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Hi - Long time lurker finally posting! I have a set of birds-eye maple that is too thin to use as is for the classical guitar I am thinking about. Could I laminate this with another wood to get back to a reasonable stiffness and density? I think i've read that Stauffers or Lacote's were made this way. Any suggestions on spieces - spruce? Rosewood?

thanks in advance!

Lots of guitars are built with laminated backs and/or sides. The way you do it makes a difference as to whether it is world class or not very good.

In classicals, one renown builder years ago laminated the backs with soft wood inside, such as cedar or spruce similar to top wood. He called this a "double top" guitar, not to be confused with the same terminology that some builders use today to refer to a top that is laminated, usually with a layer of nomex .

Today, Smallman in Australia has turned to laminating his backs. I think he has cedar sandwiched between hard woods. His backs are so substantial that he laminates them in a domed form and does not use interior braces. His guitars sell for $30,000.

So, it can be done. I think how you build the rest of the guitar will be more important for the performance.

By the way, what thickness would your set be finished, if you do not laminate it?

You could laminate the back with maple.
I have an old guitar (1800's) that has rosewood laminated over spruce. The rosewood is a thin veneer. I think this was mostly done for looks.

Thanks - the back is at 2mm right now. I've not had good results with maple so thin. Laminating with another maple is a good idea!

Since you have 2mm to work with, another possibility would be to add another couple back braces (5 total) and make the three in the lower bout wide flat braces (7/8 in X 5/16 in) . This is how Martin braced some of their early small bodied guitars.