Laminated top and/or sides/backs

[Rob Powell]

I've noticed that a number of the lower end pac rims can have a laminated top and/or laminated sides and back.

My question is why?

I would guess that in the case of the sides and back that some wood other than maple is being laminated to maple much like a veneer in order to present a better appearance.

What woods are typically used in a laminated top? What woods for back and sides lamination?

Back to the question of why...seems to me that since a number of these instruments are still being carved wouldn't it actually be more expensive to go to the trouble of laminating and then carving (even machine carving) than the cost of using a solid piece of wood? It also seems to me that you would have less throw aways using solid woods as they would be less likely to chip up and require less sanding.

I can understand that laminated materials would most likley be easier to induce for arches and bends, but it just seems that the extra steps in a carved top could never offset the cost of solid wood.

Obviously, I'm missing something here
http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/rock.gif

Thanks,
Rob

[Bill Snyder]

The laminated tops and backs are not carved, they have an induced arch. You cannot carve a laminated top or back, you would have the different layers of the laminations showing.
They do it bacause it is faster and cheaper. On the cheap pacrim mandolin I own the top back and sides are laminated maple - no figure. The neck is solid maple, again with no figure. The only good two good things about these mando's are they are inexpensive and being made out of plywood they are pretty stable, ie... they are not likely to crack because of changes in humidity. These are the ones you take camping or to the beach.