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What happens tonally as a carved arch back gets thinned
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Author:  Robert Renick [ Wed May 05, 2010 10:20 am ]
Post subject:  What happens tonally as a carved arch back gets thinned
I am pretty much done with this guitar, strung up and plays and sounds great, almost. The bass is present pleasing and deep, but woofy, mushy, undefined. According to the Benedetto book, carving the back is about the bass, but he really does not give too much more then that.

I am tempted to thin the back a bit on this, the finish is shellac and is only coated twice by sprayer, so easy to fix. On one hand, I like the guitar, it is my first and came out well, I don't want to mess it up at this point. OTOH, this is about learning, and thinning the back is part of the learning, so what am I waiting for?

The guitar is based on the 20's Gibson L-O plans from GAL, shape only, the body is thinner 3/8" to make up for the carved back, the sound hole is according to plan, 3.5", the back is 1" thick carved to 3/16 then thinned at the recurve. Back is Port Orford.

So the question, what changes can I expect in the bass if I dig into this, will the mushy bass get mushier, or will it get more defined and thumpier. I know this is a small body with a small sound hole, so I may be asking too much from it, but if the bass I want is a few scrapes away. . . . .

Thanks,
Rob
Author:  Michael Lloyd [ Wed May 05, 2010 12:17 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: What happens tonally as a carved arch back gets thinned
Hi Rob,

I would suggest leaving this instrument alone for the time being and enjoy it while you build the next one. This instrument would make an excellent reference point for the sound you're looking for.

Could you tell us more about the wood used?

Nice looking instrument from what I can see.
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