veneer question

[J-Dizzle]

I found a cheap LP kit on ebay to do a practice build.

Its cheap in price but seems to be relatively decent. The seller claims it to be all mahogany etc.

The attached photo is not the actual guitar, but a stock photo of the kit.

From the photo, do you think that is a veneer flame or a solid maple top? I'm not really experienced enough to tell. I asked the vendor but haven't heard back from him yet.

I know in that pic the volume/tone holes appeared to be drilled in the wrong spot so if the kit arrives like that I'd fill those and drill new holes which should be partially hidden by the knobs anyway.

Thanks in advance for your help guys.

 

[MRJ5]

That looks like a veneer top to me. It has a perfect book match. It is too perfect.

A solid top usually loses some symmetry on the figure after carving even if it had a perfect bookmatch prior to the carve.

If you had the actual body you could tell by looking at the top of the pickup routes.

It does appear to show a thin veneer line over a thicker top in the route but it is hard to see from the picture.

 

[J-Dizzle]

cheers thanks for your help. Thats the most closeup pic available of the body.

Yeah the flame does look a bit too symmetrical.

 

[bertzie]

"Cheap" and "solid flamed maple top" really don't go together. Though I do suppose that depends on what you consider cheap.

 

[J-Dizzle]

"Cheap" and "solid flamed maple top" really don't go together. Though I do suppose that depends on what you consider cheap.

LOL I agree but when you're dealing with China you never know your luck

 

[Barnaby]

Hmm...offset tenon and set up for import-style bridge? I'd guess it's a veneer top. A lot depends what it is veneered over. Perhaps more maple (plain) or basswood? The body may be mahogany, but almost certainly not Honduras. Looks nice, anyway, and should make a great guitar.