top replacements?

I was planning on doing this to my Ibanez GSR200. Shouldn't be too difficult.

 

It wouldn't be too hard, I just don't think it's something that people put on a list of services, since it's probably not requested very often.

Any competent luthier should be able to do it.

 

Ive done this a couple times. Depending on the body, its fairly easy to just run it through a planer to take off just a bit less than the thickness of your top.

 

this is being redone w vintage 1979 myrtle

Untitled by CXK, on Flickr

 

this belongs to a tb kid

IMG_00000040 by CXK, on Flickr

 

I.

 

this is the vintage myrtle i'm using for my fretless build
the plan is do the headstock & pg with this, & leave the flamed body alone. I got lucky but i've seen it elsewhere too--some vm jazz bodies w crazy flamed tops. mine's ok not too crazy but nice flamed quilted look.

then i have enough wood to do this aforementioned re-do

Untitled by CXK, on Flickr

 

The reason this isn't posted on price lists is that the process to add a top to different types of bodies varies widely. A slab Fender is relatively simple while a jazz with an arm bevel creates more issues and a carved body like an Ibanez SR requires building sleds and jigs to complete. Also there is a big difference between adding veneer to a bass or adding an actual solid top, generally 1/4" or thicker.

You really just need to talk to luthiers directly about what instrument you have and what type of top you want. Personally I would not take that job as a general rule as the cost of the work would be more than the body is usually worth.

 

yup it's a major pain that's why i just work on my own gear for fun.

 

Out of curiosity, what do you do about the rounded edges?
Wrap around the veneer?
Plane off enough to remove the radius altogether?(chorus: plane off enough...)
Somehow blend the top to the existing edges?

Something else?

 

That is GORGEOUS

 

By the way, your fretless looks really nice.

 

thanks
the soft veneer just covers a small amt of the routed edge. it looks ok from this top angle but if i showed you close-ups of the edges--not so handsome.
as to how, the veneer is softened and pulled down over the edges, held by boat epoxy, then clamped + wrapped w/ 1,000 rubber bands to cover the curve of the top.

easier to deal w flat surfaces

Untitled by CXK, on Flickr

 

there are a bunch of people who do proper jobs w real tops, who are actually carving their tops. search this luthier's corner

 

Theres a couple ways I go; First way is to plane off the roundover (depending on how big it is) and use a 1/4"-3/8" top and do faux binding type of thing. If the roundover is too big, I normally use a 3/8" top and put a contrasting 1/8" layer underneath-usually Purpleheart-and then redo the roundover. If the body has an arm contour, you would need to steam/bend whatever top down over it after taking the same amount of material off as the top.

 

That what I would have guessed. Seems like a lot of work and you might be better off starting w/ a completely new piece of wood for the body...

 

The one nice thing about using an existing body is that the neck pocket is already done and in the right place-although I dont have a problem doing one from scratch, some people are a bit intimidated by that.