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Looking for some advice for a first time building. I am working on a parlor guitar with a ceder soundboard. I have it at .085" right now. The question is this; is .085" too thin? I see a lot of recommendation for cedar to be somewhat thicker than spruce or will the smaller size of the parlor guitar allow me to go a little thinner?

Thanks
Dave

I would say that 0.085" is to thin for cedar. Unless you really know what your doing bracing it right to support such a thin top, I'd leave it alone. Either that or make a full double top with spruce on the inside and thin it so that it is about 0.110" total.

For cedar, even on a parlor guitar I wouldn't go thinner than 0.115" if this is your first build.

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I don't think one can say "too thin" without examining the particular piece of wood but .085" is pretty thin! I believe you're right that parlor guitars, being narrower, can have thinner soundboards and lighter bracing -- in fact, I think it's necessary for best tone -- but .085" is pushing the lower limit for cedar.

If the guitar's for personal use, you might go ahead and see what happens. I doubt that I'd be comfortable selling an instrument with such a thin top.

Rick Davis

Because this is a first guitar, I don't want to proceed it the top is too thin. I do have some quarter sawn mahogany veneer that is .022 to .025, could I laminate that on the bottom of the sound board to get the .110. If I did this is regular titebond OK??

Dumb idea or should I just pop to new soundboard blanks?

Thanks
Dave

I'd go to a new sound board. Make it right, you'll regret it if you don't. You can set this top aside and experiment with it in the future....

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"There's really no wrong way, as long as the results are what's desired." Charles Fox

"We have to constantly remind ourselves what we're doing....No Luthier is putting a man on the moon!" Harry Fleishman

"Generosity is always different in the eye of the person who didn't receive anything, but who wanted some." Waddy Thomson

I agree with Rick, that you can't tell just with a measurement. Some cedar is extremely hard & stiff & might hold up. If it is .085" now, how thin will it be after you do your final sanding?
Cedar tops are pretty cheap. Especially small sized ones. I have a few lying around. You pay the postage, & I'll send you one if you like.
I'd hate to see all that effort go to waste if your top blew out.

I'd save it for center back seam strips and get another top. It really depends on the bracing you are going to use and the size parlor too. X-brace maybe .10 to .105" and ladder maybe .125".

Dave...Here's a perfect opportunity for a great learning experience. Build with this top as well an another with a thicker top. Compare and contrast and teach the rest of us. You'll learn more from this exercise than from years of asking what will happen if...

Good luck and don't be afraid to be bold. Nobody ever said you shouldn't do this on a first guitar.

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JJ
Napa, CA
http://www.DonohueGuitars.com

Great suggestion, JJ!
That`s what I would have said.
Parlor size is smaller...
I say brace it up and tap away.
Coe Franklin

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