The wood carving of the guitar is totally hand crafted and overall “artful”. The luthier curves the sides, cuts the neck and fingerboard, makes the bridge, tailpiece, pickguard, designs and applies braces. The carving of the top and back, are probably, among all these parts, the most delicate and precise stage of working.
In fact, the whole construction should be done by only one person. This is the difference between a manufactured guitar and a hand made custom crafted guitar. The tops and backs start with a solid book-opened block of wood, hand carved inside and outside to reach the right thickness. This custom detailed carving to give the top and back the correct thickness creates the desired resonance and sound you are trying to achieve. By “tapping” on the guitar top and back and gradually reducing the thickness of the wood in select areas, you will attain the desired overall frequency.
The binding is borrowed from classic lutherie too. In semiacoustic guitars it is obtained making it protruding out from top and back. After the varnishing, the edge obtained is decolored to have a “violin style”, giving these modern instrument a very elegant traditional look.
In acoustic guitars, above all when in lighter colors, is used rosewood or maple binding between top and sides and between sides and back, to “break” the continuity of color. Decoloration of the edge, instead of bindings, is used in darker guitars.
So, the value of the instrument is given by flawless planning and artful workmanship as well as taking into account all the materials used.