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How Thin is Too Thin?
Posted: Fri Jul 03, 2015 9:49 am
by Diane Kauffmds
How thin is too thin for a top?
I'm making a deep body 00, similar in design to the Martin 00-42SC. I downloaded the specs for the John Mayer SC Edition and on page 4 of the brochure, it states that the back is thicknesssed to .095 and the sides to .065. It doesn't say the top thickness.
How thin can you go with a top and not compromise the structural integrity of the instrument?
Re: How Thin is Too Thin?
Posted: Fri Jul 03, 2015 10:53 am
by tippie53
I have seen them as thin as .095 I shoot for .105 to .110 depending on how stiff the top is. Red and Carpathian I will to .105 sitka .110 cedar abd redwood .135
Re: How Thin is Too Thin?
Posted: Fri Jul 03, 2015 12:51 pm
by Diane Kauffmds
tippie53 wrote:I have seen them as thin as .095 I shoot for .105 to .110 depending on how stiff the top is. Red and Carpathian I will to .105 sitka .110 cedar abd redwood .135
How thin would you make engelmann?
Re: How Thin is Too Thin?
Posted: Fri Jul 03, 2015 1:44 pm
by tippie53
that can vary .110 is safe.
Re: How Thin is Too Thin?
Posted: Fri Jul 03, 2015 2:08 pm
by Diane Kauffmds
tippie53 wrote:that can vary .110 is safe.
Thanks John.
Re: How Thin is Too Thin?
Posted: Fri Jul 03, 2015 3:08 pm
by Danl8
Really useful posts, John & Diane!
BTW, baroque lute tops have been thinned to as much as 1.4mm (ave. 1.8mm). Even with 25 strings, the tension isn't as much as an acoustic guitar and the barring is completely different.
Re: How Thin is Too Thin?
Posted: Fri Jul 03, 2015 3:30 pm
by Diane Kauffmds
Danl8 wrote:Really useful posts, John & Diane!
BTW, baroque lute tops have been thinned to as much as 1.4mm (ave. 1.8mm). Even with 25 strings, the tension isn't as much as an acoustic guitar and the barring is completely different.
That's interesting. Thank you!
Re: How Thin is Too Thin?
Posted: Wed Jul 08, 2015 1:02 pm
by glasalle1
Wow, .065 is thin for sides - is it a rosewood?
Glenn
Re: How Thin is Too Thin?
Posted: Wed Jul 08, 2015 1:44 pm
by Diane Kauffmds
glasalle1 wrote:Wow, .065 is thin for sides - is it a rosewood?
Glenn
It's Cocobolo. I thought it was very thin too. It's the specs on the John Mayer Stage Coach 00.
Re: How Thin is Too Thin?
Posted: Thu Jul 09, 2015 7:40 am
by ruby@magpage.com
I am in the middle of an oak jumbo that is 4-7/8" thick at the heel and 4-1/2" at the neck - pretty deep like yours, Diane. John bent the sides for me and I did not measure the thickness, but here is something to consider:
Where the waist re-curves into the large, lower bout there is a straight section. On my guitar, I can push my thumb on it and get it to flex quite a bit. I asked about this on the OLF and several told me that they double the side for an area at that flat spot, or add extra reinforcing strips.
Something else to consider about thickness when building a deep guitar.
Ed