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I have aset of African Blackwood backs that are 6 1/2 inches wide. Not
enought for a full two piece back. I was thinking of putting a wedge of
curly Spanish Cedar in the center and using curly Spanish Cedar for the
neck. This will be a classical guitar by the way.

Can someone tell me how to join the pieces and how to reinforce them.
Do you use a center strip type reinforcement for both loints? Please give
me some help?

Thanks
Ken

    I would use a cross grained spruce reinforcement and a wood fiber perfling strip. Spanish cedar is very soft and will dent easy so be careful
john hall

Ken did you try drawing your body outline. Then take the left hand back rotate 90 deg and put on the right hand side.You should have enough material their to get the width you need. Repeat for the other side. You should end up with a pretty well matched 4 pc. back.

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Thanks,

That's a great Idea. I think I will have enough to do this. Will make the back
look better I am sure.

Ken

I would not join that combo of wood.
I don't have any data or proof that it would not work, but I have a hunch that the expanding and contracting properties of the woods would be different enough to possibly cause you some trouble.
Just a hunch that's all...

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                             Red

How big a body are you making --- I woudl hunt downa piece of ABW that will make the centre wedge. There are ceratinly pieces out there .. Exotic woods in Burlington ONtario Canada has some, I bought some ot make binding and FBs out of .. call them - 905 335 8066. Tell them I sent you - they love me (and my credit card) there ....

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Ken I hope you understood what I was trying to convey. re-reading my post the rotate 90 deg is wrong. In any event if you have enough width rough cut your outline the join that piece from the upper bout to each lower bout using the right had piece on the left side and left hand piece on the right side. Hope this makes some sense to you.

_________________
Beautiful and unusual tone woods at a reasonable price.
http://www.rctonewoods.com/RCT_Store
The Zootman
1109 Military Rd.
Kenmore, NY 14217
(716) 874-1498

This is good, I have been wanting to use different types of wood on the back or I see 14: wide wood sets and it will need at least a 2" spacer wood. Does anyone else see a problem with wedging soft and hard wood together for backs here?  Im thinking Mahogany + a rosewood of some type, which is about the same.

Thanks,

It makes perfect sense. I have plenty of wood to do this. It is a great idea
and I think will be the best way of handling the situation. The board itself
is 6 .625 inches wide so I am just looking to get an inch out of the the
trim area.

Thanks again for the suggestion.

Ken