Thicknessing The Top Plate

One method of thicknessing a top plate using deflection measurement and sound as tools for a starting point.

Category:

Education

Tags:

• Guitar Building
• Luthier
• Lutherie

[Acousticfingerstlye]

Hi Chris, Awesome work with your videos, your help is very helpfull. many thanx.

I have a couple of questions if your'd be kind enough to share..

This weight method is a Ervin Somogyi tecnique, but in his book he doesnt tell the measurement he uses? Can you repeat the weight you used, you cant realy hear you in the video. Also you say this comes from someone who did his class?

Also thanks for the rib/arm video, Do you know of anyone who shows you how to do a arm rest?? thanks for your time

[chrispaulick]

@Acousticfingerstlye 5 lb. 4.4oz.

The armrest is the same just a different shape. It also depends on whether you like the Laskin or Ryan style. Check the guitar building and Luthier forums or google it and you can read about them. That's pretty much how I learned and am still learning. What you see from me is just part of my learning experiance that I'm sharing with you all.

[Henders100]

Nice video. Can you do one where you do it by hand? That would be great.

[chrispaulick]

@Henders100 Yes on the weight . The numbers come from a friend who tested a reference top he had made from a Somogyi class. It's a starting point. You may want to go thinner or even lighter. As for voicing the top I'd suggest you Read the Somogyi books "The Responsive Guitar", "Building The Responsive Guitar" and watch Allen Carruth's video,"Free PlateTuning" And Kent Everett's Top tuning video and John Mayes has some that are worth watching and give you a sense of what to listen for too.

[wilar9wolf]

Hi Chris, your video is very educational, I wanted to ask if you have any other video related to the soundboard of the classical guitar using the same system. I thank you.

[thisux7x7]

Hi Chris,

Thanks for the videos. I designed an acoustic and went so far as to get the guitar built, but it was so much of a poor mans build that I never even put tuners or strings on it. Now I am just trying to get re-inspired to build one all the way to finish. I think I have a unique bracing plan that will sound good but we will see.'

How was your first guitar as far as sound and playability?

[GameLevelEditor]

Very good information I never knew about the wabble technique and the fine nuances that occur within just thousands of an inch! I haven't even built an acoustic yet but enjoy watching guitar building videos for future reference.

[mheytman]

Looks like 0.08 in NOT one-oh-eight.

Nice Video though - Thanks!!

[Acousticfingerstlye]

Thanks Chris, much appreciated.

[mes0811]

Thanks Chris! Very much appreciated!

[mes0811]

Thanks Chris for creating this video to share this good info with us!

Who is it that uses the weight deflection method? I thought you were going to say, but I missed it.

Sounds like it was 5 lbs and 4.4 oz. Did I hear that right?

Thanks!

Scott