SG contours and top

[FernandoDuarte]

To the guitar builders:
How thick must be a top for a SG with the traditional contours??

[WezV]

the body is usually around 1.5" thick.  The depth of the bevels has varied over the years, i cant even remember how deep i did them on mine - deep enough to look cool!!

[Philly Q]

The amount of contouring varies quite a lot - on my Tokai SG the edge of the body is less than 1/2" thick where it's most contoured.

If you want a maple top deep enough to be fully contoured, I reckon it should be at least 3/8" thick.

[FernandoDuarte]

Thanks! :D
That's the idea, a top that go thru the edges contours

[WezV]

ok then, as philly says 3/8" will give you room for plenty of bevels and still have a bit of wood underneath.

if you have thinner wood for the top you can still get nice mean looking bevels by making them ever so slightly concave, recurved, carved out.  Not so much that it looks over done or unlike an sg, but a little bit enhances the sharpness of the bevels a lot. 

Imagine putting a straight edge on the bevel between the face of the guitar and the side of the guitar.  if the centre of the bevel is 1mm lower than the edges it will sharpen the look of the bevels a lot but still look quite like a flat surface

[FernandoDuarte]

ok then, as philly says 3/8" will give you room for plenty of bevels and still have a bit of wood underneath.

if you have thinner wood for the top you can still get nice mean looking bevels by making them ever so slightly concave, recurved, carved out.  Not so much that it looks over done or unlike an sg, but a little bit enhances the sharpness of the bevels a lot. 

Imagine putting a straight edge on the bevel between the face of the guitar and the side of the guitar.  if the centre of the bevel is 1mm lower than the edges it will sharpen the look of the bevels a lot but still look quite like a flat surface

Thanks for the tip!
When I become a guitar builder will give it a try :D :lol: