Oops

[Dave Bagwill]

Well, a student who knew better just thinned his red cedar top on the drum sander - 'just one more pass' he thought to himself - and it went down to .090". Dang.

I think that if we are careful, using 5/16" braces instead of the 1/4" that the plan calls for, and just working the braces to a good tapping sound, we should be okay, but I want to ask the Collective Wisdom here if a better idea would be to go with another top?

Suggestions please!!

[John Parchem]

It might be OK for a small guitar. How does it sound now when tapped? For me a guitar takes a bunch of time and effort. I would save the top for something else and start with one with the correct thickness.

The top makes the sounds not the braces.

[Tim Benware]

What was the target thickness to start? I start with a target for WRC at .125". And I don't think my sander could take .035" in one pass. Having said that it might be to thin unless that was a particularly stiff piece.

[Dave Bagwill]

The braces are of course just for support - but a thinner top can use heavier braces for that support.

Yeah I'm thinking he took more than one extra pass..

This was a pretty stiff piece and I had him set up to go to .110". Now at .090", it has gone past the great tapping point but I'm not sure how far - with the right support from the braces, it might work. PRS goes to .080" but uses heavy bracing, and that is with spruce.

It's a gamble. Maybe using it for a parlor guitar down the road is the best idea, and getting another top.

Thanks.

[ken cierp]

+1 Parlor

[Dave Bagwill]

Okay, we'll put this top aside and let it age awhile. I've got another top here in the shop that we can substitute.
Thanks for the input fellers.

[Kevin in California]

Dave,
how is your new project guitar coming?