Hi all! I'm going to put a guitar cake (using the Wilton pan) on top of a 14" square cake (yes, it will fit (diagonally), but just). Can I put the guitar directly on top of the 14" square cake or should I put a cake board under the guitar (maybe cut to the same shape)? Also, should I use dowels and a sharp dowel though the entire cake? I am driving with it for about 20 minutes. If I do put the guitar directly on top of the cake without the board, will the customer be able to serve it okay without the icing sticking? Any help and advice is so appreciated. Thanks! Love you guys!!

To be safe, (If it were me) I would just go ahead and place the guitar cake on a cake board cut to fit and use dowels in the lower cake.
I'm not sure what you meant by "If I do put the guitar directly on top of the cake without the board, will the customer be able to serve it okay without the icing sticking?" Did you mean "with the board"? If so, you can sprinkle some ps on the buttercream where you will be placing the guitar cake and it shouldn't stick when the cake is removed. Does that help?

I did something like that before (not guitar) and I sure put a board under the cake and dowels under it just to be on the safe side . My bottom cake was 2 layers , so to me , it makes too heavy if you put a 3rd layer without a board. My opinion.

I did a cake like this but put the guitar on a 12 by 18 sheet cake. Here's a picture:

http://cakecentral.com/modules.php?name=gallery&file=displayimage&pid=988033

I would definitely put a board under it AND a few dowels and here is why. Because you are squeezing the guitar on to a very small cake, there won't be much support on the edges. The weight of the guitar on the edges of your cake might make them crush or cave in.

I've decided to definately go with a cake board underneath the guitar and also to use dowels. Thank you so much for all your advice!!

Putting it on a board for ease of serving is a very good idea. But just for future reference, you are putting a single layer (shaped) cake on a single layer sheet cake. which equals a 2-layer cake. we dont' put cardboards & dowels between our 2-layer cakes ... just filling.

Back in my early days, when I did shaped cakes, I put them on top of sheets all the time. It was a 2-layer cake except the top layer was a different shape.

So a board is not necessary for the support aspect. it will hold up just fine.

Yep, I agree with Debi (as usual!) I assumed your 14" was a double layer and that the guitar on top would put too much weight on the very bottom layer. My bad

Acutally the 14" cake is going to be a double layer (meaning one layer of filling between two layers of cake) so I definately think the cake board under the guitar is a good idea. Thanks!