Subject: Soundboard joints?

From: William Samson <[email-masked]>
Date: Thu, 29 Mar 2012 17:59:47 +0100 (BST)

Dear Collective Wisdom,
   I imagine some of you will have had the privilege of handling old
   lutes.
   Nowadays, makers tend to have a soundboard made from bookmatched pieces
   of wood glued together on the centreline of the instrument.
   I know that some 19th century guitar makers didn't do this - Torres,
   for example,  made some guitars where the join was towards the treble
   side.
   Are old lute soundboards generally made from two bookmatched pieces
   joined on the centreline, or . . .  something else?
   Regards,
   Bill Samson

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