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PostPosted: Sun Jul 28, 2019 1:02 pm 
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Brazilian Rosewood
Brazilian Rosewood

Joined: Sat Jan 15, 2005 12:50 pm
Posts: 3929
Location: United States
That top should be fine if it's a 'normal' top with a specific gravity of about .43, which would be pretty average for Sitka or Red spruce, and assuming the thickness averages about .105". If the sp.g. is on the low side, around .38, it would need to be thicker, closer to .118". At .105" it would be about 40% less stiff than I'd make one. Sitka or Red at that density is not common, but I've seen it. If the sp.g. is on the high side, at .48, the top would only need to be .094" thick, and your top would be 30% or so stiffer than it needs to be. It's not unusual to find Sitka or Red in that density range. You can't tell what the density or stiffness are by looking at the top, you have to measure them!


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PostPosted: Mon Jul 29, 2019 7:22 am 
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Koa
Koa
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Joined: Tue Feb 26, 2008 6:19 am
Posts: 1560
First name: Richard
Last Name: Hutchings
City: Warwick
State: RI
Zip/Postal Code: 02889
Country: United States
Focus: Build
Status: Amateur
Cool, so how do I measure that? U have another sitka top I'm about to glue up. This time I'll only sand it enough to get my rosette installed before bringing it down .

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Hutch

Get the heck off the couch and go build a guitar!!!!


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PostPosted: Mon Jul 29, 2019 8:08 am 
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Brazilian Rosewood
Brazilian Rosewood

Joined: Sun Mar 30, 2008 8:20 am
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Finding specific gravity is easier done using the metric system. Multiply the length, width, and thickness in centimeters to find cubic centimeters and then divide by the weight in grams (this assumes the top is still rectangular). You will have to average the thickness of the top to do the calculation, or you could do the calculation using the minimum thickness, and another using the maximum thickness to find the possible range of Sp.G.


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PostPosted: Mon Jul 29, 2019 8:24 am 
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Koa
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Joined: Tue Feb 26, 2008 6:19 am
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First name: Richard
Last Name: Hutchings
City: Warwick
State: RI
Zip/Postal Code: 02889
Country: United States
Focus: Build
Status: Amateur
Great! I'll give it a try. I don't own a scale though I'll have to bring it to work. I have been considering getting a scale and weighing everything.

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PostPosted: Mon Jul 29, 2019 8:24 am 
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Contributing Member
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Joined: Sat Dec 30, 2006 3:20 am
Posts: 2593
Location: Powell River BC Canada
First name: Danny
Last Name: Vincent
It'll be fine. Just call it your "Responcive Finger Style Banjo Killer" model.



These users thanked the author DannyV for the post: banjopicks (Mon Jul 29, 2019 9:36 am)
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PostPosted: Mon Jul 29, 2019 8:53 am 
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Brazilian Rosewood
Brazilian Rosewood

Joined: Tue May 13, 2008 10:44 am
Posts: 6256
Location: Virginia
A scale is a good thing to have in the shop.


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