The Acoustic Guitar Forum

Go Back   The Acoustic Guitar Forum > General Acoustic Guitar and Amplification Discussion > Build and Repair

Reply
 
Thread Tools
  #1  
Old 12-03-2018, 11:36 AM
12barBill 12barBill is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Jul 2008
Posts: 1,334
Default Walnut Guitar Back

What do you guys think of this walnut back? It's kind of like a top with severe run out. The two pieces look very different in color under most lighting, and when shifting under the light the lighter color side will flip back and forth.
And what about the grain pattern? What part of a log, and how cut, would give that pattern? Would there be any drawbacks to that?
__________________
There is nothing noble in being superior to your fellow man; true nobility is being superior to your former self --- Ernest Hemingway.
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 12-03-2018, 11:42 AM
Rodger Knox Rodger Knox is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: Baltimore, Md.
Posts: 2,431
Default

That looks like flatsawn with pretty significant runout. The flatsawn doesn't bother me, but I don't much care for the runout.
__________________
Rodger Knox, PE
1917 Martin 0-28
1956 Gibson J-50
et al
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 12-03-2018, 12:26 PM
charles Tauber charles Tauber is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Feb 2011
Posts: 8,381
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Bill Sims View Post
What do you guys think of this walnut back?
Walnut is a nice wood, one that I've used for backs and sides. That particular piece wouldn't be my choice for a guitar back.


Quote:
And what about the grain pattern? What part of a log, and how cut, would give that pattern? Would there be any drawbacks to that?
The "V", or "cathedral", grain is a telltale sign of flat sawn wood. It will expand and contract across the width more than a quarter sawn piece would, making it, potentially, more susceptible to cracking.

The top is under greater stress than the back, which is why minimal runout is structurally required for tops and is less of a structural concern for backs.


Despite the obsession that many have for wood type and configuration, one can make a nice sounding and playing guitar out of nearly anything. "Nice sounding" is, of course, subjective.

Last edited by charles Tauber; 12-03-2018 at 12:32 PM.
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 12-03-2018, 01:44 PM
runamuck runamuck is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Jul 2006
Posts: 2,274
Default

With all the work that goes into making a guitar I would never use flat sawn wood of any type because of the expansion and contraction issue related to humidity changes that Charles mentioned: the chances of it cracking at some point in the future is much higher than quarter sawn. Every single flat sawn Brazilian Rosewood back I've ever seen that had some age to it was cracked.
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 12-03-2018, 06:37 PM
12barBill 12barBill is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Jul 2008
Posts: 1,334
Default

Thanks for the replies and info guys. I really appreciate it. This was a shipped to the store, not seen until pick up thing. I brought it home anyway but this one will have to be returned.
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 12-24-2018, 09:21 PM
Pkdawg Pkdawg is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Dec 2018
Posts: 14
Default

What the OP’s guitar? Is that a J15 like mine I posted about in other recent thread?
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 12-24-2018, 10:02 PM
12barBill 12barBill is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Jul 2008
Posts: 1,334
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Pkdawg View Post
What the OP’s guitar? Is that a J15 like mine I posted about in other recent thread?
It's a J-45 Studio.
I returned it. I was turned off by the excessive runout and concerned about the grain pattern. But I have a different J-45 Studio in the house and really, really like it.
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old 12-25-2018, 12:50 AM
Pkdawg Pkdawg is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Dec 2018
Posts: 14
Default

What is runout?
Reply With Quote
  #9  
Old 12-25-2018, 08:40 AM
JBCROTTY JBCROTTY is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Apr 2016
Location: Southern California (But a Colorado Native)
Posts: 938
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Pkdawg View Post
What is runout?
Maybe more than you wanted to know but a good explanation can be found here: http://www.lutherie.net/frankford.runout.html Quite interesting.
__________________
Justin
________________
Gibson J-15
Alvarez MD60BG
Yamaha LL16RD
Epiphone Les Paul Standard
Fender Player Stratocaster
Reply With Quote
  #10  
Old 12-25-2018, 10:16 AM
radius radius is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Aug 2015
Posts: 37
Default solid advise given from a Trade School Carpenter with 45 years of experience

Plain sawn, also commonly called flat sawn, is the most common lumber you will find. This is the most inexpensive way to manufacture logs into lumber.
Reply With Quote
Reply

  The Acoustic Guitar Forum > General Acoustic Guitar and Amplification Discussion > Build and Repair

Thread Tools





All times are GMT -6. The time now is 10:21 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.
Copyright ©2000 - 2022, The Acoustic Guitar Forum
vB Ad Management by =RedTyger=