How Thin is Too Thin?

Diane Kauffmds · Post by **Diane Kauffmds** » Fri Jul 03, 2015 9:49 am

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?

tippie53 · Post by **tippie53** » Fri Jul 03, 2015 10:53 am

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

Diane Kauffmds · Post by **Diane Kauffmds** » Fri Jul 03, 2015 12:51 pm

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?

tippie53 · Post by **tippie53** » Fri Jul 03, 2015 1:44 pm

that can vary .110 is safe.

Diane Kauffmds · Post by **Diane Kauffmds** » Fri Jul 03, 2015 2:08 pm

tippie53 wrote:that can vary .110 is safe.

Thanks John.

Danl8 · Post by **Danl8** » Fri Jul 03, 2015 3:08 pm

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.

Diane Kauffmds · Post by **Diane Kauffmds** » Fri Jul 03, 2015 3:30 pm

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!

glasalle1 · Post by **glasalle1** » Wed Jul 08, 2015 1:02 pm

Wow, .065 is thin for sides - is it a rosewood?

Glenn

Diane Kauffmds · Post by **Diane Kauffmds** » Wed Jul 08, 2015 1:44 pm

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.

ruby@magpage.com · Post by **ruby@magpage.com** » Thu Jul 09, 2015 7:40 am

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

www.KitGuitarsForum.com

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