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Very Thin and Light?

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LarryH

Post subject: Very Thin and Light?

Posted: Tue Apr 30, 2013 11:55 am

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First name: Larry
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I was just watching a video posted by Robbie Obrien re: an 1890 Martin 'O' sized guitar and he said (at 1:55 into the video) the back was about 1.9mm, sides 1.5mm, top under 2mm in some areas and that guitar sounds great (to my ears). Does anyone build that thin anymore?

Is it a bit suicidal for future repair work? I'm building an 'O' sized guitar with much thicker plates (approx. .085 back, .080 sides, .110 top) but am now wondering about the plate thicknesses and would love to experiment with very thin but really don't want to build a temporary guitar - though that little rascal lasted pretty well.

After reading a bunch of posts here over the years I've never read of anyone going that thin. Again just wondering, does anyone build that thin?

viewtopic.php?f=10101&t=40213&p=528105#p528105

EDIT: I realize that was originally built for gut strings but he strung with, I think, silk and steel strings for the video. Still curious.

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Evilfrog

Post subject: Re: Very Thin and Light?

Posted: Tue Apr 30, 2013 12:01 pm

Mahogany

Joined: Thu Apr 19, 2012 10:02 am
Posts: 92
City: Alton
State: IL
Focus: Build
Status: Amateur

Something with a more ridged rim should allow you to go a bit thinner on the sides. Maybe double sides?

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WilliamS

Post subject: Re: Very Thin and Light?

Posted: Tue Apr 30, 2013 1:12 pm

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First name: William
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Also, that guitar wasn't built for steel strings if it was from 1890.

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LarryH

Post subject: Re: Very Thin and Light?

Posted: Tue Apr 30, 2013 5:38 pm

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WilliamS wrote:

Also, that guitar wasn't built for steel strings if it was from 1890.

Noted above, but is now strung with silk and steel, and I assume the bracing was not only repaired but beefed up a little?

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LarryH

Post subject: Re: Very Thin and Light?

Posted: Tue Apr 30, 2013 5:39 pm

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Filippo Morelli wrote:

LarryH wrote:

Sure.

And you have to remember that the single 0 lower bout is smaller than more conventional guitars. And if using a stiff Adi spruce top, that's even more consideration to that thinness, especially along the perimeter of the top. I built a single 0 in red spruce not long ago. Top was stiff and I built very lightly.

Filippo

Thank Filippo,

Lightly of course - but THAT lightly? Just curious.

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LarryH

Post subject: Re: Very Thin and Light?

Posted: Tue Apr 30, 2013 5:40 pm

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Evilfrog wrote:

Something with a more ridged rim should allow you to go a bit thinner on the sides. Maybe double sides?

Didn't think of that. I always build with solid linings, didn't imagine that that would allow for thinner sides.

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LarryH

Post subject: Re: Very Thin and Light?

Posted: Tue Apr 30, 2013 5:41 pm

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Filippo Morelli wrote:

It's not that light...

Filippo

Thanks so much for the reply. I'll consider some lighter builds in the future.

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DannyV

Post subject: Re: Very Thin and Light?

Posted: Tue Apr 30, 2013 8:25 pm

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Location: Powell River BC Canada
First name: Danny
Last Name: Vincent

Could be a new call out for a builders challenge! "How Thin (or light) Can You Go". It would be fun for the builders that don't have imploding guitars. :lol:

Maybe not so much for the other guys.

Danny

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Jim Kirby

Post subject: Re: Very Thin and Light?

Posted: Wed May 01, 2013 12:04 am

Brazilian Rosewood

Joined: Tue Nov 29, 2005 11:44 am
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First name: Jim
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DannyV wrote:

Could be a new call out for a builders challenge! "How Thin (or light) Can You Go". It would be fun for the builders that don't have imploding guitars. :lol:

Maybe not so much for the other guys.

Danny

We'd have to set a minimum survival time before the action deviated from nominal by more than a certain amount, or something like that.

I always liked Gordon Bok's playing on 12 string, and, from what I understand, his favored luthier sort of built them under protest - they only lasted a few years. Probably a large part of why they sounded the way they did.

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Joe Beaver

Post subject: Re: Very Thin and Light?

Posted: Wed May 01, 2013 2:52 am

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I'm more of an Imperial kind of guy but shouldn't that be 1.9 cm for the sides? Not mm? I am so confused.

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nickinbruns

Post subject: Re: Very Thin and Light?

