[thirtiesradio]

I agree and rarely use the paper backed veneer. It's to easy to sand through and difficult to find sequential matched veneer for marquetry work or bookmatching that is used on radio cabinets. I'm restoring a horribly water damaged Atwater Kent 447 now and using solid quartered sequential Walnut for the straight grained 45 deg.center section. I have to make my own trimming bit for use in a belt driven offset router to trim the veneer in the dial area as it has an ogee contour. This is all after rebonding the completely delaminated front, bottom and side wood sections and reforming all sections back to their original flat condition. It will be complely original minus the front Walnut and a couple very small sections of the marquetry bands.

But for what he's doing and without the tools I think paper backed would work out the best. You can't bend and install the solid veneer correctly without a softner and form. It will want to lift or bubble... and that's if you end up getting it bonded correctly over the arch.
Anyway I wish him the best of luck!