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I didn't have much time in the workshop in the last 10 days, and some questions came up during that time. Here's one:

Now I think the main functions of the bridge plate are to reinforce the top for seating the string balls, and to prevent the top from bellying.

By using a pinless bridge, the first function (string balls) seems to becomes obsolete, so I was wondering whether a lattice of spruce braces might be a more efficient design to fulfill the second function (strengthen top). It would be both - stiffer and lighter than a bridge plate(wouldn't it?)

I'm aware, that the choice of bridge plate material does influence the sound as well, so any ideas about how a lattice would affect tone?

any thoughts appreciated.
cheers, Christian

Christian: Don't have any experience with lattice bracing.All I can do is ask another question. Were you think of a small lattice network in the bridge plate area and conventional tone bars or a full lattice bracing system with the lattice extending into the bridge plate area?

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Actually I was thinking of both
The thought came when I looked into some lattice bracings for steel-string guitars, but I would think a lattice replacing a bridge plate is independent of the bracing in the lower bout area.

I would think that the lattice replacing the bridge plate would be relatively tight... like the individual braces being 1" apart. And it would cover a somewhat larger area than the bridge plate (and possibly even form a lattice with the x-brace).

That's just a mental image without any real-world experience to back it up.
Christian

Seems I'm not the first one with this idea (who would have thought )

This is from an interview with Michael Greenfield here: http://www.12fret.com/new/Greenfield_Michael_G2_Jun9pg.html



I understand that the top works as one unit, and that simply replacing the bridge with a lattice will probably not be enough... but at least the interview shows me that I had worse ideas related to guitar building

Christian