Determine top wood

[skippy]

Any tips for telling a spruce top from a birch top in an older archtop?

Thanks

[MikeEdgerton]

Can you post a picture?

[skippy]

Pic 1

[skippy]

Pic 2

[markishandsome]

Looks like spruce. Never heard of a birch top on any acoustic instrument. Can you tell by looking at the f-holes if it's solid or laminated?

[buddyellis]

Looks like spruce to me, too: You can see the grainlines if you lighten up the photo a bit. (Oh and now I can see the second picture, which is much clearer)

[skippy]

Looks like a solid top but I am not an expert. It's an 1940's store brand (G B Walters) (Most likely harmony made)

Sounds pretty good.

[Bill Snyder]

...#Never heard of a birch top on any acoustic instrument.
Lots of them made in Chicago decades ago.

[MikeEdgerton]

Are there any numbers stamped inside?

[Paul Hostetter]

Owing to the shape of the f-holes, the weird sunburst and the pickguard material, I am fairly sure it's a laminated top made by Kay.

[Frank Ford]

Never heard of a birch top on any acoustic instrument.

Oh, yes, there are LOTS of 'em - I'm gluing a bridge on one today.

Here's a classic:

http://www.frets.com/FRETSPages/Museum/Guitar/Kay/KayLastGasp/KayLastGaspViews/kaylastgasp01.jpg

[Paul Hostetter]

Pure Chicago!

Here's the Kay body I was referring to:

http://www.shomakerguitars.com/images/photos/kay50.jpg

And here's the pickguard material.

http://www.fret-dancer.com/images/museum/guitars/000011.jpg

Sure wish I could find a load of this stuff!

Kay (Monkey-Wards) and Harmony (Sears-Roebuck) occasionally supplied each other with parts or semi-completed instruments. I think solid birch was a standard material for Harmony.