Official Luthiers Forum!

In your opinion and experience, what have you leaned towards and why when it comes to gluing up your back/body pieces if you are not going with one large piece? 2 piece center seam, off center, 3 piece..etc...??

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Barron Wesley Guitars

I like the look of a center seem but that's just me.

I remember reading a thread somewhere a long while back where John Page, who was big in the Fender Custom shop talked about this and from what I remember he said that it didn't really matter if the body was 1, 2 or 3 pieces or where the seem was from any practical point of view.

Of course, I'm old and my memory can't be trusted ...

John

I also like a center seam, it just feels very balanced to me. One piece bodies are also great, but I don't really see a need for it. I have a massive piece of paduak I'll eventually make a one-piece out of, but I don't see any serious advantage in it, aside from not having to worry about a clean glue joint.

Good to know. Thanks for the input guys..

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Barron Wesley Guitars

if i am going to make it all out of one wood then a will do a center seem just because its looks well balanced, but i also really like the look of a 3 peice (or more) with different woods. i laminate maple and walnut together a lot and i really like the result with that.

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~shad peters

http://www.flickr.com/photos/petersinstruments/
http://petersinstruments.blogspot.com/
http://petersinstruments.com/

I have made bodies in 1,2 pc centered, 2 pc off center and 3 pc and more formats and have not found any advantage in any except visual aesthetics and grain orientation with the idea of keeping things flat. There are tricks however, you can put a heavy piece on the treble side so the guitar will balance better. Also you can use a dense piece for the middle without getting too heavy overall.
If I use a top, I prefer 1pc or 2 pc center joint just because it looks good centered up.

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How long is that in luthyears?