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I have a customer nosing about for a redwood top, possibly with the curly figure. I recall a thread here once where the bridge basically ripped up and destroyed the top along the figure lines.

Does anyone here have any experience that they could share about redwood in general, curly in particular?

Thanks...

Talk to Harvey Leach http://www.acousticguitarforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=317753

My experience was not good, I had one of those bridge-ripped-the-top-apart along the figured lines issues. Ended up re-topping that one for the customer with some bear claw spruce. I've heard a lot of guys suggest double-tops when using curly redwood, but since I have no interest in double-tops I've never tried it.

With some different treatment my top probably could have worked. I just didn't adjust the thickness and bracing enough to compensate for the weakness of the top. This was also early in my building career when I didn't have the experience I do now. Since I don't want to risk anything like that again I continue to avoid it.

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The stuff I had was pretty soft. Running the laminate trimmer around the rim left a slight impression. It also likes to tear out and needs to be left relatively thick and or stiffly braced. My box was gorgeous but unfortunately that's the one that hit the shop floor while wet sanding the finish :/

Some of the suggestions that were made to me when I inquired about curly redwood tops were- make the bridge plate slightly wider(from neck to tail). Leave the top slightly thicker than a straight grained redwood top. Flood the top with CA glue. Make the footprint of the bride larger, you can use a lighter wood to keep the weight of the bridge down. I used a walnut bridge. It's only been a year since I finished the guitar but there are no signs of problems so far. I intended the guitar to be for myself but someone really took I liking to it. I made them aware of potential problems before handing it over. Keep in mind this was my fifth guitar so my experience is limited. There are certainly others who can give more qualified answers but thought the suggestions I received would help.

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Kyle

I did this one for a challenge a while back. That's a pinless bridge, and it stayed on.
I've replaced it with a pinned bridge, and that is fine also. I think some curly redwood is problematic, some is not.

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A man hears what he wants to hear, and disreguards the rest. Paul Simon

I like the looks of the redwood top and I really like the sound of the only one I have built. Still it worries me that so many people have had trouble with redwood tops. If you like the looks and sound I guess you just have to take the chance. Plan to replace any mistakes and let the owner know you'll make any repairs necessary. This guitar is now 3 years old - so far no problems

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Sure is pretty stuff!

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Hmm, a crapshoot I guess...

There is curly redwood and then there is curly redwood. Over the years we have cut a lot of curly redwood and have found that it varies greatly in density. The sinker redwood is much denser and stiff in both directions. This makes for a good top with a very slim chance of a bridge ripping off. It will hardly flex along its length. The light weight material should not be used as an acoustic top. It can be used as a drop top or over spruce as a double top. It is very weak along the curl lines and will flex along the length to the point of snapping.

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