Official Luthiers Forum!
http://www.luthiersforum.com/forum/

13 fret bracing adjustments
http://www.luthiersforum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=10101&t=21225		 Page 1 of 1
Author:  meddlingfool [ Wed Feb 25, 2009 11:53 pm ]
Post subject:  13 fret bracing adjustments
Hello,
What are your thoughts on the necessary bracing adjustments to accomodate a 13 fret neck join on a 'OOO'? Should I shift the whole bracing/bridge plate assembly towards the soundhole, move just the x's and leave the t-bars as they are etc.? Your thoughts would be appreciated.
Thanks
Author:  Andy Zimmerman [ Thu Feb 26, 2009 4:49 am ]
Post subject:  Re: 13 fret bracing adjustments
I would shift everything. In actuality, I design my own bracing patterns and it all starts with the scale length etc.
Once you know your exact bridge position, everything else is based on it.

Keep in mind, if you are comparing it to a 14 fretter, you will be going the other direction....Away from the soundhole
Author:  meddlingfool [ Thu Feb 26, 2009 11:39 am ]
Post subject:  Re: 13 fret bracing adjustments
Thanks,
I'll be basing it off a 12 fret neck join 'OOO', and working from there.
Cheers
Author:  Howard Klepper [ Thu Feb 26, 2009 11:53 am ]
Post subject:  Re: 13 fret bracing adjustments
IMO the pattern needs not just to have everything moved together, but to be readjusted everywhere.

What is the point of putting a 13 fret neck on a 12-fret body design?
Author:  Jimmy Caldwell [ Thu Feb 26, 2009 12:53 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: 13 fret bracing adjustments
Howard Klepper wrote:

What is the point of putting a 13 fret neck on a 12-fret body design?


It actually works very well. I love the looks and the the feel of the 12 fret body and the access to one more fret is just a little bonus. Here's a bigger pic of my avatar. It's a 13 fret 00.
Attachment:
2007-12-09_184942_mwfin1[1].jpg
Author:  Howard Klepper [ Thu Feb 26, 2009 2:14 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: 13 fret bracing adjustments
Sorry for my lack of clarity. I was asking the OP what he hoped to achieve.
Author:  meddlingfool [ Thu Feb 26, 2009 4:46 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: 13 fret bracing adjustments
Hello, thanks for the replies.
The customer can't decide between an OM and a OOO, so is asking about a 13 fret OOO as a compromise. I've played a Froggy Bottom like that and it was great, and it's something I've been wanting to try. Any tips on how to adjust the bracing?
Author:  Howard Klepper [ Fri Feb 27, 2009 12:10 am ]
Post subject:  Re: 13 fret bracing adjustments
I start with the bridge location and go from there. Lots of little considerations. I draw out a new bracing pattern whenever I change the scale length. But I would need to actually draw it to know where everything would go. First consideration is always bridge location, and where the arms of the X cross the bridge wings.

I would be wary of taking a 12-fret body design that is as highly evolved and tested as the Martin 000 and moving the bridge up 3/4", as you are planning. The customer will have neither a 12-fret 000 nor an OM.
Author:  rlrhett [ Fri Feb 27, 2009 2:33 am ]
Post subject:  Re: 13 fret bracing adjustments
My last guitar was a 13 fretter because of a mistake I made with calculating the length of the neckblock and the positioning of the heel blocks. oops_sign

As a player I loved it (although it was destined for a friend), so I think I am going to make the next one like that. It puts the bridge more in the center of the lower bout, which to my amateur ears seems to give a fuller sounding guitar, but still lets me occasionally go and play an octave up from open position. I saw a couple of 13 fretters in an upscale guitar shop recently, so it can't be totally unheard of.

I should add to the original question, I lay out the bracing from the bridge position so I don't really know how much I shifted it. I generally use anywhere from 95 to 100 degree x on my guitars, which have all been small body 00 to parlor sized guitars. FWIW.
Author:  Mark Groza [ Fri Feb 27, 2009 7:20 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: 13 fret bracing adjustments
I have also thought of putting the bridge more in the center of the lower bout.But i want to keep the 14th fret at the neck joint.I have thought of making the scale longer to do it, but playability might be an issue, so now i'm thinking about making the lower bout shorter instead.That way the bridge can be where i want it and the 14th fret stays put for playing up the neck with the same scale and a shorter length body from bridge to rear of lower bout with less braceing as well. ;)
Author:  GregG [ Fri Feb 27, 2009 7:58 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: 13 fret bracing adjustments
I've built a bunch of 13 fretters on 000 size bodies and they sound fabulous, I've altered the bracing as needed for the design change from a 12 fret original configuration, from what I hear they're pretty darn good :D

Greg
Author:  meddlingfool [ Sat Feb 28, 2009 7:39 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: 13 fret bracing adjustments
Hello,
So far so good, and thanks. Could someone who has made one elaborate on how they have rearranged their bracing?
Thanks
Author:  GregG [ Sat Feb 28, 2009 10:25 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: 13 fret bracing adjustments
Quote:
Could someone who has made one elaborate on how they have rearranged their bracing?
Thanks
Hello,

It's really not complicated, just start with the bridge placement based on the scale length and fret -to-body placement, figure out your x-bracing angle accordingly to make sure the wings of the bridge lay over the braces appropriately and off you go, it's really as simple as that.

Cheers,
Page 1 of 1 All times are UTC - 5 hours
Powered by phpBB® Forum Software © phpBB Group
http://www.phpbb.com/