Official Luthiers Forum!

I am getting ready to start my next project and have myself all pumped up. This will be my version of a Strad violin !! I plan to follow Lance K example of clean perfection. Committed to taking my time on this one

First - THE PLAN

This will be a traditional Martin style 000. Brazilian RW back/sides, Adi top, Mahogany neck.

Thinking of Brazilian rosette, fingerboard, head veneer and bridge and not sure what to bind it with yet.

Now my question:

Can you use a laminate for fingerboard and bridge? The reason - I have some Brazilian that is not useable for sides but plenty of usable materials if I laminate the two sides to create a board. Total thickness when combined is adequate for bridge and fingerboard. Also thinking I can use for bindings which contrasts with the darker brazilian back/sides.

Is there any reason why a laminate would not work for fingerboard and bridge??

Souns interesting to my ears Rich, great project my friend, Hesh is right on with HHG for the bridge, you definitely want this area to transmit the vibes very well!

Pics as you go bro!

What Hesh said! I have never seen a laminated bridge either but if I were to do one, I certainly would use either HHG or Epoxy for its hardness.
If you were to use a glue that has cold creep, say Titebond, you might see your lamination slipping under the pull of the strings.

I also see no reason that a fretboard could not be laminated.

_________________
Support the OLF! Bookmark our STEWMAC link Today!
Lance@LuthiersForum.com

Like the others, I see no reason for not doing the FB this way, especially if you bind it. In fact, you may use a lighter weight wood as the "meat" of the FB, and just cap it with BRW. I have thought of trying that exact idea a few times, to reduce neck weight.

As for the bridge, I wouldn't recommend it. Not that it won't work, because if you use HHG, it should hold up fine, but simply because what you're going to build here is a high end guitar, by any means, and it deserves a solid bridge. A laminate bridge on this one would detract from it in too many eyes, including your own with time, perhaps.

Save those smaller BRW pieces for bridge plates, or if they bookmatch, for headplates....Mario39018.4584259259

i have seen three piece bridges, and laminated fbs, but would not use one myself.

as mario points out, if you are trying to build a top shelf instrument, build a top shelf instrument, no shortcuts. if you are going to laminate, why not use laminate back and sides for that matter.

steve at colonial has brazilian fittings at very reasonable prices.crazymanmichael39018.5402662037

Of course, you could always use the lamination as a design feature to make
it look more "on purpose". Michi has a photo of a laminated bridge on his
web site that I think looks really nice:

Matsuda Contact

One other option would be to add an accent line in the layers between the bridge, maybe of a light wood. As you shaped the bridge it may look really neat. Especially if you are using wood that would not be used any way, why not make a bridge and see how you like the aesthetic, if it is disappointing make another from solid BRW.

I'm kind of suprised that this has not been tried more.

Granted tone is top priority but most regard well designed laminates as stronger than solid pieces of wood all other things being equal.

I do see how it would be a step away from traditional acoustic guitars asthetically but I would think a stronger laminated bridge could allow the option thinner lower mass bridge that may work for some designs. But I am talking from zero experiance and just an accumulation of observations.

I know Carl Thompson uses lots of laminates in bodies and bridges of his electric basses.
http://www.ctbasses.com/
Scooter B39022.7850810185