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Do any of you know of any suppliers that sell glued up double top 'blanks' ready to go for your own build? I've been interested in trying out a double top guitar but I just don't have the know how or tools to laminate my own tops.

Regards.

John

John buddy I am not aware of anyone selling pre-made double tops. Sorry.

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Ann Arbor Guitars

The problem is I would assume that the size and specs vary too much to make blanks or pre-made up tops or the nomex wastage would be significant

Ok thanks. Seems to me there could be a market for this though. Maybe some day. I need to seek out and play a double top to see how great they are and if it's worth the time, money and effort for me to build jigs.

Many of the builders that use double tops are customizing the top for individual guitars. The have wood patches in between the layers where the bridge place goes as well as where the head and tail block are. They also use the thickness of the nomex to adjust the stiffness of the top. For example the area in front of the bridge may be very thick while the perimeter is quite thin. They also may laminate the top while it is in the radiused dish. I've seen some designs where there is no bracing at all and the nomex does the entire job. Although these examples had stress related problems so some real bracing is probably needed.

My point is that each top is different for each style of guitar and making generic double tops wouldn't be very interesting. Making you own double top is not that hard. I've seen Al Carruth give a demo once and he did it in about an hour.

I build a lot of double tops and I see it very hard to have a one size fits all because of many reasons. Mike brought up good points.
What size, scale length where you planning to get?

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Peter M.
Cornerstone Guitars
http://www.cornerstoneukes.com

First let me just say that I am experience oddity's with this forum. So If I am duplicating posts or otherwise seemingly ignoring some of your posts please forgive me.

I am in Blacksburg Virginia, the Western part of the state. I would be interested in building a double top classical. I have read quite a bit about them and how certain luthiers lay up the layers but it seems to me that a generic lay up would work fine for me as a first demo project guitar. I do always thin the edges of my classical guitars but wonder if this technique really matters with the double top. Of course I don't know. But like with all my classical and steel string guitars I started learning on a blank slate, that is traditional thicknessing of tops, backs, sides and bracing and then moved on from there. I am guessing this would work out OK with double tops but I am open to any advice.

Regards.

EDIT: as far as adding bridge plates and what not, if I had a generic blank double top couldn't I then inlay the bridge plate?