So I took my D15m into the shop to insert a pickup. The luthier showed me that the arched back is not solid mahogany but has a plywood back! Is this normal for arched back guitars? Would higher end guitars have SOLID wood arched backs?
West R Lee said:I believe it has a laminated mahogany back, not plywood. I think it's done in layers, like plywood, but in thin sheets of mahogany, unlike plywood...... in order to mold the arched back. I think all the arched back models were done the same way.
Hans....am I close here?
West
hansmoust said:West R Lee said:I believe it has a laminated mahogany back, not plywood. I think it's done in layers, like plywood, but in thin sheets of mahogany, unlike plywood...... in order to mold the arched back. I think all the arched back models were done the same way.
Hans....am I close here?
West
You're doing fine West!
Sincerely,
Hans Moust
http://www.guitarsgalore.nl
And there you go!Default said:Oddly enough, I have a little trashpicked Kadet where the the neckblock is particleboard.
hansmoust said:West R Lee said:I believe it has a laminated mahogany back, not plywood. I think it's done in layers, like plywood, but in thin sheets of mahogany, unlike plywood...... in order to mold the arched back. I think all the arched back models were done the same way.
Hans....am I close here?
West
You're doing fine West!
Sincerely,
Hans Moust
http://www.guitarsgalore.nl
bluesypicky said:Was this done on the arched backs only? (meaning my flat back is solid.... 8) )
Dr. Spivey said:bluesypicky said:Was this done on the arched backs only? (meaning my flat back is solid.... 8) )
Yep, the flat backs are solid. Nothing else sounds like an arch back Guild dread. It's a pretty unique tone. Both are excellent guitars.
Wish I did have one. Would a D15 with an arched back suffice? We could meet somewhere in, say, eastern Montana! :wink:dreadnut said:I'd like to do a comparison between mine (arched back & spruce top), and the rarest of the D-25's, the arched back with mahogany top...
I think someone here at LTG has one? We gotta get together
dreadnut said:I'd like to do a comparison between mine (arched back & spruce top), and the rarest of the D-25's, the arched back with mahogany top...
I think someone here at LTG has one? We gotta get together
There's not really a difference here. Plywood is made of layers of wood laminated together. For our mahogany arched-back guitars, layers of mahogany tonewood are laminated together. We'd have to get a tech onboard to tell us how thick the layers are. If you look inside the soundhole and on the back of your guitar, you'll see that the grain is going in the same direction. No matter how you slice it and what term you use, we're really splitting hairs here.bek said:I'm really a little fuzzy on the difference between plywood and laminate, though.
killdeer43 said:No matter how you slice it and what term you use, we're really splitting hairs here.bek said:I'm really a little fuzzy on the difference between plywood and laminate, though.
I hope I've helped with the "fuzzy."
Joe