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My plans call for all the sound board braces to run through the lining and side,but in the DVD that came with the kit the builder only runs the x-braces through the linings and sides. Any advice?

On the 2 guitars I've built, only the X-braces and upper transverse brace get tucked into the linings.

Many builders only tuck under the linings & not all the way through the sides. I think in a factory environment with dedicated tooling, it's faster to run them all the way through the sides.

Kevin Looker

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I'm not a luthier.
I'm just a guy who builds guitars in his basement.
It's better than playing golf.

In my (limited) understanding, only the upper transverse brace and and x-braces are normally run through the linings.
I like to leave them just a little short of the sides (although some people like to leave them slightly short of the linings at the bottom of the x-braces)
I don't like to run them through the sides as well because then the ends of the braces are trimmed when routing the ledges, and touch the bindings, then with movement due to humidity changes (more across the grain than along it) they could put stress on the binding glue joint and possibly "push" the bindings off.
Maybe just paranoia on my part, but I would hate to have that happen.
Which kit are you using?

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The name catgut is confusing. There are two explanations for the mix up.

Catgut is an abbreviation of the word cattle gut. Gut strings are made from sheep or goat intestines, in the past even from horse, mule or donkey intestines.

Otherwise it could be from the word kitgut or kitstring. Kit meant fiddle, not kitten.

On no. 2 I ran them all the way through & this almost happened. I had the body in a very dry environment while waiting for the lacquer to cure and the binding bulged at the 2 spots on the lower bout where the braces made contact.

Kevin Looker

_________________
I'm not a luthier.
I'm just a guy who builds guitars in his basement.
It's better than playing golf.

David: I tuck the X brace and upper transverse brace ends. Just into the linings and not through the sides. I fit them so they act as registration points so I don't have to worry about slippage during gluing.
Tom

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

Thanks again everybody!! The kit I am building is one from Luthiers Mercantile Int.Inc.with a redwood top, sapele sides,back and neck. I just took a closer look at the plans and all the braces run under the linings but not through the sides.