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i have started work on a single cutaway guitar and already have the body pretty much completed. i think it would look much better as an archtop than a flat top, but im not sure if have enough wood. its a maple body with a curly cherry sapwood top. the final top thickness as it stands is only about 1/4" or maaaybe 5/16. it is going to have a burst on it though i would like it to be essentially jet black around the outside and on the body and then fade to a steel gray in the center. my thinking is that since the outer edges are going to be black, and the body and maple is a pretty decent thickness still, that i could essentially bring the cherry down to zero thickness (and maybe even go into the maple a little) around the edges of the guitar. i know i wouldn't get much of a bell, but i think it would be better none. if i went this route i would hate to have a visible line from the glue joint through the stain and stuff though. it should be noted that this would be my first archtop and will also be my first burst finish (but i am pretty confident in my abilities to do both though). advice appreciated, much thanks!

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~shad peters

http://www.flickr.com/photos/petersinstruments/
http://petersinstruments.blogspot.com/
http://petersinstruments.com/

I tried a couple of bursts.

unmittigated failures all!!

as to the glue lines showing, a couple of clear coats well rubbed out before you start the burst SHOULD cover it ok.......

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My soundclick xx luthier blog xx luthier soundclick

Sounds like a plan for the top to fail. If you carve away to nothing, what is going to support the top?

Correct me if wrong, but you are talking about fading the top into the sides, right? Sounds like a reasonable plan, but you may have issues with doing it smoothly (I would, anyway lol). You could also add a layer of a contrasting dark wood under the cherry, then arch it. This will keep the structural integrity of the top, and allow a bit more arch.

Very cool idea, in all...look forward to pics!

-Matthew

Shad-
Just to be clear, is this a LesPaul-type body you are making? The type with a 'cap' of figured wood glued to a 'plank'?

I'd advise against 'sanding through' the top wood and trying to hide the glue line with dark (black?) finish later. It's surprisingly difficult to get a completely opaque edge to a 'burst', unless you put on a very thick finish, or have a very intense dye, which I find difficult to control and 'fade'. An experienced 'burst' sprayer would have little problem , I'd expect..

If I were you, I'd go with Matthew's suggestion of a different color wood under the cap. Make the transition 'deliberate (and controlled) and you can make the added wood look like rounded-over thick binding.

Cheers
John

you are correct sir, its just going to be a solid body, i guess i didnt make that very clear. so as far as what is supporting. and as far as putting another peice between them... well its a bit to late as the body has been glued up since last summer. i was not really intending to make it an archtop at the time. i may just put that one into the stock pile and make a new body, i have a nice big peice of curly maple about 1.25" thick that i could get some nice bookmatched sets out of.

_________________
~shad peters

http://www.flickr.com/photos/petersinstruments/
http://petersinstruments.blogspot.com/
http://petersinstruments.com/

Ah...that does clarify things some...I was thinking a hollow body. It would be a good exercise in patience and keeping a light touch, but on a solid you could do it. Not sure if I'm that brave.

no sir, i pretty much stay away from real instruments as much as i can, the only acoustic instrument i have made was a open back banjo.. call it what you will, but i really like solid bodies and the freedom that you have to experiment whith shapes and all that. maybe i'll try acoustic guitars one of these days though.

_________________
~shad peters

http://www.flickr.com/photos/petersinstruments/
http://petersinstruments.blogspot.com/
http://petersinstruments.com/

There is nothing 'un'-real about electrics and other solid bodies! They make music? Then...they are instruments.