Official Luthiers Forum!

Hi folks!!

I'm usimg Adirondack for the first time.
I'm trying to find the best thickness for a ooo style guitar.

I have been told that you can go as thin as 0.90"
A little help from my friends would be appreciated.

Thanks
walterk

We've talked about this before and there is really no simple answer except......Keep yourself a notebook and start taking deflection measurements and write them down along with every other peice of info on that guitar. Make notes about the tone when it is strung up etc. This is the only way you can become familiar with how you should treat wood. Take pictures of the bracing on each top from angles that show the profiles and thickness so that you can make either changes to the next one or recreate your success. If you don't know where you've been then you'll never get where you want. Or as BD Says, take any road but you won't get anywhere or something like that.
I hope no one feels like I'm being a Smart --S but we all forget to document our work sometime. That is everyone but Al, as he is a scientist.
Walter, if your just looking for a starting point, take Hesh's advice as it sounds about right to me, but measure the stiffness of your wood in a way that is repeatable and keep notes.

_________________
Tickle your guitar daily, and it'll tickle you back.

[QUOTE=John How] We've talked about this before and there is really no simple answer except......Keep yourself a notebook and start taking deflection measurements and write them down along with every other peice of info on that guitar. Make notes about the tone when it is strung up etc. This is the only way you can become familiar with how you should treat wood. Take pictures of the bracing on each top from angles that show the profiles and thickness so that you can make either changes to the next one or recreate your success. If you don't know where you've been then you'll never get where you want. Or as BD Says, take any road but you won't get anywhere or something like that.
I hope no one feels like I'm being a Smart --S but we all forget to document our work sometime. That is everyone but Al, as he is a scientist.
Walter, if your just looking for a starting point, take Hesh's advice as it sounds about right to me, but measure the stiffness of your wood in a way that is repeatable and keep notes.[/QUOTE]

John,

Are you talking about measuring the stiffness with the grain, or across the grain, or both? And, which is more important to consider when deciding how thick to make a particuar top?

Phil

Longitudinal stiffness is the thing that is most important in thicknessing your plate. Cross grain stiffness is less of a concern. That can be influenced more easily with bracing (namely that big X running across it)

_________________
Brock Poling
Columbus, Ohio
http://www.polingguitars.com

    I don't let the stifness get me so worked up. I see so many old instruments and to be honest the wood will change as it ages. Delection tesing is bringing science into the art and I agree that anything you can do for consistiency and makes you feel comfortable is great.
    As for top thinkness I have seen adi tops as think as .085 and as heavy as .125. I personally will take them to .105 and build , then I know I can take another .010 off in finall sanding for taking out any scratches. I do like to keep the edges a little thinner than the inner space. I also don't inlet all the bracing in the kerf only the main X and the traverse brace.
    The more you build and gain experience the more you train your hands and eye. There are so many talented builder here and I met alot at ASIA.
    Keep it simple and rememeber to keep the strings to the outside
john hall
Blues Creek Guitars

[QUOTE=tippie53]     I don't let the stifness get me so worked up. I see so many old instruments and to be honest the wood will change as it ages. Delection tesing is bringing science into the art and I agree that anything you can do for consistiency and makes you feel comfortable is great.
    As for top thinkness I have seen adi tops as think as .085 and as heavy as .125. I personally will take them to .105 and build , then I know I can take another .010 off in finall sanding for taking out any scratches. I do like to keep the edges a little thinner than the inner space. I also don't inlet all the bracing in the kerf only the main X and the traverse brace.
    The more you build and gain experience the more you train your hands and eye. There are so many talented builder here and I met alot at ASIA.
    Keep it simple and rememeber to keep the strings to the outside
john hall
Blues Creek Guitars[/QUOTE]

Right you are John but deflection testing is just one more measurement and input for your senses. and something that is somewhat repeatable. Remember though that for these tests to be meaningfull, you need to take measurments in a consistent manner. Use the same weight, your wood needs to be the same width, your span needs to be consistent, etc and keep records.

_________________
Tickle your guitar daily, and it'll tickle you back.