RobF -> RE: Shape the sides to fit a domed back in five minutes. (Oct. 25 2019 0:53:28)
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I know a few classical makers who are making their backs with Nomex or wooden cored laminates, but I think when wood is used as a core layer for a back it’s generally cross grained. While laminated sides have been around for a long time, a number of newer makers are laminating in a relatively thick kerfed wooden core. Depending on the thickness and rigidity of the backs and sides, liners and even the back braces can be eliminated. I think the main rationale is to prevent the top from losing energy through the sides and into the back, with the goal of increasing loudness. I’ve never encountered a flamenco made this way, maybe there’s some out there. I’ve heard some pretty nice sounding classical guitars that were made using modern style laminations, however. Just an aside, I was given an old Gibson J55 with a broken headstock that I may or may not ever get around to repairing. It’s from the 1970’s and has a pressed laminate back with no back braces. The person who gave it to me said it was a good sounding guitar. I also picked up a similar vintage Aria classical at a garage sale for $20 that needs work to get the action down. But sonically, it kicks butt, loud and good tone to boot. I think it’s made with pretty well all laminates (maybe not the top, I’d have to check). As the old saying goes...plus ça change... *edit* To address your original speculation, while the laminate would likely have some form of impact on the tone, I agree with you that it might be so little as not be noticeable. There are so many other factors at work. Maybe if a solid back was replaced with a laminate (or vice versa) then one might hear an effect, but even a replacement with a similar style could also have some amount of discernible difference, however slight.
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