Official Luthiers Forum!

I searched the forums and found this thread dealing with the back graft. The mention of the species for the back graft (Cumpiano's term not sure if it's industry "standard") was mentioned only slightly. I know that wood movement between species could be an issue depending on humidity. I'm building a walnut D****N*****, and I want to use some nice looking hard maple for a back graft. The way I figure it, since the back is hardwood already and it will cover a glue seam anyway, why not use a nother hardwood for the back graft? Since the back is used for "reflection" of the sound anyway, I wouldn't think the maple would color the sound dramatically. Yeah yeah, I know spruce is roughly the same "color" and would be preferred, but it's not maple. As far as movement, in a perfect world the guitar is kept in a constant RH anyway right? So, how far off am I. Would it really sound that much differnt?

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I have used mahogany, but usually I slice up some scrap from the offcuts of the top then run it through the thickness sander. I don't know of any reason not to use maple.

Al

I think the species for the back graft is usually chosen for ease in working, not acoustic quality. It will be quite a bit easier cleaning up mahogany or spruce compared to harder woods like maple.

I wouldn't worry about the wood movement issue, since you are gluing the graft across the grain of the back anyway. (ie the grains in the back and the graft are running at right angles to each other).

I'd go ahead and use any species that takes your fancy. There's some discussion about whether the back graft is really needed at all.
John