1 or 2 Piece Back?

[LKN2MYIS]

Aside from the visual aspects involved, are there any other differences between having a one piece back as opposed to a two piece?

Are there any tonal differences?

AND . . . .

In guitars, it's usually believed that a two-piece back is stronger than a one piece. Is this true in mandolins?


I appreciate your help. I just ordered a custom, and this is one of the decisions I have to make.

(I did a Search and read what it came up with, but didn't really answer my questions.)

[sunburst]

Mostly, the reason for one or two piece backs is the size of the wood.
There are, of coarse, visual differences, but no tonal differences.

I don't think two piece backs are stronger in any instrument.

I think you should base your decision on looks and the preferences of you're builder.

(My $.02)

[LKN2MYIS]

Thanks for the input. I did discuss it with the builder, and his opinion was that there was little tonal difference, and it was pure aesthetics.

Coming from a guitar background, as I stated, it's believed that the 2 piece back is for strength (aside from how difficult it must be to get a piece of wood big enought for a guitar back.)

I'm leaning towards the look of the one piece back, just want to make sure that I'm not aware of any concerns.

[PaulD]

As a woodworker I agree with John that there should be no improved strength in a 2 piece back on a flat instrument plate. In fact you run the risk that the joint is not properly prepared and will be weaker than a comparable 1 piece plate. I don't have experience to speak to the tonal differences. Simonoff in his F5 construction book seems to indicate that for an arched back the grain orientation of a 2 piece back can add to the instrument, but I'm not clear on whether he's talking about structure or tone and I don't have the book in front of me. It basically has to do with how he can orient the long grain of the wood to follow the arch.

I do like the symmetry of a nicely figured bookmatch, but a nicely figured piece of wood looks good by itself too.

Paul Doubek

[Flowerpot]

Lots of good information in this thread, including some minor disagreements between some very reputable builders:

one-piece vs two-piece backs

[LKN2MYIS]

Paul -
The instrument will be an F4. Then is Siminoff recommending a 2 piece back?

[PaulD]

The book I'm referring to is "Constructing a Bluegrass Mandolin," and he specifies a 2 piece back but I think it's for aesthetic reasons. He does specifically tell how the grain should be oriented for the back, and IIRC he specifies the wood be cut off-quarter. I'll look at it when I get home and see if there are any more "clues" as to his reasoning.

pd

[LKN2MYIS]

This is all incredibly fascinating for a neophyte like myself.

Pair it with the excitement of waiting for a mandolin to be built, and it feels like Christmas already!