Carved top?

[hat]

A question - are there ways to tell if an archtop has a carved top/back or just a pressed top by looking at it? What clues are there that might tell the difference?

[Hot Vibrato]

If the f holes aren't bound, then you should be able to see the vertical grain lines if it's a solid top. A laminated top will show the horizontal laminations instead. If the f hole edge has binding or is painted over, then you must look for other clues. Feel the thickness of the top through the f holes. A carved top typically gets thicker towards the center. A laminated top will have uniform thickness. If there's still any doubt you can compare the grain lines on the inside of the top to the ones on the outside. The best way to check if the back is carved is just to compare the wood grain on the inside versus the outside.

[mr. beaumont]

Pressed could be solid though, just formed.

The price is a key indicator

[Howard Emerson]

Originally Posted by hat

A question - are there ways to tell if an archtop has a carved top/back or just a pressed top by looking at it? What clues are there that might tell the difference?

If you shine a very bright LED light close to the top, you should be able to see the light in the reflection of a mirror set under the inside of a top if it's solid.

While it may also shine through a laminate top depending on the laminating technique, wood species, etc, it will be pretty clear with solid spruce.

HE