match up the pieces to make the back.
I ended up making a copy of the sapwood pattern on to wax paper and experimenting with four pieces I cut from that.
I spread out the pieces on my kitchen table on top of a dred shaped piece of wood and moved them around until I had the pattern I wanted. Then I transfered the wax paper pieces to the padauk piece and cut out the four pieces I needed.

Could be an interesting look. I think you need to keep a careful eye on the symmetry though. If it's unbalanced to one side it could give it an odd, unbalanced look.

What kind of binding scheme are you planning?

I actually had both sides to work with and I had to use the opposite sides on a couple of pieces to make them match. Bit of a brain teezer it was.

Im pleased with the way it turned out. I think I got the symmetry bang on but it did take several hours of manipulating the pieces before I got it right. Im pretty anal about stuff like that.

I bent the sides and started preparing the rim

Side braces

Solid Western Red Cedar Lining

Rim complete

End wedge. I almost put a contrasting red and white padauk end wedge then changed my mind at the last minute and installed an all sapwood wedge with a little spalting. Heres pics of both.