I'm making the box's for my next builds , ones a 4 stringer and ones a tenor ukulele , I've got some 6mm faced ply for the sides and maybe the base so what's the best to use for the tops and the best thickness .
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Thanks for the reply's , and thanks Richey for the link I've ordered a few lengths of 3.2mm and 5mm spruce and sapele , have to put the new band saw to work .
Hi CK,
I have made quite a few boxes, and have also bought basic craft boxes from eBay, ripped the lids off and replaced it with a tonewood 'soundboard'...
The one on the left is spruce and the right is sapele mahogany. I buy these in very precisely machined 3.2mm sheets from a model aeroplane builder's supplier. http://www.slecuk.com/catalogue/Wood.html
Bear in mind that the sheets come in widths of 76 and 100mm (3 or 4"), so you will need to join the top in the middle, but this is quite easy, good video here: http://www.theamateurluthier.com/movies/jointhetop.mov
You will also need to use some bracing to strengthen the top, as solid wood is much more flexible than ply of the same thickness.
For the bracing I buy 6.5mm square strips of spruce and glue them in a fan configuration, then use a chisel to shape them and sand them smooth.
This picture also has a 'bridge block' to give extra strength under the bridge.
Bear in mind you can get away with a little less bracing than this - the more you use the better the sustain you get, but the less acoustic volume.
In my subjective opinion, I would say solid wood sounds better than cigar box lids/ply...
Hope this helps, good luck!
If you can get 2-3 mm birch ply, that makes excellent tops and bottoms (cf. Harmony birch ply guitars). 2 mm spruce is even better.
http://www.mcqueenguitars.com/gallery.html
The sides are 1/4" pine. The back is glued up 1/8" pine. The neck is a 3/4 x 1 1/2" dressed ash. The fret board is 1/4" birch.
I'd worry about splitting as the tops are going to be glued down .