Official Luthiers Forum!

Can someone explain the difference if I am not correct? I know a carved top is just that, a carved top - 3/4" or more thick. What about drop top? is it just a veneer? Do you need a vacuum to glue it up over a carved blank?

_________________
Time is a great teacher, but unfortunately it kills all its pupils - Louis Hector Berlioz

Chansen / C hansen / C. Hansen / Christian Hansen - not a handle.

Christian

Usually, a drop top is around 1/4'' (0.25). Sometimes it could be thinner, something thicker, let say between .20 to .30. 3/16 to 5/16. Around there. They're used for flat tops. Carved top are thicker cause with the carve or the "radius" you'll give it, you need this thickness. If you carve too much with a drop top, you'll see the bottom wood before the edges of the body. I don't think you could "bend" a drop top to fit a arched body, even with a vaccuum pump. If you want to have an arched top, you have to take a 3/4 top, for the reason i just said. It depends of the radius you'll give to the top and the look you want... semotimes 1/2 could be enough (less expensive). I think for les paul, by example, it would be enough.

And you don't need any vacuum pump. You glue the top to the body, flat to flat, and carve after.

_________________
Francis Richer, Montréal
Les Guitares F&M Guitars

thanks for the clarity. I thought that you carved a solid body then just veneered it - that wouldn't really be a top though.

_________________
Time is a great teacher, but unfortunately it kills all its pupils - Louis Hector Berlioz

Chansen / C hansen / C. Hansen / Christian Hansen - not a handle.

Christian

Here's a good example of a drop top. I guess it's a ¼'' top of cocobolo, and you can see also that this one has several "tops". That's not bindings, there are 4 tops glued one over the other, glued over the body.

_________________
Francis Richer, Montréal
Les Guitares F&M Guitars

Hi guys
The term "drop top" refers to Tom Anderson Guitars name for a version of a bent top, his are about .200" but are kerfed on the underside so they will bend easier. A laminated top can be any thickness but generally are .100"-.250" thick. Needless to say( but I will anyway) ,you will not be bending a .250" top very far. The average lamtop is .100" or .125" so it will bend.
How steep the bend is will determine how thick the top can be.

I think regardless of who coined the phrase it means what has been stated. Drop top is expected to be a flat topper on a guitar and not carved.

Even though major manufacturers add veneer to the cheaper carved tops it is nothing that someone can just do with out specialized equipment like a vacuum press. Or I should add do it well..