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How does 4 pieces back affect guitar's sound?

I found great looking maple with sapwood for my OM build but they are only 15cm wide.
It would probably look great with 2 stripes of sapwood on the back.

Everything we do affects the sound. The question is does it affect enough that you can hear a difference? Unless you go way over board with bracing, I don't think you will be able to hear a difference between a four piece back and a two piece back.

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Aoibeann

Pretty much zilch. I do it all the time. I wouldn't hesitate using multi piece backs if you find a nice piece of wood.

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Brock Poling
Columbus, Ohio
http://www.polingguitars.com

I know people that deliberately make multi-piece tops (3 or 4 pieces). It doesn't affect the tone, because every glue seam is cut along the grain to avoid any runout. So, the vibrations travel as well as in a 1 or 2 piece top. And, according to them, multi-pieces give to the soundboard more stability.

It's the same thing for the back. In fact, you don't necessarily have to keep the grain straight in the back. (some intentionnaly do /\ or \/ patterns. So you can make 1, 2, 3 or more pieces back, it won't affect the tone that much that you can hear it. And if your glue joint are good, as well as your bracing pattern, you'll be alright!


PS: When to say maple sapwood, you mean the heartwood? Because, usually, we keep the sapwood of the maple, and heart is usually darker, brown, and pretty small. Maybe I'm wrong! Somebody can confirm?

Francis

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Francis Richer, Montréal
Les Guitares F&M Guitars

nope, you're right about us keeping the sapwood of Maple. I wonder, is the burnt maple I see at the lumber store just the heartwood then?
Either way, I'd love to see some pics of this wood!

I decided to go with 3 piece back (5 piece if mahogany stripes are included).
Sides also have some nice sapwood.

This is my first build btw.

http://img25.imageshack.us/i/imgp1446o.jpg/
http://img130.imageshack.us/i/imgp1448s.jpg/