Posted: Wed May 01, 2013 4:04 am

Cocobolo

Joined: Tue Oct 16, 2012 1:23 am
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First name: nick
Last Name: dingle
Focus: Build
Status: Amateur

1.9cm = 3/4" (more or less)

I think 1.9mm was correct...

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Trevor Gore

Post subject: Re: Very Thin and Light?

Posted: Wed May 01, 2013 4:11 am

Koa

Joined: Mon Sep 05, 2011 10:45 pm
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First name: Trevor
Last Name: Gore
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Country: Australia
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...don't say it...don't say it...DON'T say it...turn around and count to 10...OK, 12 for you guys...

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Trevor Gore, Luthier. Australian hand made acoustic guitars, classical guitars; custom guitar design and build; guitar design instruction.

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Trevor Gore

Post subject: Re: Very Thin and Light?

Posted: Wed May 01, 2013 4:15 am

Koa

Joined: Mon Sep 05, 2011 10:45 pm
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First name: Trevor
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OK. I've calmed down.

Anyone heard any good beaver jokes recently?

Edit: Alright, goat jokes will do.

Fortunately, Nick got in with a sensible answer whilst I was fighting for control...

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Trevor Gore, Luthier. Australian hand made acoustic guitars, classical guitars; custom guitar design and build; guitar design instruction.

http://www.goreguitars.com.au

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Clay S.

Post subject: Re: Very Thin and Light?

Posted: Wed May 01, 2013 5:23 am

Brazilian Rosewood

Joined: Sun Mar 30, 2008 8:20 am
Posts: 5968

Trevor,
I thought you guys liked your sides a little thicker down under? laughing6-hehe

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Trevor Gore

Post subject: Re: Very Thin and Light?

Posted: Wed May 01, 2013 5:46 am

Koa

Joined: Mon Sep 05, 2011 10:45 pm
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First name: Trevor
Last Name: Gore
City: Sydney
Country: Australia
Focus: Build
Status: Professional

Yep. Thick as two short planks, as my old man used to say...

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Trevor Gore, Luthier. Australian hand made acoustic guitars, classical guitars; custom guitar design and build; guitar design instruction.

http://www.goreguitars.com.au

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Joe Beaver

Post subject: Re: Very Thin and Light?

Posted: Wed May 01, 2013 8:26 pm

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Joined: Thu Feb 09, 2006 2:35 pm
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Location: United States
First name: Joe
Last Name: Beaver
City: Lake Forest
State: California
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I’m glad I am able to bring a small amount of happiness to our friends down under. It must be hard…. Another lonely night down at the billabong, fresh out of Fosters and not a ewe in sight…..

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Joe Beaver
Maker of Sawdust

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Trevor Gore

Post subject: Re: Very Thin and Light?

Posted: Wed May 01, 2013 10:42 pm

Koa

Joined: Mon Sep 05, 2011 10:45 pm
Posts: 1484
First name: Trevor
Last Name: Gore
City: Sydney
Country: Australia
Focus: Build
Status: Professional

Thanks for making us laugh, Joe!

We keep the Fosters for visitors, the good stuff we keep for ourselves.

Got any good ewe jokes? (Careful, now..., no pictures...)

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Trevor Gore, Luthier. Australian hand made acoustic guitars, classical guitars; custom guitar design and build; guitar design instruction.

http://www.goreguitars.com.au

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Joe Beaver

Post subject: Re: Very Thin and Light?

Posted: Thu May 02, 2013 1:28 am

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Joined: Thu Feb 09, 2006 2:35 pm
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Location: United States
First name: Joe
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Trevor Gore wrote:

We keep the Fosters for visitors...)

Well it's settled then. Next time I'm down your way I'll stop by for one of those 'visitor Fosters'

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Joe Beaver
Maker of Sawdust

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Trevor Gore

Post subject: Re: Very Thin and Light?

Posted: Thu May 02, 2013 6:09 pm

Koa

Joined: Mon Sep 05, 2011 10:45 pm
Posts: 1484
First name: Trevor
Last Name: Gore
City: Sydney
Country: Australia
Focus: Build
Status: Professional

Once you've travelled this far, you might need the good stuff. I usually have some standing by.

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Trevor Gore, Luthier. Australian hand made acoustic guitars, classical guitars; custom guitar design and build; guitar design instruction.

http://www.goreguitars.com.au

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Joe Beaver

Post subject: Re: Very Thin and Light?

Posted: Thu May 02, 2013 10:22 pm

Contributing Member

Joined: Thu Feb 09, 2006 2:35 pm
Posts: 2951
Location: United States
First name: Joe
Last Name: Beaver
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State: California
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It would be some fun. Wish I could

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