t1r12003 Posted March 26, 2006 Report Share Posted March 26, 2006 I acquired a piece of bocote for a guitar. It's 1 inch thick. My original idea was to make a very thin bodied guitar, as I did some searching on the forum about this. I saw a couple that some guys made that were 1 1/16", and figured it's possible. However, bocote being a very hardwood, and only an inch thick, I didn't think the sound would be very good, very shrill if anything. Now, I've considered using this piece as an arch top for a solidbodied, but chambered, guitar. I figured a lightweight mahogany back would be good. My question is, is a 1 inch thick top too thick for an archtop guitar, especially being bocote, a very hardwood that would still seem to be too bright sounding? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
erikbojerik Posted March 26, 2006 Report Share Posted March 26, 2006 The maple cap on a Les Paul typically starts out at 1/2" to 3/4" thick before carving. True hollowbody archtops start with a top plate thickness of 1". I think a bocote-topped chambered LP would be the cat's meow. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
t1r12003 Posted March 26, 2006 Author Report Share Posted March 26, 2006 The maple cap on a Les Paul typically starts out at 1/2" to 3/4" thick before carving. True hollowbody archtops start with a top plate thickness of 1". I think a bocote-topped chambered LP would be the cat's meow. I may go with a PRS type shape, but as long as the wood combo with that thick of a starter top would sound ok, then it's a go. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
javacody Posted March 26, 2006 Report Share Posted March 26, 2006 How long is it? I've heard that bocote is good for a neck and it doesn't need a finish. I love the feel of raw wood necks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
t1r12003 Posted March 26, 2006 Author Report Share Posted March 26, 2006 How long is it? I've heard that bocote is good for a neck and it doesn't need a finish. I love the feel of raw wood necks. It's a smaller 1 piece body blank about 12" wide and 18 1/2" long. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marksound Posted March 26, 2006 Report Share Posted March 26, 2006 If you know of a place that can resaw it, have 3/16" to 1/4" cut off. Then you can have a carved top and a flat cap or drop top. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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