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Would it possible to use pine for a prototype guitar. Obviously straight grained, I'm too cheap to buy a spruce top for this prototype.

I used straight grain, quarter sawn,(but with some runout) White Pine on my last build and its my best sounding guitar yet (Torres classical). As good as good Spruce? I can't say as I've yet to build with good Spruce, but I will on my next!

Build away! It will be fine.

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Pine would work fine. You could also look for some close to quarter straight grained spruce dimensional lumber at your local big box store and resaw and use that.

some cedar goes for very cheap!
rctonewoods.com

Actually, there is a whole congregation working on these:

http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&clien ... CBwQtgMwAA

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The one well quartered White pine sample I've tested had properties that were right at the average for European spruce. I see no reason why it couldn't work.

would pine also work for the bracing? I can get dimensional spruce big enough for bracing, but not for tops.

There was a thread earlier showing Romanillos using four piece tops. Torres built some with more than two pieces. You could join up whatever spruce you have. It does not need to be two piece. But, as others noted, pine would also work fine.

I have no problem with 4 piece tops, but the only spruce available where I live are 1 inch wide framing studs. I would rather not have a 15 piece top.

You mean like this?


Or like this?


Truthfully, I haven't had the courage to actually use either one on a Guitar... They were made up during my "Jointing practice" sessions ... You make up 2x 15 piece tops and you get a whole bunch better at making tight joints... especially when you cut all the bad joints back out and re-joint again and again and again....

Honestly -- Spruce Dimensional lumber (2x4, 2x6, etc...) makes fine bracewood... Hunt through construction dumpsters for scraps 2'+ long without knots... You can easily find a few guitars worth of "Brace wood" if you poke around... ALWAYS split out dimensional lumber braces, though....

I would strongly advise you to personally call up "Tonewood suppliers" and ask for "Student Grade" tops ... You would be amazed at how cheap they come.

Thanks

John

at old world tonewoods they sell grade b tops for $7, but with shipping it is still $20.