John reported that the African Blackwood ate up 3 pieces of sandpaper just to get one side thinned. Oops. Apparently the excess resins also get hot and gum up the sandpaper.
But on a happier note, the sides bent really nicely and held the bend very well. Really stiff after they cooled.
Hand-bent with Greybeard mock-up lurking in the background.
We will not be going with double sides for this build. John feels that he wants to keep the dalbergias “pure”. In my limited experience I do agree that non-double-sided-dalbergia-guitars have a tad of richness and complexity associated with them, more so than those who have. There will be, however, fully solid laminated linings.