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I have a set of Brazilian Tulipwood backs and sides that I want to use for a classical guitar. The sides are quartered. The backs are flatsawn. Tulipwood, as I understand, doesn't get that big in diameter. My wood supplier told me it was a rare piece of wood to be 7 1/2 inches wide. It has been resawn for several years now and stickered, but I am still worried about it cupping. Would it be better to saw the two pieces in half and make a four piece back? It seems to me that would be more stable and would look just as good.

Please give me your opinions.

Ken

heh Ken,

I'm confused - why would sawing them in half and then regluing change anything?

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Jim Kirby
kirby@udel.edu

If you flip the pieces around (end-on-end) so any movement in one piece cancelled out the movement in the piece glued to it, then there might be a some structural benefit. However, you'd end up with a back that wasn't bookmatched - it would look wierd. So, overall, I don't see any benefit in doing this. If you use flatsawn wood that has been dried properly, and is adequately braced, then cupping/other movement shouldn't be a problem in the finished guitar.

Dave F.

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Cambrian Guitars

"There goes Mister Tic-Tac out the back with some bric-brac from the knick-knack rack"

You should not worry about it cupping later if it is not cupped not. Thin it, brace it, build it, and the wood will no longer have much opportunity to cup.

Thanks for the advise. I will just leave it as it is.

Ken