Official Luthiers Forum!

I'm working on a Stahl Style #6 plan and I've read that the braces are glued up under tension (the top has a 12' radius and the back has a 10' radius).

Two questions:
Do the braces remain straight on their glue surface and are pushed into shape in the go-bar deck thus achieving their tension?

Or are the braces shaped to their aforementioned radii and the radius of the top and back create the tension when glued up?

Thanks!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk - now Free

The first method is what the Larson brothers used on the Stahl, although they used curved cauls and no radius dish. Looking at the photos on page 29, it's obvious there was no radius dish used on the back. The text also says there's no longitudinal arch in the top, it's flat from the heel to the tail, so the top is cylindrical and not spherical.

edit: I reread the artical in AL 112, and it said they probably used a dished workboard.

_________________
A man hears what he wants to hear, and disreguards the rest. Paul Simon

Thanks, Rodger! Page 29 of what?! I'm dying to see it.

American Lutherie Number 112 / winter 2012
That's the issue that has the plan in it. You said you read it was built under tension, I assumed that was where you read it.

_________________
A man hears what he wants to hear, and disreguards the rest. Paul Simon

Oh, ! Sorry to come across as dense. I do see what you mean. It's funny that the drawing January Williams made (there's an "edited" version without measurement numbers in that same article) and her comments in the article indicate a 12' top radius and a 10' back radius. I spoke to Frankie Montouro (He is one of the most knowledgeable luthiers on Larson bros. designs) yesterday and he said he hasn't seen two of their designs that had the same specs in terms of radii. So, I'm realizing more and more that I am using the plan as a starting point more than an exact schematic. I really appreciate your help, Rodger.

You should get in touch with Haans Bentrup Steve. He's a Minneapolis luthier that has a strong interest in Larson Brothers style instruments. Here's his website.

http://www.brentrup.com/

He's a friend and a cool guy. Might be a good source of information.

_________________
It's not what you don't know that hurts you, it's what you do know that's wrong.

Thanks, Terence! I'll look him up.