Tops

Estimated dimension of the archtop guitar tops: (600x230x25/8 mm)x2

The top of the archtop guitar is either carved out of a block of solid wood. The belly has two f-holes, the lower of these partly covered by a scratch plate raised above the belly so as not to damp its vibration. The arching of the top and the f-holes are similar to the violin family, on which they were originally based.

Wood for these tops has been traditionally spruce. In Maderas Barber we can offer you two species: European Spruce and Sitka Spruce

A good top must have compact wood growth rings: the closer the rings are, the more resistant the top is, although the wood must not have unacceptable imperfections like resin pockets or knots. The grain must be as straight as possible.