bubinga5 Posted May 15, 2018 Share Posted May 15, 2018 (edited) It just occurred to me the top on my Jazz on the arm rest part is still the top wood. Looking at it from the side most of the top wood is only fairly thin, but get to the arm rest part of the body, and its still the same. Usually builders will just sand that part, exposing the main body wood. Just wondering how he did this.? . I presume he's cut the top wood deeper on the arm rest, so as not to loose it when sanded down. ?? I hope this makes sense. Edited May 15, 2018 by bubinga5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BreadBin Posted May 15, 2018 Share Posted May 15, 2018 Wizardry 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bigwan Posted May 16, 2018 Share Posted May 16, 2018 Probably bent it. Seriously. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NancyJohnson Posted May 16, 2018 Share Posted May 16, 2018 Yup, maybe the top laminate was applied after the body was shaped. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rmcki Posted May 16, 2018 Share Posted May 16, 2018 You could use a vacuum bag to apply even pressure across the top, that way the laminate would deform to the shape of the body and the vacuum would apply 14.7 pounds of pressure per square inch Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve Browning Posted May 16, 2018 Share Posted May 16, 2018 11 minutes ago, rmcki said: You could use a vacuum bag to apply even pressure across the top, that way the laminate would deform to the shape of the body and the vacuum would apply 14.7 pounds of pressure per square inch 14.8 if you sucked really hard!! :-) 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Manton Customs Posted May 16, 2018 Share Posted May 16, 2018 It's called a drop top. Generally more common on guitars for some reason.The forearm carve is cut into the body blank before the top is glued on, then the top bent to the contour. It only works with fairly thin tops and sometimes it's necessary to score the underside and pre bend the top wood to avoid cracking! A vacuum bag isn't a necessity (it can be done with clamps) but definitely a benefit! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bubinga5 Posted May 16, 2018 Author Share Posted May 16, 2018 Ok cheers. I would have the top would snap. Obviously not. Thanks for the info. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
therealting Posted May 16, 2018 Share Posted May 16, 2018 Acoustic guitar builders steam the sides before bending to avoid cracking. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GuyR Posted May 16, 2018 Share Posted May 16, 2018 That bass is quite easy on the eye. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ghost_Bass Posted May 17, 2018 Share Posted May 17, 2018 22 hours ago, therealting said: Acoustic guitar builders steam the sides before bending to avoid cracking. This ^^ I would bet that the top laminate was steamed and bent before glueing to the body. Done properly it will take a big bend without cracking. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheGreek Posted May 17, 2018 Share Posted May 17, 2018 We can see which members were skateboarders...they use the same principle on decks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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