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Woodgrain orientation for top/back

Guys and Gals,

I've got several pieces of walnut ( 8" x 12" x 1/5" ) and I wanted to build boxes to use later on for CGBs.

The problem is that the woodgrain is across and not along the longest side. As far as I know the grain should be along the longest side for strength - I fear that it won't withstand steel strings and will be prone to cracking.

Wod do You think? Steel strings, nylon or:

1. Can I glue the top/back from two pieces ? ( not usual guitar way 'vertically' but to get the grain orientation right it have to be 'horizontally')

2. Can I glue the top from 4 pieces? (like checkerboard - or sheet of paper folded twice)

I'd be grateful for any input.

I'll include pics later today.

Best,

Tomasz

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Permalink Reply by Cause the Blue rat on October 19, 2016 at 11:36pm

Here's an ebay auction for a 9K acoustic guitar with a flame maple top.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/KP-Acoustic-6-string-Guitar-Koa-body-Flame-...

I don't think you have any stability issues to worry about. Walnut is a hardwood.

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Permalink Reply by Tomasz on October 20, 2016 at 4:57am

Actually the flame occurs across the grain, but if it is minor issue then I'll do neck through with those.
Thanks!

Just out of curiosity - have you build CBG not neck through?

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Permalink Reply by Cause the Blue rat on October 20, 2016 at 10:45am

OOPs, I'm sitting hear laughing at myself. Your absolutely right Tomasz. Sorry about that.

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Permalink Reply by Michael Fred Johnson on October 23, 2016 at 1:07am

This one was built using traditional guitar construction and materials.It has the best acoustic qualities of any I've built

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Permalink Reply by Taffy Evans on October 20, 2016 at 12:41pm

Some pics of some of my builds, tops are very thin. Braces can vary with the build in size and number. braces shown are of course not completed.

Hi, I'll start by saying [just so that you get a picture ]that the most important part of a guitar as far as tone, volume and response is the top. There is far too much to understand in producing the best performing top to go into here, but suffice it to say I do bare these principles in mind when building my CBGs. BUT its not essential, it will work no matter what you do.

Even though a CBG top is a lot smaller and has far less stress from 3-4 strings I find the cbg's I build with consideration to acoustic sound in mind and not so much a WOW look appeal, do sound a lot better acoustically. But to answer the question

If I understand you correctly the grain in your top would run from side to side of the guitar instead of the conventional neck to tail. With the grain going the shorter distance [side to side] would make it stiffer, so stronger, allowing you to go thinner. Suitable bracing could be used at any joined areas. The more timber in the top the less response. If you're putting a pickup in the guitar you will still get a good sound without worrying too much about what I say here.

What makes a regular guitar top stronger is the strategically placed braces inside the top. What one is looking for is enough flex in the top to allow the strings to move the top to create sound and enough bracing to provide support and tailor tone and volume, without too much dampening.

Cheers Taff