Our tops are laminated from solid spruce, in three layers of approximately .050" (1 1/4 mm) each. These robust layers give you leeway for voicing, and there's a lot of material there for scratch and dent rehabilitation just before you apply finish.

 

The show layer of the top is the face you see; we pick this for appearance. The bottom layer, that is, the bottom of the top plate, will almost inevitably contain small pin knots and the like; these are not structural defects, but only cosmetic, and it would take a very special effort to see this surface inside the built guitar. All layers of spruce are vertical grain.

 

The single-cutaway backs are made up with a spruce core, and covered with the hardwood du jour; presently this is one figure or another of maple or birch, usually figured on the show side and straight-grain inside.

 

The sides are laminated of three (usually) hardwood veneers, straight-grained maple or birch in the two inside laminations, and a figured show veneer matching the back.The veneers are laid down in the usual long-grain/cross-grain alternation, with the cross-grained layer providing the stiffness to prevent much of the side bowing we may see in heat-bent sides. Each side's show face is cut from the same flitch, and often the same sheets, as the bookmatched set of veneers on the back. No problems with grain matching here! 

 

The sides are 3 inches wide, and they can be used full width if you wish, since your binding will clean up the edges. Some builders will choose to trim the sides to suit their personal idea of ideal depth.

 

Notice that all construction is spruce and the hardwood of choice, as well as maple or birch where it doesn't show. No tropical, or even temperate, weedwoods are buried in the works.

 

The glue is a modified urea-formaldehyde with an extremely high solids content. This glue cures to a glassy hardness which will not hinder tone production.

 

We offer these parts in other species, in addition to curly maple, and we welcome your input as to other species you'd like to see on an archtop. 

 

The plates are sizeable enough to produce a 17 inch guitar, and the side sets are single-cutaway.  We supply an outline to help you make an accurate construction mold.