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Thinking over my next build and was contemplating using an alternate wood for the back seam bracing. Possibly Maple or Rosewood using cutoffs from backs I have made. Would still run the grain same as spruce but wondering if there is any problem with this thinking.

You should still make it run across the grain just like a spruce strip. I would make the back a bit heavier but I doubt that it would be noticable. If you think it would look good, go ahead and do it. I always use a piece of the top wood for this since it is free.

I use the cutoff from the back to make mine. I even take the piece with the back center seam and stick it right below the soundhole for some visual fun.

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"I want to know what kind of pickups Vince Gill uses in his Tele, because if I had those, as good of a player as I am, I'm sure I could make it sound like that.
Only badly."

That looks pretty cool Don! Gonna have to try that one sometime.

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Dave Rector
Rector Guitars

Don, this is exactly what I had in mind, matching the back/sides and doing some inlay that can be seen through the soundhole. I love the touch of using the back seam inlay - keeps the design consistent. Thanks for the picture, really nice

Rich, I've done this a number of times. What inspired me was some pictures of a guitar from an English builder, whose name--alas--escapes me. He had used something like mahogany, perhaps Spanish cedar, and then french polished that reinforcing strip. It added a touch of refinement to the inside of the guitar, and to my eye set the instrument apart. If you want to try that, polish the strip before letting in the back braces.

Steve

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From Nacogdoches...the oldest town in Texas.

http://www.stephenkinnaird.com

I like to use a piece of the top, some off-cut that remains. It matches the top that way. The cool trick is I like to glue it down to the top first, and then plane it to shape with a small plane. The planed wood ends up looking almost finished, it's nice and shiny and the grain shows up very well.

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Mark Swanson
Swanson Guitars
http://www.MarkSwansonMusic.com