veneers!!!!

[tyrant21]

when i checked the new jackson site it says the us made jackson guitars use flame maple veneers on their guitars. Didn't they used to use maple tops, i/8 inch i believe

[Jim Shine]

Re: veneers!!!!

veneer
Pronunciation: v&-'nir
Function: noun
Etymology: German Furnier, from furnieren to veneer, from French fournir to furnish, equip -- more at FURNISH
Date: 1702
1 : a thin sheet of a material: as a : a layer of wood of superior value or excellent grain to be glued to an inferior wood b : any of the thin layers bonded together to form plywood
2 : a protective or ornamental facing (as of brick or stone)
3 : a superficial or deceptively attractive appearance, display, or effect.

As you can see by definition 2, a 1/8" maple top is still techinically a veneer.

[PowerTube]

Re: veneers!!!!

That's what a lot of companies do. For example, the body will be alder or mahogany or whatever and they'll use a 1/8" or 1/16" inch quilted maple veneer for the top. According to a lot of folks, this is the best of both worlds because if the whole body was made of quilted maple, it would

A) Sound too bright.

B) Cost more than your car.

[rhoads56]

Re: veneers!!!!

A 5A grade 1/8 inch quilted maple piece, suitably sized for a guitar, will cost around the $100 mark wholesale ($160-300 retail). A 5A grade 1/32 Veneer costs around $10 for five guitars.

The really good quality flames, curls, burls, birdseyes, etc are only primarily found in old growth forrests, which have either been just about all cut down, or are protected (and cant be cut).

For a flat guitar, a veneer is perfectly fine. It gives the look, is easier to work with (flame and quilted maples are very hard to work with), easier to obtain, zero storage time (veneers do not need to be stored and dried for years as thicker timbers do), less storage space needed, and best of all, cheaper.

If youve got a carved arch top (eg: PRS, Les Paul), you cant use veneer (well, you can, but it isnt easy). If your top is curved, veneer is fine (hence, the reason Brian Moore guitars are curved, not arched.)

[ January 09, 2003, 04:13 AM: Message edited by: rhoads56 ]