Official Luthiers Forum!

Hi,
I'm really getting close to starting my OM. REALLY! I'm contemplating using one of 2 sinkers or one of 2 cedar tops I currently have. I am a bit worried about the sinker tops as they seem to be a bit softer (bend easily) than the cedar tops which are quite stiff. I'm not sure what to bring my final thickness down to either.....or leave the center a bit thinker and take down near the sides or the lower bout. I've never built a steel string and have a fear of a top not being stiff enough to handle the stress. I don't want 2/4's for bracing. Will the (earlier forum home test) deflection of 1/4" or less in 18". with a 5 lb weight give me the confidence to move forward...assuming my bracing will be to the Payne OM plan specs?
Here's where my lack of building knowledge shines.
Kent

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Wood Creations by Kent A. Bailey
EXCELLENCE IN SCULPTURE, CARVING, LUTHIER, ARCHITECTURAL MILLWORK AND DESIGN

http://www.kabart.com

I don't have my notes handy but I have built 2 Redwood sinker top SJ and 1 OM. Yes Redwood is a tad softer than Cedar but that is not an issue now the stiffness could be. The nominal thickness on the redwood tops I have done on steel string SJ bodied guitars was .118-.120 and .115-.117 for the OM. Keep in mind that you add much more strength by increasing the height of braces rather than the width.

Without having the sinker Redwood tops in hand to flex and test I can only say I suspect they will make fine tops for an OM as will the Cedar tops as well

Thanks M.P.
I'm excited and a bit intimidated. I have a Curly Myrtle and a Curly maple to experiment with for sides and back....Nice fun contrast with the sinker. Hopefully I don't break them into firewood bending them.
Building my form today.
Kent

_________________
Wood Creations by Kent A. Bailey
EXCELLENCE IN SCULPTURE, CARVING, LUTHIER, ARCHITECTURAL MILLWORK AND DESIGN

http://www.kabart.com

I've made 3 or 4 steel string guitars(000 size) now with sinker redwood and they have all sounded great. Actually the stiffness of the redwood I used was pretty darn good, of course across the grain it was weaker than spruce, but using a typical deflection tester it was close to spruce along the grain......in any event, it can make a very good steel string top.

Cheers,

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Gwaltney Guitars

The color contrasts sound great but I personally would not match Maple with Redwood as it seem to be two competitive type tonewoods Maple is typically used to produce a bright crystalline tone and Redwood is very woody and dark throaty tone. Though I have never tried this combination it would be interesting to hear the outcome.

My favorite woods to pair redwood with are almost any Rosewood, Mac Ebony, Koa and Narra.

I do have a (classical size) Brazilian Rosewood I want to use for my other sinker top. That should be awesome.
I'm experimenting with wood combinations and will have fun with this strange mix and trying to figure out how to pull everything together with combo accents with binding/headplate/inlays/rosettes...etc. I know little about what combinations of woods create what sounds. I may never get deep enough into building to know that. However, I do see a fairly standard mix of tops and sides that everyone seems to stay with. Nothing wrong with going with what works..

I have several classical guitars and all different sides and tops and they all sound different and play different. I like them all. I guess I'll need to start somewhere with my first steel string and use it as my baseline for future builds.

Thanks
Kent

_________________
Wood Creations by Kent A. Bailey
EXCELLENCE IN SCULPTURE, CARVING, LUTHIER, ARCHITECTURAL MILLWORK AND DESIGN

http://www.kabart.com

I've heard a lot of people say they really like the maple/cedar combo. I'd assume maple/redwood would be similar.