Official Luthiers Forum!

Hi to all. I'm currently getting ready to start my first build and need all the advice possible. I was wondering if you guys could give some advice on what would be the best thickness for the soundboard and the best for the backs and sides? I'm also not to sure if the thickness matters as tone goes either. If your guitar is stiffer, does it produce a louder instrument with lots if highs rather than a nice deep low and mellow tone? Any advice would be great. Thanks for your help guys.

_________________
Thanks To All:
Lee
Sikeston,Mo.

Well this is a difficult question to answers since there are so many variables. If you search this forum you will find many posts discussing thickness etc. When first starting out starting with a reasonable starting thickness is fine. As you gain experience many builders fine tune their guitars by changing thickness bracing etc. In reality, thickness is probably not the correct term. Stiffness is the issue. Some of us thickness to a certain stiffness since all tops are not the same.

Basically as a beginner, some guidelines apply but are not locked in stone. In general, spruce is typically stiffer than cedar at the same thickness. So most people will keep their tops a bit thicker with cedar. I will post some thickness here, but DON'T use these as a golden rule. They are reasonable starting points.
Some thickness spruce around 0.105 to 0.115 where some go a bit thicker for cedar. Now I, and I mean my own feeling only, feel that most guitars are a bit over built. So I thickness tops the a lower degree of stiffness. (Search deflection testing to see some discussions on this) For me many of my tops end up around 0.082 to 0.095. This was for lutz spruce My last cedar top was 0.096. Keep in mind size of guitar is a factor, bracing is a factor, how the sides are constructed is a factor.

Bottomline no straight answer, but most spruce tops around the 100 to 115 mark make reasonably nice guitars.

_________________
Andy Z.
http://www.lazydogguitars.com

Sorry
My sides are around 0.09 to 0.1. Now I use a double side technique which makes for very stiff sides.
My backs are in the range of 0.08 to 0.09
Again many issues. I believe the back is not just a reflector but can be made to contribute to the sound of the guitar

_________________
Andy Z.
http://www.lazydogguitars.com

Thanks azimmer1 for the input, its greatly appreciated.

_________________
Thanks To All:
Lee
Sikeston,Mo.