angussg Posted June 22, 2009 Report Share Posted June 22, 2009 On a guitar with a carved figure top is that a veneer, or is the entire guitar made out of that wood. Would the veneer be applied after the carve? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kenny Posted June 22, 2009 Report Share Posted June 22, 2009 there are a few different options you can either put a thick figured cap on the body and carve that, or carve the body and vacuum a veneer on. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ihocky2 Posted June 22, 2009 Report Share Posted June 22, 2009 Option #1 from Kenny is actually easier. Just more expensive sometimes. Veneering over the carve takes some practice and experience. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
angussg Posted June 23, 2009 Author Report Share Posted June 23, 2009 What is the minimum thickness for a top? Also could you put the top on and then carve? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RAI6 Posted June 23, 2009 Report Share Posted June 23, 2009 Since you're building the guitar, you can do whatever you want. Make it as thick/thin as you want.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
angussg Posted June 23, 2009 Author Report Share Posted June 23, 2009 Well it has to be a certain thickness if your carving the top though Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Metalhead28 Posted June 23, 2009 Report Share Posted June 23, 2009 Well, you can also carve it to any depth you want, so that determines the thickness of top you would need. That said, most people would probably agree that a 1/2" top is about the minimum for a carve. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ihocky2 Posted June 23, 2009 Report Share Posted June 23, 2009 1/2" is about standard for carved tops similar to a PRS or a Les Paul. But a shallower carve means you can use less material. If you are using binding to hide the joint, you can go thinner still. Technically for a carve top you need enough material that you don't risk blowing through to the base wood. If you only need 1/4" or 3/8" to meet that criteria, then your fine. You'll just have a thicker base wood is all. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
angussg Posted June 23, 2009 Author Report Share Posted June 23, 2009 (edited) What im looking to make is something like the prs satana model. It looks like its more than a half inch. Does anybody know about how thick its top is and if a half inch is not enough? The wood that I can buy is either 1" thick, 9/16", or 1/2" -Thanks Edited June 23, 2009 by angussg Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
angussg Posted June 23, 2009 Author Report Share Posted June 23, 2009 Also If anybody happens to have the santana model guitar and could provide dimensions that would be great Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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