Official Luthiers Forum!

i am looking into buying the top to make my first guitar and was looking on luthierscooltools.com and they have some amazingly figured drop top sets and i was wondering if they would be just as good or would they be worse sounding than the soundboards specifically for acoustic guitars?

I can't answer your question, but they have had some really nice looking curly redwood tops.

Alex

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"Indecision is the key to flexibility" .... Bumper sticker

I think normally, drop top sets are chosen and sold mostly on their aesthetic properties and not acoustic. Though redwood is used as acoustic guitar tops, the things that are important are not just how they look. It should be no less then 15 degrees off of quartersawn, and should have pretty tight growth rings. Even if both of these things are there doesn't mean it's going to be a good acoustic top either. Also figured redwood is structrally less strong than straight grained tops. The flaming is basically alternating runout, which is another thing that is avoided in a good acoustic top. I know some people will use flamed redwood on a double top, but that's a a whole nother process which requires a second top and some Nomex, and is much more involved. Luthiercooltools is a reputable seller, but stick with the tops they sell as acoustic tops.

what is "drop top"............?

1- What species are you talking about? Most of drop tops are hardwood that are not suitable for soundboard
2- Where do you see drop top on luthier cool tools?

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Francis Richer, Montréal
Les Guitares F&M Guitars

thanks guys that pretty much answers my question, i eventually went with a sinker redwood top that i found on ebay from luthierscooltools it rings like a bell. oh and i was looking at redwood and port orford cedar drop tops which are both used for soundboard wood.