Building a Tenor Guitar #12: Gluing in the Kerfed Linings

Many thanks again for another episode Randy. I’m interested in the way you glued them in. I’ve never seen them glued in with the ‘cut’ side of the kerfing strips towards the guitar sides. But then I don’t suppose I’ve seen too many! It might well be commonplace. Is there a reason for doing them that way?

-- Res severa verum gaudium - True pleasure is a serious business. http://www.folksy.com/shops/TreeGems

Gluing the cut side of the lining to the guitar side (reverse kerfing) has not been commonly used but is an option.

Those who use it claim it results in a more rigid guitar side. It makes sense to me – the open kerfed side of the kerfed lining is what gives the lining its flexibility. If it is glued to the guitar side on the solid side of the lining, the kerfed side it still open and thus subject to some flexibility. If the kerfed side is glued to the guitar side, the kerfing no longer provides that flexibility. It is sort of like a torsion box with the unkerfed side of the lining providing one skin and the guitar side providing the other. I was curious about how it would work so I decided to try it.

Here is Stewart McDonald’s description:
”We offer traditional angle-cut linings with kerfing that faces outward, and a newer radiused style with reverse kerfing. The reverse style can add more stiffness to the sides, and a smoother appearance inside the body.”

Thanks,

Randy

-- http://www.randallprice.com

Thanks for your full reply Randy; that makes a lot of sense!

Best wishes, Stewart

-- Res severa verum gaudium - True pleasure is a serious business. http://www.folksy.com/shops/TreeGems