E-Lo Roberts
Well-known member
Chuck, great questions and concerns! I've got a gig tonight and a family outing this weekend, so I won't be able to address this post respectfully probably until Monday or Tuesday...thanks...e.lo...
The final soundboard thickness came out to around 0.110” thick, with a weigh factor closer to that of a 0.080” soundboard. .
Holy smokes, that is a thick top. Even with a strength ratio of .080, I gotta agree with Chuck on this one. Maybe Steel Strings? I would imagine with the structure of Nomex and a DT, the ability to go thinner is there, possibly down to .050 or something like that - then that top would really move (Kasha who?).
Question: Why do the whole routing thing, instead of just a sandwich? If you really needed an edge for a glue joint, you could make a "frame" around the soundboard, and sandwich that as well - at least you know your .060 section stays .060. If not, binding would cover the edge anyway (like the soundhole). I don't mean to question your methods, just trying to get your advice as I'm questioning mine.
In any case, very interesting. Mind if I ask what type of Nomex, and where you get it from? I'm thinking a .030/.010/.020 (Spruce/Nomex/Spruce) sandwich, just for the fun of it - I'll throw it on one of MGM's thinlines, and do the back the same way.
Interesting stuff. - Aaron
Good. A while back one of the Guild of American Luthiers (GAL) publications had a great article about this. I'll see if I can dig it up in the time being. Have a good weekend.