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3 and 4 piece soundboards?   You are logged in as Guest
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JBASHORUN

Posts: 1839
Joined: Jan. 23 2005
 

3 and 4 piece soundboards? 
I'm familiar with some guitars having 3-piece backs... I'm not sure WHY this is, is there any particular reason for it, or is it just cosmetic? Anyway, I noticed that one of my guitars (a classical) also has a 3-piece SOUNDBOARD. The joins are very subtle- visually, you'd hardly know if it weren't for the slight ridges in the lacquer. Now surely a 3-piece soundboard MUST have SOME effect on the sound, que no? And I was recently browsing on Ebay and spotted a guitar with a FOUR-piece soundboard (picture attached). Again, is this going to make a difference, and if so what?

Any enlightenment appreciated!

Jb



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  REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE |  Date Apr. 20 2007 20:15:55
 
jshelton5040

Posts: 1500
Joined: Jan. 17 2005
 

RE: 3 and 4 piece soundboards? (in reply to JBASHORUN) 
Well if you're going to make a four piece top at least use wood with very little runout. That is really ugly!

John Shelton
  REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE |  Date Apr. 20 2007 22:36:12

JBASHORUN

Posts: 1839
Joined: Jan. 23 2005
 

RE: 3 and 4 piece soundboards? (in reply to JBASHORUN) 
I think thats just because they've used opposing grained pieces of wood next to eachother. Its probably not so noticeable when in normal light. But you're right, it should at least be matched.

Jb

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  REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE |  Date Apr. 20 2007 22:49:07
 
jshelton5040

Posts: 1500
Joined: Jan. 17 2005
 

RE: 3 and 4 piece soundboards? (in reply to JBASHORUN) 
quote:

ORIGINAL: JBASHORUN

I think thats just because they've used opposing grained pieces of wood next to eachother. Its probably not so noticeable when in normal light.


I disagree, I suspect those pieces of wood are book matched but the wood has a tremendous amount of runout. You get this effect when you saw straight pieces out of either curved or twisted billets. Runout is extremely common in spruce since the trees tend to grow in a twist. The only way to avoid the apparent difference in coloration (actually reflectiveness) is to flip one panel end to end before gluing.
  REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE |  Date Apr. 21 2007 14:48:54
 
pablo requena

 

Posts: 18
Joined: Apr. 10 2006
From: From Malaga, Spain. Based in Sussex ,England.

RE: 3 and 4 piece soundboards? (in reply to JBASHORUN) 
Hi James

I guess you heard of Torres. He sometimes used more than two pieces soundboards mainly because he didn't have the money to buy anything better, but he still built instruments of great quality.

You might find interesting the book that Romanillos wrote about Torres. I think he explains why Torres did this and the effects of it.

Pablo
  REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE |  Date Apr. 21 2007 19:49:32

JBASHORUN

Posts: 1839
Joined: Jan. 23 2005
 

RE: 3 and 4 piece soundboards? (in reply to JBASHORUN) 
Gracias Pablo. Yes, I'm very familiar with Torres. I will try and track down a copy of the book to see what it says on this subject.

James

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  REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE |  Date Apr. 21 2007 20:13:47
 
Haithamflamenco

Posts: 927
Joined: Mar. 6 2007
From: Bahrain

RE: 3 and 4 piece soundboards? (in reply to JBASHORUN) 
i belive its to use more of wood pices availabel and cut out the price,

in zavaletas web page , there is an interview with Pedro Maldonado , about bulilding concert guitars with low prices,

there is Andalucia 1a Concert Models fro 2500 euros, one of ther reason that the guitar is on affordable price is the three pices back,

"The Andalucia model uses master grade Spanish cypress for the back and sides, but is made with a three piece back-- allowing the use of narrower, more affordable cuts of wood. "

here is the link;
http://www.zavaletas-guitarras.com/files/Maldonado-New.html

haitham





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  REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE |  Date Apr. 22 2007 15:21:25

stephen hill

 

Posts: 300
Joined: Feb. 16 2004
From: La Herradura, Granada, Spain

RE: 3 and 4 piece soundboards? (in reply to JBASHORUN) 
I think it is really a question of economics, sometimes us luthiers are so broke we cant afford the next lot of timber!
A four piece front , if the timber is good shouldnt really have any effect on the sound. I wouldnt use one as I feel that the joint should be supported there by a central fan although if the joint is good it shouldnt matter also. Visualy I think the 2 piece is more pleasing. As for 3 piece backs I really like these anyway, they give a style to the guitar different from the 2 piece.
It sometimes seems funny to make a lesser priced guitar, say 2500 rather than 3500 because of the quality of the timber. The work is the same unless you also cut corners in the construction and the difference in cost of the materials isnt so huge.

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http://www.spanishguitars.co.uk
  REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE |  Date Apr. 22 2007 15:35:11
 
flamenco_9

Posts: 214
Joined: Jan. 15 2004
 

RE: 3 and 4 piece soundboards? (in reply to JBASHORUN) 
what about oud and lute the back is maybe 19 peices.
anyone tryed to make a guitar with back like oud or lute lots of wood stips with different kinds of woods....would the sound be richer?
  REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE |  Date Apr. 22 2007 23:06:48
 
Jim Opfer

Posts: 1876
Joined: Jul. 19 2003
From: Glasgow, Scotland.

RE: 3 and 4 piece soundboards? (in reply to flamenco_9) 
quote:

what about oud and lute the back is maybe 19 peices.


I guess that comes from having to make the extreme curvature back which would be impossible to make from anything other than segments.
  REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE |  Date Apr. 23 2007 21:41:43
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