Guitar Construction: Tops Solid or Laminate?

07-04-2018 10:38PM #1

I have a 1968 Nippon Gakki Red Label FG 140. The Yamaha web site says Cedar Top.

The cross section I can view through the sound hole would visually indicate that it's not a laminate top.

My question: The top seems to have a hairline join right down the middle that would indicate that it's 2 pieces of wood.

Can a "solid top" be made from 2 composite pieces of wood?

Thanks

Gaspode · 07-04-2018 10:58PM

Plenty of solid tops are made of 2 joined/bookmatched pieces.
Solid refers to the wood being one piece thick, or having only 1 layer from outside to inside. Multiple thin layers on top of each other would be considered laminated.

07-04-2018 11:06PM

Thanks Gaspode. I had this idea in my head that solid tops were a single piece of wood.

And as I was readingbyour reply I was looking at the back of another guitar that was made of 2 pieces, that I knew was classified as solid.

Is there any reading on guitar construction that you could recommend? After playing for a good many years, I'm only now opening up my ears to the real craft of the luthier.

Any suggestions appreciated.

Many thanks

Gaspode · 07-04-2018 11:15PM

Sorry, I dont really have anything I can recommend tbh, I just picked stuff like this up over the years. I did watch some videos of guitars being built in the Godin factory and I'd say there's plenty more on youtube of construction that might be of interest.

07-04-2018 11:20PM

Many thanks Gaspode. I'll have a look at you tube. There's bound to be something there. Good on ya!

Guitar Construction: Tops Solid or Laminate?

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