Official Luthiers Forum!

A couple weeks ago, I posed a question about ladder bracing on a build I'm working on.
The client loves a fingerstyle OM I built for him and now would like a smaller bodied (L-OO) instrument for playing the blues.

The response received lead me to believe maybe I wasn't on the right track.

So, I'll ask a different question....

If you were in my shoes, what considerations would you make in the planning stages for a blues instrument in regard to bracing?
Would it be thicker, thinner, taller, shorter, stiffer, flopier, scalloped, parabolic etc.....

I've already considered altering materials and body size.
What about scale length? Should I consider shorter scale length? 12 fret vs. 14 fret?

Can't wait to hear what folks have to say,

Thanks,

Dave

TO me that's kinda like asking, should I use a strat or a les paul to play the blues?
Clapton would play the blues on either.
Either could be used for rock and jazz as well.
Also heavy metal.
The blues is in the heart and the fingers of the player.
Or not.

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Old growth, shmold growth!

An L-00 for blues should be short scale, Gibson was probably 24.75, 24.875 (Martin) would be nearly identical.
A dedicated country blues player would want ladder bracing, 12 frets to the body.
It is hard to replicate the sound you hear on the old 78's, to compensate for the superior building qualities you are going to use, versus the cheap, slapped-together guitars of olde, try making the body slightly less deep, to add a bit of "boxiness" to the tone. I don't like it, but it is just a thought.
Remember, you are looking for quick decay, not resonant sustain, so the bracing and top thickness should be on the thick side.

The "blues" can be played on pretty much any guitar, it is more the player, but I find that thinking about the blues while building the guitar, infuses the wood with bluesy vibes. Works for me.

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Maybe consider a mahogany top? Even with the same building techniques as spruce it tends to impart a bluesy midrangey honk. I would also use a 14 fret design to make the 12 fret solo box a little more accessible...

I play a little bit of everything, playing blues is a state of mind.

I would not compromise anything on a guitar I built to try and capture snapshot back into a time/sound you might think your hearing on an old recording.

Build the best guitar you can and if he's any musician at all he can handle the rest.

Dave, have you considered ladder bracing ala Stella?

edit: well I didn't read your initial post very well, did I

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Jim Watts
http://jameswattsguitars.com

+1
All the musicians I know (and I've know a few over the last 60+ years) play the best ax they can get their hands on...
regards
pvg