There are certainly different grades/formulas for laminates. I know that Beard guitars uses a laminate on some models described as "Aircraft Grade" laminate, where the internal laminate layer is "flawless".

Perhaps the best known, modern laminate guitar is Beard's Mike Auldridge MA-6/MA-8, a very responsive guitar with a HUGE voice. In spite of the laminate material the guitar does indeed "open up" over time, similar to solid wood construction.

That's my personal experience, having played a whole lot of these MA individuals and other laminate models as well (happy owner of a Vintage -R prototype which has opened up over the decades)

h

I'll add that yes, as thin as the outter layer may seem to a degree, yes, everything effects the guitar's "voice".

h

interesting Howard -thx - yes i can see how the thickness /formula of the laminate would "shape" the sound - (i was under the belief that a laminate glue would pretty much be the same sort of formula for most/all application) and how over time it may change a bit with the vibrations of the guitar - ive seen this in metal nationals, which one would assume with metal being inert wouldn't change - but it certainly alters with playing over the years -like you said it all contributes to the sound - it just seem like a veneer of maple veneer over the top of the laminates vs that of spruce veneer over the top would have a very minor effect compared to the other factors - but overall i guess it becomes a sum of its components as you suggested

A lot of the vintage 335’s were laminates.

It sure does matter, even in vintage Dobros. It's funny, in the Dobro Roots book he comments that the cheap Birch one's have better tone than the very expensive, fancier wood models.

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Originally posted by skydog

A lot of the vintage 335’s were laminates.

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I'm pretty sure all 335's have been laminates and still are to this day. 

I watched a video produced by Gibson  a while back about this very subject. 

You are correct. ^^^