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I'm in the midst of building guitar #5, and I'm set to seal up the box. On my previous builds, I simply notched the linings to accept the brace ends, but I'm told it's more traditional to notch all the way through the side. I already attached the back to the rim, and I did it this way without any issues. Now that I'm ready to attach the top, I'm having a bit of trouble. My plans call for my brace ends to be too tall to be covered up completely by bindings if I notch through the sides for them. As far as I can see, my options are to shave a bit more off of my brace ends or I can only notch the linings and leave the sides untouched. What would the pros and cons be of each way?

Sidenote, I used radius dishes in a homemade go bar deck for the first time with this build. Wow, what a pleasant working experience! I can't wait to hear the difference in the sound of the final product. I'm sure that all of my joints are of a much higher quality now. Also been using the LMI white glue. I hear it's quite a difference maker also.

The only reason I'm aware of that people cut through the side is to make the job easier. There is no need to do it that way. Your method works just fine and can have the added benefit of helping hold the plate on the center line as you glue.

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http://www.chassonguitars.com

I don't like going through the sides, this will often create a weak zone were a crack can start. Keep the notch to the kerfing.

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John Hall
blues creek guitars
Authorized CF Martin Repair
Co President of ASIA
You Don't know what you don't know until you know it

Going through the sides is simpler, faster, so I see no reason not to.


A weak zone, where?

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Rian Gitar og Mandolin

I,ve done it both ways,but now I just notch linings. As Kent said just inletting into linings can help you with centre line alignment if you want it to. Don't see a big problem with doing it either way.
Tom

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A person who has never made a mistake has never made anything!!!

As already stated, this can be done either way...neither is right or wrong. I notch mine through the sides. I find that by the time I cut the sides for the bindings, I'm essentially through the sides anyway. I haven't had a problem centering the top and back plates when gluing, but as mentioned, notching just the lining will help to hold the plates in place when gluing.

I've done it both ways. I had trouble on one guitar when one of the braces ended up a little
taller than the binding. I had to add an extra layer of purfling to cover it. I don't make the
brace ends that tall anymore- I think that creates too stiff a joint. I now cut the X-brace
ends down to about 1/8" using a router and jig before I final shape the braces, then mark and
rout the lining channel for the braces the same depth using a dremel tool. I only go through
the braces, not the sides. This process is described in Somogyi's book, and I like how clean
and repeatable a connection it gives. I'm also starting to use a thinner binding, so that I don't
completely cut the side away from the linings. I think that creates a stronger joint overall.

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Gene

Politicians and diapers must be changed often, and for the same reason- Mark Twain

when you through notch a side , you so create a weak spot. This is a shear point. The Comet , the first commercial airline was doomed for having a square window that allowed cracks to form . This resulted in crashes. Granted you won't crash a plane notching a guitar but the engineering is the same. Any square corner is a focus point for stress. I have seen guitars that had through notches that cracked and it was traced back to the corner of the notch. Martin , Gretch , nor Gibson through notched the braces .

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John Hall
blues creek guitars
Authorized CF Martin Repair
Co President of ASIA
You Don't know what you don't know until you know it

John, does it really matter since the area of the side with the brace notch gets routed out for the binding anyway?

Routing through the sides is faster, but depends on how thick is the brace end and how tall (or short) is the binding. Obviously the binding/purfling must cover the notch if routed through.
I use short bindings so I usually don't cut through. If I do, however, after routing I will trim the braces ends a bit short of the binding to prevent problems related to shrinkage.

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Laurent Brondel
West Paris, Maine - USA
http://www.laurentbrondel.com/

hey, if you want to notch trough, why don't you thin the braces at the very end, so the binding would cover the joint?

Notching "through", I think, implies that the brace ends may be right up against the bindings especially if they are left a bit long and then routed.
As we all know, wood shrinks over time and mostly across the grain. Thus all those old guitars that we've seen with the brace ends having either fractured the sides or actually sticking out.

Of course with some designs such as the Torres the main braces are left full height and must be trimmed back and slipped into full width slots cut into the linings and supported by separate rib blocks. Again these are kept at least 1mm short of contacting the sides.

However you cut your notches, make sure that the brace ends themselves fall at least 1mm short of the sides.

As Dave says !

However you cut your notches, make sure that the brace ends themselves fall at least 1mm short of the sides.
I agree.

Mike

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Mike Collins

It doesn't matter so much which technique you use just be aware of some of the pitfalls of the through notch. As other methods of building , it isn't what you do , as much as it is how you do it. There are advantages and disadvantages to different techniques and as long as you plan for the long term you should be ok.
Still in notching through, you do create a weak zone and you should be aware of that and plan accordingly .

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John Hall
blues creek guitars
Authorized CF Martin Repair
Co President of ASIA
You Don't know what you don't know until you know it