Timberrr!!

[WezV]

As far as I've understood the handed down wisdom, it's the quantity of glue/gluing surfaces that deadens tone. Glue being not particularly acoustically tuneful, the more laminations, the more glue, the less tone. That doesn't explain some of the wonderful sounding ply Squires I've tried however!

some glues are more 'toneful' than others. i.e they transfer vibrations better

titebond original is good because it dried quite brittle, hide glue is better because it dries glassy.. a mistake often made by new guitar builders is that titebond 2 or 3 will be better than the original, but it is not, they do remain that bit more rubbery once dry - which is a tone killer



you would hope that a laminated guitar like the alembic has had its layers chosen for a reason - the fans of the technique talk about balancing frequencies with each wood chosen and stuff like that.... but yeah, it is really just ply - but hopefully void free and with less glue

i do use the technique on occasion - but i always tend to go for a core which is at least 50% of the total thickness to act as the main tonal ingredient

[WezV]

oh, and i did actually make a complete guitar out or 3/4" thick mahogany bookshelves once for a forum competition

here was the raw materials


3 x 3/4" thick planks for the neck through, then some more of the same for the base of the body and i did go for a redwood top - but it was also 3/4" thick and could have been more of the mahogany instead.... actually i think it was 1/2" thick and i also stuck a layer of maple in the middle

and the end result - my first fanned fret prototype


i have loads on construction pics somewhere and a construction diary - will have to see if i can find it