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Drop tops - leave the body thick until..

Discussion in 'Tele Home Depot' started by slick4772, Nov 26, 2020.

  1. Nov 26, 2020 #1
    slick4772

    slick4772 Tele-Meister

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    ...until after it warps so you can make it flat again?

    I built a Tele out of Alder with a 1/8” maple top and there’s now a warpage to the body. I suspect that the reason is that I should have left the body thicker longer - until after it adjusted to the top - then thicknesses it.

    Normally, when you apply a veneer, you do both sides because of the added moisture from the glue causes the wood to cup. I’m certain such isn’t done for guitars. Is there a difference between drop topping a guitar body and just using traditional 1/42’ veneer (or any thickness really)?
     
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  2. Nov 26, 2020 #2
    guitarbuilder

    guitarbuilder Telefied Ad Free Member

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    Did you alternate growth rings on the body blank glue up? like this....[ smile |frown |smile] Wider thin panels benefit from that ie...table tops.

    Was the wood thoroughly dry and acclimated to your work area?
     
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  3. Nov 26, 2020 #3
    eallen

    eallen Friend of Leo's

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    For an 1/8" top to warp a 1-3/8" body something else is up.

    I have never had glue moisture warp any body or part of any significant thickness. It may cause warping of a thin piece like a top by itself but then glue it to a body and it will conform.

    The only way I can see a body warping is if the moisture in the blank itself or there are significant tension from grain variations, and I use crazy grain and have never had it happen when appropriately dried.
     
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  4. Nov 26, 2020 #4
    Freeman Keller

    Freeman Keller Poster Extraordinaire

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    I've never done a drop top on an electric guitar that was that thin but the tops on my acoustics are typically 1/8 or less. Yes, they move a lot with humidity but will more or less settle down once braced and glued to rims. Remember however that the reason acoustic guitars have a dome built into to the top is to allow them to move.
     
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