vtsib Posted February 5, 2004 Report Share Posted February 5, 2004 hello friends, i've started already a Les Paul project.I live in Italy and i found a piece of maple for my carved top.The bad news are that this is not a flamed maple and i would like to make a translucent on my guitar and i don't like the "regular" maple. So can i put over my carved top a piece of flamed maple veneer?In what width i must choose it? Can i make the translucent finish that i want on this? And finally, is there anyone that know where can i find a veneer for my top here in italy? Sorry for my bad English. Thanks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jbkim Posted February 5, 2004 Report Share Posted February 5, 2004 Oh! I remember reading about that either here or on MIMF a LONG time ago. Sorry, I don't remember what the answer was... let me do a little search. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vtsib Posted February 5, 2004 Author Report Share Posted February 5, 2004 also, i would like to ask if the veneer will give a little difference on the tone of the guitar. thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jbkim Posted February 5, 2004 Report Share Posted February 5, 2004 Well, I couldn't find squat with the search feature . Maybe someone else remembers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
westhemann Posted February 5, 2004 Report Share Posted February 5, 2004 yes you can add a flame maple veneer...get it as thin as possible(like 1/32")soyou won't have to reduce the thickness of the guitar to use it brian has a tutorial here on how to attach it...then all you have to do is finish it...and a clear finish is fine...and no,you won't notice much if any tone difference if done correctly just be sure to use the right amount of glue and get it completely flat...you don't want to have to level sand the veneer after application because you might sand through in spots Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jbkim Posted February 5, 2004 Report Share Posted February 5, 2004 also, i would like to ask if the veneer will give a little difference on the tone of the guitar. thanks When I was doing the search, this question of tone was mentioned. The consensus was little or NO change. The example of a strat's tone being affected (or not affected) by having a pickguard was given. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
westhemann Posted February 5, 2004 Report Share Posted February 5, 2004 one thing i did not notice is that you are putting it on a carved top...that makes it tough.... the best way i can think of is to vacuum bag it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jbkim Posted February 5, 2004 Report Share Posted February 5, 2004 yes you can add a flame maple veneer...get it as thin as possible(like 1/32")soyou won't have to reduce the thickness of the guitar to use it brian has a tutorial here on how to attach it...then all you have to do is finish it...and a clear finish is fine...and no,you won't notice much if any tone difference if done correctly just be sure to use the right amount of glue and get it completely flat...you don't want to have to level sand the veneer after application because you might sand through in spots I think the concern is for a carved top (les paul.) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jbkim Posted February 5, 2004 Report Share Posted February 5, 2004 I'm too slow! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
westhemann Posted February 5, 2004 Report Share Posted February 5, 2004 haha already caught that Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vtsib Posted February 5, 2004 Author Report Share Posted February 5, 2004 ok thank you guys. but i didn't understand the "vacuum bag it". the last thing is to find it.i don't know where. can anyone tell me an online shop in europe(not USA) that has also other parts and accessories? it's not worth to take only a piece of veneer. thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bainzy Posted December 20, 2006 Report Share Posted December 20, 2006 Would using steam on the veneer work? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
low end fuzz Posted December 20, 2006 Report Share Posted December 20, 2006 be careful w/ steam when theres glue; id say steam it into shape throw some kitty litter on it over night then go back and then add glue Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Supernova9 Posted December 20, 2006 Report Share Posted December 20, 2006 To satisfy my own curiousity, is it possible to veneer onto compound curves like a carved top? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thegarehanman Posted December 20, 2006 Report Share Posted December 20, 2006 Yes, but I'd say it's nearly impossible to steam a veneer to fit onto a carved top(i mean lp type carved top, not an arm contour on a strat). Vacuum bagging is the way to go. However, apparently you'd be hard pressed to be able to get a veneer to curve over any sort of sharp curve. Look on david myka's site at some of his archtops to get a feel for what you sort of curves you can veneer. Bottom line is, to accomplish something like that, you're going to need to vacuum bag it. I'm about to go into my shop to finish up my home made cycling vacuum pump and vacuum press. If you want to read up on the process, visit joewoodworker.com. It was indispensable to educating myself on the subject. Rich Fryovanni built the venturi powered pump recently. I built the vacuum pump based system. I think he's actually run his already though. I should have mine running within the day. peace, russ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mattia Posted December 20, 2006 Report Share Posted December 20, 2006 Dude, seriously, buy a real flame maple top suitable for carving, and give up on the veneering-a-carved-top-guitar idea. It'll cost you more in tooling, and the results will never be as nice as using the solid block in the first place, IMO. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maiden69 Posted December 20, 2006 Report Share Posted December 20, 2006 WOW, great replys to a 2+ year old thread!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ryanb Posted December 21, 2006 Report Share Posted December 21, 2006 Yes, but I'd say it's nearly impossible to steam a veneer to fit onto a carved top(i mean lp type carved top, not an arm contour on a strat). Vacuum bagging is the way to go. However, apparently you'd be hard pressed to be able to get a veneer to curve over any sort of sharp curve. Look on david myka's site at some of his archtops to get a feel for what you sort of curves you can veneer. Bottom line is, to accomplish something like that, you're going to need to vacuum bag it. I'm about to go into my shop to finish up my home made cycling vacuum pump and vacuum press. If you want to read up on the process, visit joewoodworker.com. It was indispensable to educating myself on the subject. Rich Fryovanni built the venturi powered pump recently. I built the vacuum pump based system. I think he's actually run his already though. I should have mine running within the day. peace, russ Thanks for that link. I have been thinking about a vacuum bag setup lately too. Good information. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bjt Posted January 20, 2007 Report Share Posted January 20, 2007 I am thankful for these replies to a two year old post as I am doing research for adding a veneer top to a guitar that I do not want to mess up. What I am curious about is why there are a group of replies in 2004 and then a group in 2006? It seems a little odd that no one had any opinions or comments on this topic except for these two moments in time....... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
westhemann Posted January 20, 2007 Report Share Posted January 20, 2007 because newbis are asked to research old threads to learn the basics before asking questions "cold",and while researching if they find something they need clarified,they drag it back up. also veterans still research the old threads time to time to find something they remember seeing before,or just to look back and sigh Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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