Wood Sizes

[Casey DeLange]

So on Thursday ill be running down to a local wood mill and on their site it says they sell wood in 4/4 through 16/4. What size would be suitable for a body blank if I'm going to be doing a thinline? I am hoping to do 1/2 inch cap with a 1 1/16 - 1 1/8 inch thick neck blank.

[David King]

Casey, Wood is rough sawn in 1/4" thickness increments so 4/4 is 1" thick but after a few trips through the surface planer you'll generally end up with 13/16 or 3/4" from a 4/4" board.

If you want 1-1/8" final thickness you'll probably need to start with 6/4 (1-1/2").

[Casey DeLange]

David,
Thanks for that i'll take that advice. In your experiences, what is your go to thickness to for a guitar body? Solid body that is.
Thanks,
Casey DeLange

[Rodger Knox]

Minimum thickness usually depends on your thickest electronic, which is frequently the switch.
Check the depth required for the switch you want to use, and add a 1/4" or so. That will get you in the ballpark.
Thickness range from about 1 5/8" for and SG to nearly 2" thick for a strat.

[David King]

Actually most slab body instruments finish out at 1-5/8" to 1-3/4". If you aren't gluing on a top then you'll generally want to start with 8/4" stock.
If you are using a 1/4" or thicker top then you can sometimes get away with 6/4 wood for the body but best to measure the stock to make sure you can get it flat and not have any skips after surfacing and still have the thickness you need.

An SG should measure right under 1-5/16".

[Steve Graves]

Buy 8/4 stock or greater. But if you find a nice plank with the grain that you want do not pass it up if it is more. You can always take wood off but you can't add it on. 16/4 can be resawn into two bookmatched blanks.