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I'm looking to experiment with laminate and double top archtops and I'm curious if you guys know of a source for veneers. Specifically maple in sizes big enough to do one piece backs etc..

veneersupplies.com perhaps...

I should have stated that what I'm looking for is much thicker than most readily available veneers. Most laminate guitars I've seen use stuff closer to 1/16" thick.

Try certainly wood in Buffalo. They do have a special thickness section on their wood menu.
Typically though most cabinetry veneers are very thin, like 1/42".

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Did you know you can easily thickness wood to1.6mm on a thickness sander? Assuming you have a good bandsaw. What I can't say for sure that that is economically feasible. I make my own .6 mm veneers that way.

If I had a billet of the wood you were planning to use, I'd resaw it to .15" or so, then use an elevated bed to bring it down to your desired thickness. I wanted African Blackwood veneer for my current bevel project, had to make my own

If I could find figured boards at least 17" wide I still couldn't resaw them (my saw doesn't have that kind of capacity). Plus it would be counter productive to reduce 4/4 stock down to 1/16". I'd think somebody has to have this stuff. Gibson, Benedetto, Guild etc. are getting it from somebody. I could easily make book matched veneers but I don't know how well the seem would enjoy being forced over an arched form.

try PM'ing member Anthony Zlahtic .. he is working on some 335's and bought veneer for that, possibly from Certainly wood ...

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Tony Karol
www.karol-guitars.com
"let my passion .. fulfill yours"

A seam will work fine. But for full one piece Look for rotary sliced maple. The big three use basswood crossgrain center cores.


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Ken

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Ken

Dan Yeager sold Acme Archtops but I see there is a new owner and the website is still up. I'd call or mail him and see where he gets his stuff.
I have purchased laminated plates from Acme and they are good.

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It's not what you don't know that hurts you, it's what you do know that's wrong.

I've been buying veneers and other stuff from these folks for as long as I can remember -- I actually purchased my fist set of back and sides and sound board from them decades ago.

http://www.constantines.com/constantineshistory.aspx

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Ken Cierp

http://www.kennethmichaelguitars.com/

Well however you go, I'll pass along a tip I learned from bevel veneering. Seems your curved surfaces apply. Should work with seamed as well. Coat back of veneer with even layer of tite bond. Same with guitar surface. Let dry to non-tack (30-40 minutes?) Position pieces and use an iron to bond. If seamed, start at seams. The iron will help mold the pieces. This is a one shot deal. Cannot rework it. But it works. Practice on parts first.

Yes, 0.6 mm maple will curl when glue is applied. But hardwoods like African Blackwood did not for me. And you wood is thicker. And wider.

Thanks guys. I'll look into all of those. I've got two more guitars to get out the door before I can start in on this experiment but when I find a good supplier I'll let everyone know.