sides with runout

[mike-p]

I have these pieces left over from my first guitar that i'd like to use but the grain is rather less than ideal, do you think they'll work?

thanks all

[ken cierp]

I am sure millions of guitars have been constructed with flat/slab cut material (sides and backs). There is a chance that the grain will delaminate and peel (not good). Also waving and cupping is almost a sure thing -- but what else would you do with that material?

[mike-p]

thats what I thought but i just wanted to check I wasn't completely wasting me time. Thanks Ken.

[John Link]

Have you thought about thinning them to, say, .0625", then laminating them with another piece?

Dave Bagwill has a lot of experience with this. Ervin Somogyi and Brian Burns laminate their sides on the grounds that it produces better sound. Burns also touts it for avoiding some of the hazards Ken mentions.

[mike-p]

I hadn't thought of that but I suspect it's beyond my beginners skills. My instinct also tells me that the 'stiffer sides sound better ' theory relates more to rosewood and heavier guitars than to small light mahogany. I can definitely feel the sides of my old l-00 vibrating anyway.

[John Parchem]

I am with Ken, give it a try. if they cleanly bend or at least well enough to clean up you have a sides of sides for your next guitar. What do you have to lose?