Quick question for builders: 2 and 3 piece joining.

[ArtieToo]

On 2 and 3-piece bodies, are the pieces just butted together and glued? Do they generally use dowels, or "biscuits", or tongue-and-groove? Any of those techniques, or just a straight, flat butt?

Thanks all.
Artie

[Zerberus]

Flat butt (best done with a jointer or a bench plane)... Essentially just lay 3 slabs next to each other, apply glue, clamp, wait.. turn into body or tabletop

I tried dovetails once, but the work was in no way in any relation to any percieved gain.

[ArtieToo]

Thanks Zerb. A butt-joint seems like it would be weaker, but if they've been doing for years, I guess its ok.

Artie

[theodie]

Flat butt (best done with a jointer or a bench plane)... Essentially just lay 3 slabs next to each other, apply glue, clamp, wait.. turn into body or tabletop

I tried dovetails once, but the work was in no way in any relation to any percieved gain.

Same way I git-r-done! Got to use a jointer to get the sides squared up and straight!

[Zerberus]

Well, think of it this way: How thick is your typical table? Which do you think is subjected to more abuse? How long has the table lasted?.

Dowels wouldn´t necessarily be a bad idea, but again I feel the extra work would be in no relation to the gain... But either way, a proper glue joint is stronger than the wood itself, soooo, Like you implied: If it´s not broke, why fix it

[Pierre]

Zerb or Theodie, do you have any pics or tutorials of the guitars you built? I'm starting on one VERY soon. It'll have a soloist shape, most likely a mighty mite neck. I'll build the shape from a single piece of Mahogany, route it and all that. Single hum and volume control. TOM with stoptail bridge. I'd do a hardtail, Strat like, but to drill the holes would be complicated (I imagin you have to drill them at an angle so that the strings don't kink too much, which could cause them to detune or break easier).

[ArtieToo]

Along the same lines, (as my first question), what impact on the sound do you think it would have to make the body as 2 pieces the "flat" way? That is, as if the body was two pancakes layed on top of each other. Or you might say, 2-ply plywood. (Not plywood per se, just two pieces of hardwood assembled the "layered" way.)

[Fresh_Start]

Hey Artie - there's tons of useful info over at the Musical Instrument Makers forum http://www.mimf.com/cgi-bin/WebX. Just have to tune out the not-always-friendly tone over there.

The consensus seems to be that a butt joint is fine. I've heard some folks say they use biscuits and that makes sense to me - they're used a lot in furniture making.

As far as the pancake goes, a vintage LP is maple over mahogany, right?

just some random thoughts...

Chip

[ArtieToo]

Thanks Chip. I should've thought of that, since I'm registered over there and post from time to time.

(Although, I do prefer the company here.)

Artie