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I'm starting my first parlor and I'm wondering if the thickness of the top, side and/or back should be thinner than say an OM. The bracing will obviously be lighter but should the thickness of the plates also change? Thanks.

Sure you can go thinner on the plates provided that the wood that you are using will provide the desired stiffness at a given thinner thickness. I know that this answer is not much help but many builders do not build to a spec instead individually thicknessing the plates toward a desired deflection measurement.

What woods are you using for the back and sides and the top?

SS.
I make a
Martin size from the 1850's and for steel strings with a well cut top(stiff-1/4ed well-lite in weight) mine are 2.2mm in the center to 1.8mm on the edges-they sound wonderful!!!!!!

If you like i can send you a template of the guitar size.
mike

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Mike Collins

I haven't gone as small as a parlour yet, but I always go thinner for the top and back as the body width gets smaller.

Mike, what is the size of the Martin body that you are working with? I would be interested in a template if you're offering.

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David White, Toronto

"All my favourite singers can't sing."

Mike: First I'd love a template if you don't mind. Second, what you use for the top is pretty consistent from something I found in the MIMF archives--someone posted that he thins his tops to .095" which, if my math is right, is pretty close to your tops. Do you x-brace your parlors? I've seen some drawings where they use ladder bracing. What do you do with your backs and sides? I'm using bubinga, if that makes a difference.

The last size 2 I built really sounded great. It was tough to let go. Nice stiff sitka top cut in the 70's I wound up a little thicker than Mike but not by much.

http://www.thepodium.com/p-16608-kenned ... arlor.aspx

These are the specs:
Sitka/Mahogany 24.9 scale length 12 fret.
Top: 0.094 center, thinned to 0.085 at the edges of lower bout
Sides 0.078
Back 0.095
Bridge plate (Maple) 0.085 1 1/4" wide
X Brace 0.250 wide 0.050 high at the X
Soundhole 3.5

Terry

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It's not what you don't know that hurts you, it's what you do know that's wrong.

Thanks Terry. That's a beautiful guitar, by the way.

I think is was a 2 1/2 size-signed by the real C.F. Martin!
beautiful guitar!

I use X bracing for a steel-fan for a nylon-no latter-the martin was a fan so to speak.
Dr & SS -the sides were around .075 -but they varied allot!
If you pm me I'll send all the specs also.
Also I'll send you pixs of this beauty !!

mike

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Mike Collins