First, laminated sides are actually stiffer than those made from a single piece of wood, and for sides, stiffness is most important. Second, the final thickness of the side is the same as that of one piece side, but in a lamination some of the heavier material has been replaced with a lighter material serving to reduce the weight of the instrument without compromising the structural integrity. And third, in a lamination the sides are glued together on a form which is the final shape of the guitar. The laminations maintain the shape of the form perfectly assuring control in the cubic volume of the guitar body. Click on photos to enlarge The guitar must also be aesthetically pleasing.
Great attention is paid to details.
From the thuya burl selected for the headstock on most of my Indian rosewood guitars, to the color scheme of the purflings and natural wood rosettes, all the wood must be carefully chosen to bring the entire design together. No synthetic materials are used on any of my instruments as I believe that natural wood lends itself best to the resonance of the instrument. Wherever possible I try to avoid using dyed wood since some colors are prone to fading. I keep a wide variety of wood available in many colors for all my detailing. Since I have been trained in woodworking by Old World craftsmen, most of the work on my guitars is done with hand tools .