Top laminate question

My Warwick has a layer of walnut between the maple top and ash body, I had a Spector with a similar construction (top was zebra wood, back maple, sliver of walnut in between). I'm no expert but I'm pretty sure it's just cosmetic and the woods are chosen for contrast.

 

The most cost effective thing for you would be dyed poplar. In your case probably black.

Poplar veneers are available in many colors and are pretty accessible.

If you wanted to stay exotic, there are specialty stores that can hook you up.

This is one in my neck of the woods.

Certainly Wood | Full-service veneer merchants since 1983

 

I either make a large thin billet that I can hide the seams in, and then glue that down to the body before I chamber it (top goes on last), or I will use large sheets of walnut veneer and just stack them. I can buy 96" x 18" wide veneer rolls locally so I can use a single piece in a body without having to carefully seam them up from pieces. I've stacked three sheets together to make a single 3/32" line before - you can't tell when it's done.

Also, to answer a question not asked, I use epoxy glue to avoid the whole warpage with moisture problem...

 

I have used the dyed poplar in builds for the thin black line in both bodies and necks. It makes for a nice break between two light colored woods. If you build with it you should glue it in with other layers, so if you are sandwiching it between two pieces of maple, you should glue it up all at once. I tried gluing the laminate by itself once and it warped badly and the absorption of the glue meant that the warped piece was hard as well, so I couldn't squeeze it flat. It definitely can be challenging to get all that ready.

I need to buy more now, I have had a hard time finding the thin dyed laminate without paper backing. I'll check that link above, but if anyone else has someone they order from I'd appreciate it!

 

Yep, dyed poplar for me as well. I've bought from jsowoodproducts on eBay. The quality is very nice.

 

Sure, dyed Poplar... economical weight reduction..... etc... great.
BUT...
If you are a fan of true "exotics" ...
...or kind of a wood snob purist ...
(Hey, I resemble that remark).
AND.... you still want to save money....??

You can pick up ebony that is pre cut into turning blanks at most lumber sellers.
( for duck calls & such)
Get a few...
True up the edges & glue together.
(Nice joints in ebony are invisible)
Then re-saw it into veneer as if it were a solid blank.

Why? Because it's hard & expensive to find a full size blank of ebony to cut veneer.
(Likely involving shipping $$)
... but ebony "turning blanks" are everywhere.
...still.
...kinda...
For now...

Knock on wood

Edit... If you don't have a drum sander or something to do final thicknessing... you might need to find somebody who does.
Making your own veneer can be tricky.
(And can get wasteful....quickly as well)

 

I use both, veneers (light or dark) and actual sheets of timber.
In the picture you can see the walnut body, a thin light veneer, a layer of wenge (about 5 - 6 mm thick) and the top (which is amboyna burl in this case).



Early build stage, looks a little "cleaner" now .

The neck, well, that’s a whole different story.

Regards,
Michael

 

Rather than using a veneer, I used 1/4" of purpleheart. Any wood in any thickness gives a nice effect.

 

It's just topped with a nice piece of wood for looks. Very very common.