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I'm ready to thickness my Walnut back & sides and I have a couple of questions. Cumpiano says to thickness between .08 - .11 depending on the species and body size. My guitar is based on a Gibson Advanced Jumbo. So it's lower bout is 16" and it's ~20" long. Given walnut and large body size should I stay on the thick side around .1"?

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when considering the relationship between wood species and thickness, one must consider the bendability of the wood, which can in turn be considered a function of its species and degree of figure as well as thickness, as well as the tightness of the bends incorporated in the design.

walnut is generally an easy wood to bend, and not particularly prone to cracking even when highly figured compared to other species.

i think 0.1" is probably a bit too thick for sides, where you can take it down to 0.07" for tight bends like venetian cutaways, but should be on the heavy side of ok for the back.crazymanmichael39024.7451157407

Walnut is one of the best (if not the best) wood to bend! Thinning out more at the cutaway is not neccessary since the wood in extremely pliable and forgiving. Its not a very heavy wood either so I keep my sides and back at around .085 to .095
Good luck. If this is your first, you picked the right wood!

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Peter M.
Cornerstone Guitars
http://www.cornerstoneukes.com

    The specs I use are .085 on walnut. The strength is about the same as mahogany to a degree as the strength issue can depend on so many factors with walnut.
   THe one weakness with walnut is runout and it isn't uncommon to see some potato chipping if it is sever. Use about 325-350 to bend the wood. You should be okay with that.
    If you run a small radius that can influence the thicness also. The sharper the radii the more difficulty.
john hall

I could swear I read in Cumpiano's book that he says he goes to .085" on all of his side material. Anyway, .085" is what I call the maximum thickness for sides on any guitar. On my little guitars, I go to .070" or even .065" if it is a wood that's stiff and not prone to cracking.John How39024.5427893519

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John,
You're right, the range was only for the soundboard & back. The sides he does say .085.

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