Laminates in Starfires

[parker_knoll]

Hi

I'm wondering if anyone has details of the laminates used in Guilds, particularly Starfires. I was poking around in my 1966 SFIII and realised the laminate appears to be mahogany on the top and bottom with something else lighter in the middle. Could it be maple?

I understand there's a lot of debate over tonewood mojo and whether it has substance or it's BS. Personally I believe it has some substance. I wondered if the laminate might be mahogany/maple/mahogany to get a best of both worlds effect. The guitar is certainly not dark.

Anyone got any firmer info?

PK

 

[adorshki]

I was poking around in my 1966 SFIII and realised the laminate appears to be mahogany on the top and bottom with something else lighter in the middle. Could it be maple?
I understand there's a lot of debate over tonewood mojo and whether it has substance or it's BS. Personally I believe it has some substance. I wondered if the laminate might be mahogany/maple/mahogany to get a best of both worlds effect. The guitar is certainly not dark.
Anyone got any firmer info?
PK

Not sure about Starfires but the question HAS come up regarding the archback acoustics. I'm sure Hans has mentioned the use of poplar and I think he DID mention maple, because it surpised me. I thought it wouldn't be used due to cost reasons.
As for the other part of the question, I'm on the side of the fence that says the tonewoods, ESPECIALLY in an electric instrument, aren't as important as the actual arching itself and the real reason for using lamination is that it's both easier to make and stronger as a finished piece. I do agree the tonewoods probably lend a bit of their own unique sound, but especially in the acoustic instruments, I think it's actually overshadowed by the acoustic impact of the arching.
My D25 ('hog) and F65ce(maple) exhibit very similar sustain characteristics in spite of their very different constructions.

 

[Walter Broes]

I remember Hans telling me that on my X175's, probably only the top laminate layer is spruce, so the maybe the Starfires are sort of the same way.

If a guitar sounds great, I don't really see the point of wondering about it unless you have another one that doesn't sound as great, or you're trying to build a copy. But I'm not implying I don't spend time thinking about utterly useless things!!! :mrgreen:

 

[parker_knoll]

the second bit about building a copy

Or not a copy, but another hollow body guitar.

 

[AlohaJoe]

Tom Painter does his own laminates and builds wonderful guitars... he might be some help.
http://www.painterarchtops.com/

 

[parker_knoll]

okay, thanks for the help. Checking out Painter.