Official Luthiers Forum!

I suspect that a combination of slightly too thin(2.2mm) not very stiff englemann coupled with some over enthusiastic brace carving have resulted in the top on my classical being a little under built. It kind of looked OK ,tapped well, but now its on the box with no bridge I can deflect it with a hardish push of my thumb... none of my other store bought guitars do that...is that acceptable?..its a bit late for remedies but any ideas? It is Hauser plan 7 fan braces with a bridge plate and closing bars. Any one played a classical with a tailpiece ....do they suck?

Hmm, 2.2mm light Engleman doesn't sound at all like a Hauser, which are way thicker and in stiff and heavy German spruce.
You are more in the Torres realm. I could relate to light Italian spruce. I've made my first from 2.2 down to 1.7mm (but not a regular graduation, it is thinner in the upper, bass quarter of the lower bout, and the edges are not thinned - that probably saved it from being completely out of focus) very very very light Italian spruce. It is extremely flexible between the braces and the whole top can be pushed down with ease. But the braces are more stiff than with a Hauser, and sprung in a healthy dish. It has quick sweet tone but the tone breaks up easily if one tries to dig hard in it. Not exactly a concert guitar but more of a recording one.

If you want to use "jazz bridge" - then I have no idea how the sound is affected. But the forces in the bridge are lower so you might get away with slightly less thickness between hole and bridge.

_________________
Build log

That's a fine looking classical Steve. I haven't seen one with a tailstock since I was a boy many longs ago.

I'm willing to bank that as long as the top had a good tap tone before you mounted it, and considering there's a tailstock
to take the horrendous string tension of a whole 90#, you'll be OK. How does it sound? Got any soundclips?

_________________
Bill Hodge


One does not simply, own enough guitars!

2.2mm is really ont too thin by any means. I have a very nice redwood toped classical (Belluci). If I pushed my thumb on the bridge of it i can flex the Lb with really not much pressure at all. the top on it is 2.5mm in ther center of the UB but but 1.9mm at it thinest point in center of the dished area of the lower bout(about 2" behind the bridge) How does it sound strung up? Does it have the responce, sustain and volume you expect form a classical? Keep in mind that most production line guitars are aver built. If worst comes to worst. later down the road if you are not satisfied replace the top.

Bill
Unfortunately I cant take credit for that one...strangely enough after Michaels post its a Bellucci...I just posted the pic to get opinions on that sort of bridge tailpiece design which im considering if the guitar starts to go pear shaped

Darn! Guess I missed that part.

_________________
Bill Hodge


One does not simply, own enough guitars!

My 1st impression is just try it out.

I bet it won't cave in.

You might really like it.

On the other hand....
You might have some trouble with wolf notes....
or it might sound a little too bassy

And... You will learn something either way....

Good luck

John