Soundboard Advice

[Darryl Young]

What size body are you building?

You say one is stiffer, are they the same thickness and size? Just a tiny bit thicker (hardly noticeable to the eye) can make a large difference in stiffness. Also, even though one may be less stiff, it may also be considerably lighter.........so even though you leave the top thicker to make up the stiffness needed, overall the top may be lighter a denser and stiffer top.

[turnertj]

Thanks guys...

I've just been storing it in my basement, humidity controlled to 50% (the best I can do anywhere in the house), open with plenty of room to breathe. But if I had many tops waiting to become guitars I would definately store like you suggest Ken.

I'm building a Taylor 12-Series, so a fairly small body style overall. You guys are all right though, the stiffness difference that my oh so experienced and instrumented hands are detecting may be nothing by the time I brace and get the guitar built, including how far down I thin the soundboard.

I appreciate all the advise. I think I'll go with the Bear Claw, and save the other for guitar number 2, or number 3, or 27...

[ColestineGuitar]

Ooooh, this is an enlightening post! Thanks, turnertj. I am curious about something John said. Let's pretend the answer was "I want to make a sensitive fingerpicking guitar." What would be recommended? A thinner top and skinny bracing? Thicker top and thinner bracing? I need to kinow!

[tippie53]

For a fingerpicker I like 1/4 inch braces. or 5/16 scallop . Engleman makes a good finger picker top.

[Darryl Young]

Ooooh, this is an enlightening post! Thanks, turnertj. I am curious about something John said. Let's pretend the answer was "I want to make a sensitive fingerpicking guitar." What would be recommended? A thinner top and skinny bracing? Thicker top and thinner bracing? I need to kinow!

I would use a less dense top. Since stiffness tracks with density fairly well, that means that the top will likely need to be left thicker......but overall you will have a lighter weight top. Then I would likely push things a bit further when tuning the braces........where it responds to a light touch. This may mean that it gets muddy when you bang away on it with a pick, but you get a loud and responsive guitar to the lighter pressure from fingers. It's difficult/impossible to build a guitar that is best at everything so a great strumming guitar and a fingerpicking guitar are two different animals.

Also, use a lightweight bridge.