Understanding top wood
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One of the most important questions in guitar building is: How thin should this top be?
In this class, you will learn how to measure the material properties of a soundboard and understand what those measurements mean when selecting wood and determining final thickness.
Included with the class is my custom wood analysis spreadsheet, developed through years of acoustic research, testing, and guitar building. I will teach you how to gather the measurements, perform the calculations, and use the results to objectively compare and rate your own tops.
The system goes beyond simply evaluating wood quality. By accounting for the unique properties of each individual top, it can generate a target thickness that helps builders compensate for natural variations in the material and achieve more consistent results from instrument to instrument.
Whether your goal is maximum responsiveness, greater consistency, or a better understanding of how wood properties affect tone, this class provides a practical, measurement-based approach to soundboard design.
What’s Included
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Custom wood analysis spreadsheet
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Material property measurement methods
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Top evaluation and rating system
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Target thickness calculations
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One-on-one instruction and guidance
Cost: $400​
